const, of course, comes from C, where it works pretty well; unfortunately, C++ introduced features (e.g. templates) that didn't work well with const, resulting

const, of course, comes from C, where it works pretty well; unfortunately, C++ introduced features (e.g. templates) that didn't work well with const, resulting in stuff like vector::const_iterator (like vector::iterator, but for const vectors. It's completely different from vector::iterator, or so the compiler insists.) Java is meant to be "C++ without the sharp bits", and removed this feature (and a host of other stuff); I imagine the fact that arrays are not "OO" enough has also something to do with it. C# is meant to be "Java done right/the MS way", and followed suit.