Change how integer division works

[miv391]

A recurring question in Godot's Reddit channel is that why 1 / 2 (or something similar) returns 0. Integer division is not a common concept in all languages, especially in script languages. I guess GDScript has integer division only because of C++.

My proposal is that the division operator / should always return a float, no matter what the operand types are (floats or integers). 1 / 2 would return float 0.5. 4 / 2 would return float 2.0.

A new integer division operator should be added. It could be for example //. 1 // 2 woud return 0, 4 // 2 would return 2. Using integer division with any other operand types than two integers would be an error.

Now using the integer division would always be a decision the programmer does knowingly, not by accident.

[AThousandShips]

Why is this an improvement over just 1/2.0

This is the way it works in both Java and C# btw, it's actually common in programming languages from what I can find, where have you seen different?

[miv391]

A lot of people who use GDScript do not know that they must write .0 to get simple math to work. I have programmed with C, so when I make the division 1/2 and get result 0, I know why and I can fix my error. I don't expect every Godot user having experience with C. If I make the same division with large numbers, say 37572245/7 and get result 5367463, I most probably do not notice that the result is not exactly what my intention was.

Sometimes integer divison is needed, but so seldom that in my opinion it shouldn't be the default.

At least in Javascript, Typescript, Python and Lua 1/2 results 0.5. In my opinion those are quite common languages.

[dalexeev]

• See Separate integer and real division operators in GDScript #1866.

[TheSpartanK]

I've just come across this because of a bug, only to find 7/3 = 2 !!!
Integer division is the most ridiculous thing I've eve come across. I'm not saying it's not valid in some obscure cases but to be the default is just insane.
I thought godot was good until I came across this madness, who decided this was a good idea?