Allow top-level functions outside classes

[Nefcanto]

Let us be able to create a standalone function outside a class or a namespace, like other languages, like JS or Python.

public static bool IsEven(int number)
{
    // logic
}

[KennethHoff]

How do you call this? Do you simply import the namespace and you're able to call the function?

[Nefcanto]

@KennethHoff, just the way people call global functions in other languages. They are available everywhere.

You can call it like IsEven(8) anywhere in your code. It's not inside a namespace. It's inside the global namespace.

And if people created two identical functions with the same name, then the code won't compile. But if they were different in signature, then both functions would be available as overloads.

[HaloFour]

See: #1180

[Nefcanto]

@HaloFour, that was a long thread. I did not read all of it. Just some comments at the beginning and some comments at the end. And after 7 years the C# team has done nothing related to that request. Is there a specific comment to redirect me to?

[Nefcanto]

@CyrusNajmabadi, to be fair, yes you're right that C# is less verbose these days.

1. We enjoy global using to reduce our repetitive using System; and stuff like that.
2. We enjoy de-indenting our entire codebase one tab backwards because of namespace X;,
3. we enjoy not indenting our code for disposable using statements.
4. We do enjoy being able to create arrays like JS.
5. We love the spread syntax.

But is that trend not apparent already? The C# team has already started becoming less verbose. Why not continuing this path?

Nothing is intuitive for a novice. Everything must be learned

I'm not denying the path to learning. I'm emphasizing a reduction in the learning curve. I talk about the experience. Hire 10 novice developers. Teach them C# and teach them JS. They grasp JS much easier. If I'm wrong, please correct me. I have done it many times over and over, since I'm in position of recruitment of interns to educate them for companies. And JS is a fairly complex language if you dive deep into it. Yet it's also easy for beginners. Because novice developers understand a function very easily. It's in base math. But as soon as you mix it with write a class first then write that function it becomes 10-fold harder. Why should it be like that?

[HaloFour]

But as soon as you mix it with write a class first then write that function it becomes 10-fold harder. Why should it be like that?

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/fundamentals/program-structure/top-level-statements

[CyrusNajmabadi]

But is that trend not apparent already?

We have created features when there isn't something existing to solve that issue. That doesn't apply here.

[CyrusNajmabadi]

If I'm wrong, please correct me

That's not what we have seen. Js has so much more in terms of having to guide people away from all the problems in it.

[CyrusNajmabadi]

But as soon as you mix it with write a class first then write that function it becomes 10-fold harder.

The more concepts you have, the harder it gets. So teaching them one thing and how you can use it for all these purposes is easier than having them to teach a bunch of disparate concepts.

[colejohnson66]

I can understand your plight and desire for this feature, and it’s one that, when I started learning C# (about 15 years ago), I used to wish for myself.

However, @HaloFour is right: this is something that can now be done with existing language features. Specifically, using static: using static MyNamespace.MyGlobalClass. Combine that with partial classes and you can spread the methods over as many files as you wish.

If you want to "pollute" the global namespace, global using exists: global using static MyNamespace.MyGlobalNamespace.