Type inference on method return type

Question

Why does Scala fail to infer the return type of the method when there\'s an explicit return statement used in the method?

For instance, why does the fol

Answer 1

Given this (2.8.Beta1):

object Main {
  def who = return 5
  def main(args: Array[String]) = println(who)
}
:5: error: method who has return statement; needs result type
         def who = return 5

...it seems not inadvertent.