.NET compiler and “Not all code paths return a value”

Question

Why in code like below is the .NET compiler not able to establish that all code paths do return a value?

bool Test(bool param) {
    bool test = true;
    if         


        

Answer 1

This just represents the limitations in how smart the compiler is with regard to what gets initialized and which lines will be executed.

I run into this from time to time. But it's very seldom that it's a problem. I would normally just restructure the code a little.