Const

A value that must not change should say so. In C++ that is const. Cluaupp emits Luau const, not local x <const>.

const int STARTING_COINS = 0;
const double GRAVITY = 196.2;

const STARTING_COINS: number = 0
const GRAVITY: number = 196.2

Why it is a safety feature

• Leaderstat starting values, product IDs, remote names, and animation speeds are configuration. If they are local, a later line can overwrite them by accident.
• Reviewers see const and skip “could this mutate?”.
• Luau --!strict rejects assignment to const.

What to keep mutable

Player-owned numbers (coins, combo), UI state, and Janitor instances. Everything else defaults to const until you have a reason.

const string REMOTE_COINS = "Coins";
int coins = 0;

void AddCoins(int amount) {
  coins = coins + amount;
}

REMOTE_COINS is a protocol name — immutable. coins is session state — mutable.

Immutability for tables and Instances

const on a pointer does not freeze the Instance. const Folder stats still has a mutable Name in Roblox. Treat “do not rebind the variable” and “do not mutate the object” as two separate decisions. For objects, prefer:

• Create, parent, configure once, then only read.
• Put mutations behind one function (SetCoins) instead of writing coins.Value from five scripts.

DataService paths

Path tokens ("Currencies.Coins") should be const string or a shared header. Never concatenate remote or datastore keys from user input.

Next: safety.