I'm not sure it matters in all the threads. But my underlying opinion is that we SHOULD have a mechanism to use a plain name (that has an assigned value in the scope) as a value in match patterns, not only as binding targets.
However, in contrast to Nick Coghlan, I do not think access should be the default, but that binding should be. I'm convinced by Guido, Brandt, and others that the binding use will be far more common, so adding extra characters for the 90% case does not feel desirable, even if it is arguably more consistent with other elements of the language.
The second example I give of binding requiring the extra syntax was for completeness, but I would not support it myself. If binding were to require extra syntax, I think Nick's 'as' suggestion is better than my prefix word idea (if only because it doesn't need a new soft keyword). I do not think the answer of "put the plain name into an enumeration or other object so it can be accessed as a dotted name" is quite enough. Yes, that's possible, but it feels more forced.
So in my mind, if I had the choice, it is a decision between a sigil and a word to indicate "no, really use this name as a value!" I like a word better, but none of the current keywords really make sense, so it would need to be a new word. I suggested "value", but another word might be better.
One idea that I cannot recall seeing, but that seems to make sense to me and fit with Python's feel is using a WORD to distinguish between a variable value and a binding target. That is, instead of a special symbol prefixing or suffixing a name, either to indicate it is or is not a binding target. Of course, whether the extra word would be used for binding or for NOT binding is a question still.
NOT_FOUND = 404
match http_code:
case 200:
print("OK document")
case value NOT_FOUND: # use the variable value
print("Document not found")
case OTHER_CODE: # bind this name
print("Other HTTP code", OTHER_CODE)
Of course, this would require a soft keyword, which is a disadvantage. Going the other direction:
NOT_FOUND = 404
match http_code:
case 200:
print("OK document")
case NOT_FOUND: # use the variable value
print("Document not found")
case bind OTHER_CODE: # bind this name
print("Other HTTP code")
To me these read better than the punctuation characters. But I guess some folks have suggested enlisting 'as', which is a word, of course.
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