Attempting to write to L[1] where L is null gives a confusing error

ID:2171947
 
Nov 12 2016, 10:58 am
BYOND Version:510.1346
Operating System:Linux
Web Browser:Chrome 53.0.2785.116
Applies to:Dream Daemon
Status: Open
Issue hasn't been assigned a status value.
Descriptive Problem Summary: Attempting to write to L[1] where L is null gives "cannot write to indexed value in this type of list" instead of eg "cannot write to index of null"

Numbered Steps to Reproduce Problem:
Run code below.

Code Snippet (if applicable) to Reproduce Problem:
/world/New()
    var/list/L = null
    L[1] = null // runtime error: cannot write to indexed value in this type of list


Expected Results: something like "runtime error: cannot write to index of null"

Actual Results: "runtime error: cannot write to indexed value in this type of list"

Does the problem occur:
Every time? Or how often? Every time
In other games? Yes
In other user accounts? Yes
On other computers? Yes

When does the problem NOT occur? N/A

Did the problem NOT occur in any earlier versions? If so, what was the last version that worked? As described at least since the earliest 500.x build, possibly earlier.

Workarounds: None
Nov 13 2016, 9:48 am (Edited on Nov 13 2016, 9:57 am)
I know. That's not what this report is about.

Read the report, don't just skim the code.

edit: The post this was in reply to has been deleted. Without naming any names (you know who you are), it was:
-
var/list/L = new

or
var/list/L = list()


You're defining a list variable but never initializing it.