# Dust is data-oriented, so variables are declared with minimal syntax. A # single character, the assignment operator (`=`), sets a variable. x = 1; y = "hello dust!"; z = 42.0; list = (3, 2, x); big_list = (x, y, z, list); map.x = "foobar"; function = ' message = "I am a function!"; output message; ';