why does each line start with a "\" I don't remember seeing this before?

This was added in IPS 4.4 or 4.5.

Adding backslash means "load from the root namespace for performance reasons".

Using the root namespace allows PHP to use Opcode to run the function which can be much quicker.

More: Strange Whoops! on 4.4.1

Edited May 31, 20214 yr by SeNioR-

interesting - had no idea. -

it would stand to reason that the guides need to make a note of this anytime there is a mention to add something manually to the constant.php file.