Re: Quotation Rule Of Thumb - take 2

[Akim Demaille]

>>>>> "Alexandre" == Alexandre Oliva <address@hidden> writes:

Alexandre> On Apr 11, 2001, Pavel Roskin <address@hidden> wrote:
>> I still feel uneasy whether we should document double quoting or
>> always recommend using quadrigraphs.

Alexandre> I prefer double quoting.  

Definitely!

Alexandre> IMO, quadrigraphs are an abomination that should only be
Alexandre> used when absolutely necessary.  

I'd suggest keeping the strongest words of Alexandre in the
documentation (quadrigraphs are an abomination that should only be
used when absolutely necessary).

Alexandre> Unfortunately, there are cases in which it is, and they
Alexandre> should only be introduced within this context, IMHO.  For
Alexandre> example, I wouldn't have used quadrigraphs for #include.

It can avoid serious problems, but I agree only Autoconf maintainers
should use such things.

Alexandre> They're definitely necessary for unmatched brackets, 

That is what must be correctly documented, and the right example,
IMHO, is precisely that of checking Perl's $[.

Alexandre> and when you want to have some m4 macro expanded after a
Alexandre> `#', but that's it.  

Right.

Alexandre> Representing `$' as a quadrigraph is seldom necessary,
Alexandre> IIRC; I'm not even sure it adds to clarity where [$] would
Alexandre> have similar effects.

Currently it's not even used.  I don't recall why I introduced it...

Yes, I remember now.  That's the only means I know to have a comment
with $1 etc. in it:

~/src/am % m4                                                    nostromo Err 1
define(foo, `# $`1' = $1')

foo(bar)
# $`1' = bar


If you don't have a means to create a dollar, there are comments you
cannot write.