Re: [Gnu-arch-users] Re: Tla spork

[John Meinel]

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Robin Farine wrote:

|
| If we want two equivalent expressions, one written in a
| non-ambiguous prefix notation and the other written in an infix
| notation without any implicit rule of precedence, we would write
| something like:
|
|   (+ a b (- c (/ (* d e f) (* g (+ n 1)))))
|
| versus
|
|   a + b + (c - ((d * e * f) / (g * (n + 1))))
|
| I tend to prefer the first version. If now we add rules of
| precedence to the infix notation, then I definitely prefer the
| first version.
|
| Robin
|
|
That makes the assumption that the * or + or whatever supports an
arbitrary number of arguments. I will admit, that helps the first
version a lot, I was writing it under the assumption that + was a binary
operator.

I still think having the operator *next to* the thing it is operating
on, rather than having to parse a lot of parenthesis is easier. But I
will say that if you have a list of things and the + operator becomes
the sum operator instead, you can clean up some things.

I'm not sure what you are saying about not prefering rules of
precedence. Perhaps just because it isn't as explicit.

I will also say, though, Andrew Suffields alternative Fibbonacci
sequence using Haskell looks rather clean.

I'm not sure how the syntax works out when you start having less trivial
alternatives (multiple lines for each "else")

Also, Haskell seems just a little too loose about when does the sequence
end.

John
=:->


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