Re: Nested functions, documented?

[Juan Pablo Carbajal]

On Sun, Nov 20, 2011 at 7:32 AM, David Shih <address@hidden> wrote:
> I ran into the same problem where my Matlab code using nested function is
> affected by the variable scope issue.
>
> I have not seen a workaround on the list, so I am providing one here:
>
> You can use anonymous functions with subfunctions to achieve the same effect
> as nested functions.
> It may even be desired that the programmer explicitly pass the variables
> into a subfunction using an anonymous function, so that nested function
> variable scopes do not become a mess.
>
>
> An example:
>
> *Nested version*:
>
> function y = primary_function(x, a, b)
>
>  function z = nested_function(x)
>    % nested_function accesses variables a and b from the parent function
>    z = x + a + b;
>  end
>
>  y = nested_function(x);
>
> end
>
>
> *Subfunction version (coerced)*:
>
> function y = primary_function(x, a, b)
>  y = nested_function(x);
> end
>
> function z = sub_function(x)
>  % sub_function tries to access variables a and b from the parent function
>  % an error will occur, since a and b are not in scope
>  z = x + a + b;
> end
>
>
> *Alternative version*:
>
> function y = primary_function(x, a, b)
>  y = sub_function( @(x) sub_function(x, a, b) );
> end
>
> function z = sub_function(x, a, b)
>  % sub_function accesses parameter variables a and b, which are in scope
>  z = x + a + b;
> end
>
>
> The nested function will not work in Octave, due to its coercion into a
> subfunction and the aforementioned variable scope issue that arises as a
> result.
>
> The alternative version will work, since the extra variables are passed by
> way of an anonymous function.
> One particular use of this is in applying arrayfun(...) for the purpose of
> avoiding for-loops:
>
> function Z = powers(x, p)
>  % return Z such that the jth column of Z is x raised to the power of each
> element of p
>  % in other words function POWERS accepts p as an array and subfunction
> POWER accept p as a scalar
>
>  % use anonymous function to pass x to power
>  Z = arrayfun( @(k) power(x, k), p );
> end
>
> function Z = power(x, p)
>  % A simple sub-function, which can conceivable be much more complex
>  Z = x .^ p;
> end
>
>
> --
> View this message in context: 
> http://octave.1599824.n4.nabble.com/Nested-functions-documented-tp3326455p4088066.html
> Sent from the Octave - Maintainers mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>

David,
I am using this solution too, but never thought of sharing it, thank
you very much!

I am forwarding the mail to help mailing list where people not linked
to development may find it easier.

Also noticed (please correct me if I am wrong) that you are using
function handles as "closures" in this case. So for helping web
searches I provide key words below:

subfunction
closure
function handle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closure_(computer_science)

-- 
M. Sc. Juan Pablo Carbajal
-----
PhD Student
University of Zürich
http://ailab.ifi.uzh.ch/carbajal/