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Re: [Chicken-users] Re: [Chicken Gazette - Issue 13] - ##sys#:keyword:'s
From: |
Peter Bex |
Subject: |
Re: [Chicken-users] Re: [Chicken Gazette - Issue 13] - ##sys#:keyword:'s |
Date: |
Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:02:29 +0100 |
User-agent: |
Mutt/1.4.2.3i |
On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 10:47:51PM +0100, Jörg F. Wittenberger wrote:
> May I ask a simple question: what is the actual rational behind keywords
> (wrt. symbols)?
You may ask any question you wish :)
> Are there any good references?
I'm not sure. It appears to be one of those typical "historically grown"
things. The DSSSL standard contains *some* documentation for them, but it
boils down to "they're almost like symbols, except self-evaluating" :)
I found a copy of the DSSSL draft here:
ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/sun-info/standards/dsssl/draft/
It's in some odd "DynaText" format though. Luckily it's more-or-less
readable in plaintext.
> Could we do away with them?
>
> Boil them down to mere read syntax? ( 'x same as x: ?)
Maybe. It would make mistakes a lot easier though, since now keywords
can be distinguished from optional variables more easily.
I think we'll finally see a proper rigorous treatment of keywords when
the RnRS process decides to take it upon them to standardize them ;)
Cheers,
Peter
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