Underscores in Identifiers (was: Re: Random and unsolicited feedback on 3.9a)

stéphane ducasse ducasse at iam.unibe.ch
Sat Nov 19 13:09:03 UTC 2005


On 19 nov. 05, at 11:58, Bert Freudenberg wrote:


> When dealing with low_level_code, I'd love to have underscores in  
> identifiers - not even just method names, but for variables, too.
>

Gloops. I'm not sure I would like to have that. :)
Because when I see foo_bar in the code I have to know that this is a  
variable and not foo _ bar.

I have the impression that we have lot of work in other places to let  
this one stable :)


> This could probably be achieved simply by using a different type  
> table with $_ being an #xLetter in Scanner (not sure about the  
> SmaCC-based Compiler).
>

Not sure.


> However, I would also strongly suggest *not* to allow this as a  
> standard. Apart from breaking old code file-ins, we would soon get  
> tons of unreadable gibberish by C-trained newbies ;-)
>

This is why I would love to remove caseOf: too :)


> Instead, when filing in, the compiler would interpret underscores  
> as assignment, just as it is now. *Only* if specifically enabled by  
> the filed-in code would it be switched to allow underscores in  
> identifiers. Same goes for normal development - *unless* a class  
> answer true when asked #allowUnderscoresInIdentifiers, underscores  
> are compiled as assignments. The file-out code would take that into  
> account to generate the code snippet enabling underscores in  
> identifiers needed for later file-in.
>
> How does that sound?
>

I thought that we could assign a compiler class to a class. At least  
in VW this was that way that roel
loaded Prolog like methods with a file in.
So I would avoid the preferences plague. But make sure that the  
superclass returned a specific compiler
and may be fix that changing the compiler of a class is working if it  
is not currently.

This way we have a stable kernel but people can extend it.

Stef


>
> - Bert -
>
> Am 19.11.2005 um 01:39 schrieb Andreas Raab:
>
>
>
>> Can we please consider the consequences of doing that (like  
>> potentially breaking lots of code from fileIns) and how we are  
>> going to deal with it *before* such a change gets included? I  
>> would hate it to have another one of those situations where things  
>> break for absolutely no good reason.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>   - Andreas
>>
>> Bill Schwab wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Gang,
>>> I'm not sure what to make of this.  It seems that I'm probably  
>>> missing
>>> something, but here is my attempt at "asking the community"  
>>> including
>>> http://lists.squeakfoundation.org/pipermail/squeak-dev/2002- 
>>> October/045216.html
>>> I doubt it will seriously complicate the ultimate fix, and  
>>> corrects one
>>> removeable singularity while we wait.  Do you want to include it?
>>> Bill
>>> I suggest you to ask what the community wants and we will include if
>>> this is ok.
>>> Stef
>>>
>>>
>>>> With tongue only partly in cheek, how about this one:
>>>>
>>>> http://lists.squeakfoundation.org/pipermail/squeak-dev/2002- 
>>>> October/
>>>> 045216.html
>>>>
>>>> I will admit that removing the entanglement of _ with assignment is
>>>> preferable, but having the ability to include _ anywhere but the  
>>>> first
>>>> character of a selector is a huge down payment. Why is this not in
>>>> the
>>>> mainstream image? It would be huge help to those of us with RDB
>>>> centric
>>>> uses for _ in selectors.
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Wilhelm K. Schwab, Ph.D.
>>> University of Florida
>>> Department of Anesthesiology
>>> PO Box 100254
>>> Gainesville, FL 32610-0254
>>> Email: bills at anest4.anest.ufl.edu
>>> Tel: (352) 846-1285
>>> FAX: (352) 392-7029
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>





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