Re: Renaming map->dict, class->type?

On 11/25/2013 08:32 PM, Paulo Moura wrote:
> Hi Jan,
> 
> On 25/11/2013, at 19:43, Jan Wielemaker <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
>> Hi,
>> 
>> Just wondering, should we rename `map' into `dict'?  The problem is
>> that we also have the `map' concept as in maplist/N, map_assoc/2,3,
>> etc. This will change the documentation as well as rename the map_*
>> predicates.
> 
> I find "dict" a better and more descriptive name. But what's common
> naming practice in other languages that provide built-in support for
> this kind of structures?

I don't know all of them.  Python calls them dict.  Javascript
calls them object, but they do much more.

>> The second issue with maps that currently, in x{a:1}, 'x' is
>> called the `class'.  That might be a too much object oriented term.
>> Would `type' be better?  This term only appears in the
>> documentation.
> 
> But words are overloaded :( I would prefer "type" over "class" for
> the same reason you state above. Maybe "kind"?

Maybe right.  At this moment, `type' isn't a very important concept
in Prolog, but surely we would like to keep the option open to
change that.  I'm not against "kind", especially if there is a
precedent.  Does anyone know that?

	Cheers --- Jan