Re: [stack] What does "concatenative" actually mean?

> Let me clarify: Quotation is just a higher order function. When you
> apply it to a function, you get a new function. This is a very simple
> and straightforward operation.

You don't apply quotation to a function. You quote a term (i.e. an
expression). This creates a new term. When a quoted term is evaluated
it creates a function.

A quotation, like abstraction, is part of the language semantics
(a.k.a. abstract syntax). A higher-order function takes a function as
input and/or returns a function as output at run-time.

The only difference between lambda abstractions and quotations is that
lambda abstractions allow (but do not require) the usage of named
variables. In a quotation, there is always exactly one implied
variable, a stack (at least in Joy and Cat).

- Christopher