Re: re-using comma for read-time evaluation

On 20 October 2008 17:53:12 Ralf Juengling wrote:
> 
> The macro-character @ allows evaluation of expressions
> at read-time and, afaik, is mostly used when globally
> defined constants occur in code to be compiled.
> 
> I would like to use the @-character for something else
> but still think we need a means for read-time evaluation.
> How about re-using the comma character for this? I.e., a
> comma occuring outside a backquoted expression would have
> have the effect @ currently has. Also, I would define it
> in sysenv, so no need to libload libc/constants anymore.
> 
> Any objections or thoughts?

I think that using an unbound character is a better idea than reworking an already bound one.
The '_' is commonly seen in C/C++ in the names of macros (as well as for external linkage),
plus it can be seen as the bottom part of the letter L. You are trying to make a shortcut, so
'_' viewed as a shorter L (for lambda) might be a little way to remember its usage in practice.

I did not check, but I don't think '_' is bound to anything.

Raymond


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