[Maxima] Plot options foo=bar vs [foo, bar]

[Stavros Macrakis]

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On 6/9/06, Robert Dodier <robert.dodier at gmail.com> wrote:

> On 6/9/06, Stavros Macrakis <macrakis at gmail.com> wrote:

> However, ":" is not a good choice for the interval operator, as it is
> already defined as the assignment operator, so "x=a:b" will set a to be
and
> evaluate to "x=a".

There is the possibility that plot2d / plot3d would be argument-quoting
functions so that syntax like x=a:b would be evaluated in some
manner other than the default.

Two problems there.

In my experience, the convenience factor of argument-quoting functions is
very quickly overtaken by their semantic clumsiness.  As soon as you have an
argument-quoting function, someone has a good reason for introducing
variables inside it.  Plot2d is no exception.

Secondly, even if the expression is quoted, I find it to be extremely poor
practice to overload an operator with two completely different meanings.
What's more, intervals in particular are generally useful objects, and it
would be a disaster to have a syntax for them that only worked in quoted
contexts (not to mention the problem with re-evaluation).

             -s

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<div><span class="q">On 6/9/06, <b class="gmail_sendername">Robert Dodier</b> &lt;<a href="mailto:robert.dodier at gmail.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">robert.dodier at gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:
</span></div><div><div><span class="gmail_quote"></span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"></blockquote></div><div><span class="q">

On 6/9/06, Stavros Macrakis &lt;<a href="mailto:macrakis at gmail.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">macrakis at gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br><br></span></div><div><span class="q">&gt; However, &quot;:&quot; is not a good choice for the interval operator, as it is
<br>&gt; already defined as the assignment operator, so &quot;x=a:b&quot; will set a to be and
<br>&gt; evaluate to &quot;x=a&quot;.<br><br>There is the possibility that plot2d / plot3d would be argument-quoting<br>functions so that syntax like x=a:b would be evaluated in some<br>manner other than the default.</span>
</div><div>
<div><br>Two problems there.<br></div></div><br>In my experience, the convenience factor of argument-quoting functions is very quickly overtaken by their semantic clumsiness.&nbsp; As soon as you have an argument-quoting function, someone has a good reason for introducing variables inside it.&nbsp; Plot2d is no exception.
<br><br>Secondly, even if the expression is quoted, I find it to be extremely poor practice to overload an operator with two completely different meanings.&nbsp; What's more, intervals in particular are generally useful objects, and it would be a disaster to have a syntax for them that only worked in quoted contexts (not to mention the problem with re-evaluation).
<br></div><div><span class="sg"><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -s<br><br>

</span></div>

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