Re: Matthew Danish must never say "stagger" again [was Re: "Staggering power of closures..."]

From: Jacek Generowicz (jacek.generowicz_at_cern.ch)
Date: 03/31/04 

Date: 31 Mar 2004 11:42:26 +0200

Kenny Tilton <ktilton@nyc.rr.com> writes:

> Dave Roberts wrote:
> > Kenny Tilton wrote:
> >
>
> >>Is it Ground Hog day?
> >>
> >>:)
> >>
> >>kenzo
> > Sorry, did we already cover this? I must have missed that, too. Tell
> > me how
>
> > it went. ;-)
>
> If this does not work:
>
> http://www.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&threadm=Wm31c.3307%24Wo2.2799%40twister.nyc.rr.com&rnum=2&prev=/groups%3Fq%3Dstagger%2Bgroup:comp.lang.lisp%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26selm%3DWm31c.3307%2524Wo2.2799%2540twister.nyc.rr.com%26rnum%3D2
>
>
> ..just Google groups on "stagger" in comp.lang.lisp. The opening
> volley went:
>
>
> Jacek Generowicz wrote:
> > Matthew Danish <mdanish@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
> >
>
> >> Perhaps one of the more difficult parts of learning Lisp from a C
> >> background is the realization of the power of the constructs, and
> >> acquiring the knowledge to know where and how to use them. A good
> >> example of this is closures. When I explain the concept to a typical C
> >> programmer, they often say something like ``oh, you mean static
> >> variables in functions'' or ``so what?'' Unless the person is versed in
> >> computability theory (and/or the lambda calculus) it is difficult for
> >> them to comprehend at first the staggering power of such a simple idea.
> > I've heard statements to this effect before. Now, I love closures, I
>
> > like to believe that I understand them quite well. I find them
> > natural, I frequently use them, I often get annoyed by their absence
> > when using languages which don't support them (or support them badly).
> > Yet, I've never been tempted to call their power "staggering".

Actually, in that thread a few people hinted at, or explicitly
mentioned continuation passing style. I think that CPS, in appropriate
situations, can be considered to be a staggering application of
closures (although maybe I'm only staggered by it because I'm not
intimately familiar with it, and hence sufficiently blase about it.)

Relevant Pages

  • Matthew Danish must never say "stagger" again [was Re: "Staggering power of closures.
    ... I learned a whole lot about Lisp optimization that I never would ... >>example of this is closures. ... >>them to comprehend at first the staggering power of such a simple idea. ... > have I just grasped the idea so well before that I'm missing it now? ...
    (comp.lang.lisp)
  • "Staggering power of closures..."
    ... I managed to miss the great C vs. Lisp speed challenge earlier this month ... > example of this is closures. ... > them to comprehend at first the staggering power of such a simple idea. ... have I just grasped the idea so well before that I'm missing it now? ...
    (comp.lang.lisp)
  • The staggering power of closures
    ... > them to comprehend at first the staggering power of such a simple idea. ... Now, I love closures, I ... when using languages which don't support them. ... I've never been tempted to call their power "staggering". ...
    (comp.lang.lisp)
  • Re: "Staggering power of closures..."
    ... > So the question is, am I missing something staggering about closures, ... > or have I just grasped the idea so well before that I'm missing it now? ... How would you do such a derivation in Java, ... > as more staggering than closures as I have been learning CL. ...
    (comp.lang.lisp)
  • Re: The staggering power of closures
    ... Kenny Tilton writes: ... I'll be deleriously happy even if the thread does not induce me to say ... "staggering", as long as it makes me say "hey, that's cool, I hadn't ...
    (comp.lang.lisp)