Re: Search path program

In article <1bpxdk6hw7miq$.exwpdxoguurf$.dlg@xxxxxxxxxx>,
Frank Buss <fb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Barry Margolin wrote:

The CLHS specification of CASE says "If the test-key is the same as any
key for that clause". The glossary entry for "same" says that if no
predicate is specified, EQL is used.

Sometimes I think the CLHS is difficult to read. Why not just writing "If
the test-key is eql to any key for that clause", instead of linking to the
glossary entry "same", which describes with only 131 words, that "eql" is
meant? An why using the word "identity", which is misleading, because the
glossary says: "identical: the same under eq".

Modularity and abstraction. This wording has to be used in many places,
and it's better to use a single term and then link to the meaning.

Had we decided at the last minute during standardization to change the
default comparison, all that would have been necessary would have been
to change the glossary, not find all the places in the document that
specifically mentioned the predicate.

Why should you be surprised that a document written by computer
programmers would be designed like a well-written computer program. The
glossary is a subroutine library, and "same" is a subroutine.

--
Barry Margolin, barmar@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Arlington, MA
*** PLEASE post questions in newsgroups, not directly to me ***
*** PLEASE don't copy me on replies, I'll read them in the group ***
.

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