Pairs of identifiers

Frequently functions appear in pairs like {{{hOpen}}} and {{{hClose}}}, {{{read}}} and {{{show}}} and so on. Libraries are a lot easier to use if they use a consistent scheme of names for related functions. It is even better if many libraries would share the same scheme. This can be useful both for designing function names and for easy guessing of the counterpart of some function.

Here is a collection of some pairs of identifiers I stumbled on in AmigaOS, MUI, Modula-3, Haskell libraries, and C++ STL. This could be a basis for further discussion.

It would be great if the discussion lead to a more streamlined collection where for instance some duplicates are removed.

|| Create || Delete || || New || Dispose || || Construct || Destruct || || Alloc || Free || || Obtain || Release || Attempt || || Lock || UnLock || || Procure || Vacate || || Forbid || Permit || || Disable || Enable || || Put || Get || || Set || Get || || Write || Read || || Poke || Peek || || Open || Close || || Save || Load || || Load || UnLoad || || Init || Exit || || Setup || Cleanup || || Show || Hide || || Insert || Remove || || Add || Rem || || Push || Pull || || Push || Pop || || Start || Stop || Size || || Begin || End || Length || || First || Last || Number || || Head || Tail || || Front || Back || || Top || Bottom || || Fmt || Lex || || Input || Output ||

Discussion

I think the names {{{read}}} and {{{show}}} in the Prelude of Haskell98 aren't a good choice because the functions can be considered as natural pair but this isn't reflected by their names. Even more {{{read}}} and {{{show}}} sound like some I/O operations which they are not. The choice for the Modula-3 libraries ({{{Lex}}} and {{{Fmt}}}) seems to be more suitable. -- HenningThielemann

I had a nice discussion the other day with someone about the right name for tree nodes and leaves. The constructors I'm using as a result are {{{Branch}}} and {{{Leaf}}}. Anyone feel differently? -- BartMassey