[Haskell-beginners] Possible to update Haskell syntax

cm cm at raytheon.com
Tue Nov 25 22:18:10 EST 2008


The logic of making "function application as easy as possible" in Haskell is 
compelling, yet I can't help but wonder if an alternate context dependent 
syntax would be desribable?  Specifically, when inside a pair of brackets 
make construction of lists as easy as possible as opposed giving priority to 
functions.

There was an earlier reply also about mapping of a "$" construct, but I 
don't quite understand that issue yet.

I appreciate the answers by Haskell experts to my somewhat unusual question.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tillmann Rendel" <rendel at daimi.au.dk>
To: "cm" <cm at raytheon.com>
Cc: <beginners at haskell.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 3:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Haskell-beginners] Possible to update Haskell syntax


> cm wrote:
>> In this ideal world, another example would be that [(fun1 3 4) 7] would 
>> be a valid expression and be a two-element list equivalent to [fun1 3 4, 
>> 7].
>
> But [(fun1 1 3 4) 7] already is a valid expression, equivalent to [(fun1 1 
> 3 4 7)] and [fun1 1 3 4 7]. The "whitespace operator" can have only one 
> meaning.
>
> Haskell, being a functional language, makes function application as easy 
> as possible. Lisp, being a list processing language, makes construction of 
> lists as easy as possible.
>
>   Tillmann
> 



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