[m-dev.] 0.13 release: op/3 syntax

Ralph Becket rafe at cs.mu.OZ.AU
Thu Mar 2 13:24:59 AEDT 2006


We've discussed your op/3 extension in the office and we have some
reservations that make us reluctant to add it to the repository, at
least for 0.13.

The main objections are:
- lack of demand (just one request, so far!), coupled with unfortunate
  experiences using Prolog code in the past that has used op/3;
- lack of orthogonality and code maintenance problems, since the same
  syntax in different modules now has to be carefully checked to see
  that it parses the same way (e.g., if the modules have differing op
  declarations for the same symbol); and
- we are planning on moving the compiler to use a new yacc-style parser
  in the not-too- distant future and it's very unclear how we'd make
  that change if we also support dynamic syntax changes, a la op/3.

-- Ralph
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