[m-dev.] another coloring question: should we color "predicate" and "function" before names

Zoltan Somogyi zoltan.somogyi at runbox.com
Sun May 19 10:49:28 AEST 2024


The attached .err file has two error messages, on lines 8 and 9,
about the same predicate. Both messages refer to "predicate `exp1'/0".
Both color "`exp1'/0" as the subject of the error message. One includes
the word "predicate" in that coloring, the other does not.
Both approaches are justifiable, but in this case, I don't think
it is a good idea to have different error messages differ
in what they color: we should either color "predicate"
(and of course "function" in other cases") together with the symname
and arity, or not, in all diagnostics, or at least all diagnostics
where the func vs pred distinction is itself the error being
reported.

I slightly prefer the approach of *not* coloring "predicate"
in such cases, simply to reduce the resemblance between
our diagnostics and ransom notes. However, I would like to know
whether anyone objects to this approach, because adopting
the approach requires changing the interface of the utility function
describe_one_pred_name, and this will impact its many call sites
in the compiler. I don't want to make this change, and then be told
"yeah, undo all that". So I would like your opinions as soon as
possible on a lazy sunday.

Zoltan.
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