-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 "Dan Bron" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> Summary: I propose an alternative to the current, problematic, > definition of ?. . That verb could be decomissioned, and a new > foreign be assigned, which would reset the RNG and seed to their > default values. I would respectfully suggest conservatism in changing the language. Conservatism is not the same as refusing to make changes, but it does imply much deliberation and caution. I suggest that for two reasons. First, the x <-> x. change still seems to trip people up. There is old code around that still uses the old definition. The x <-> x. change was arguably a good idea, too. At the time, good arguments were made that no one would use x as a name of a significant variable, yet I recall people having found that they use x, y, and z, for example, in graphics work. Even if that weren't a problem, I'm sure it gets tiring for newcomers to arrive, copy some old code from some good articles or perhaps from the Wiki, and then have to ask why it doesn't work, even if there's an automated way to fix most of those. Second, I've got some very old C simulation code I used to use occasionally. I can't get it to compile with current compilers, and I don't have the knowledge or the time to dig into it to figure out what's wrong. I don't want the same thing happening to J. I don't mind additions to the language nor optimizations to current operations; those are great. I am mindful that J has a great elegance which can sometimes be enhanced with careful changes. The rank change to @ and @: of a few years ago seems to fall in that category, as does, most likely, the new (n v v) fork. Just my $0.02, Bill - -- Bill Harris http://facilitatedsystems.com/weblog/ Facilitated Systems Everett, WA 98208 USA http://facilitatedsystems.com/ phone: +1 425 337-5541 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32) Comment: For more information, see http://www.gnupg.org iD8DBQFG6KnO3J3HaQTDvd8RAhIrAJ4/9JJWZBdUccr/j6m+2BSIMNkqzACfSRn3 ZgOmWQYd+jrgF7nbJLroWCk= =ro/y -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
