> my Complex $c = 3+4i;
> my $plain = 1.1;
> $plain = $c;
This might be even more "Complex" than that - what if Complex can be
reduced? Should it? for instance:
my Complex $c = 3+4i;
my Complex $d = 4i;
my $plain = $c / $d;
Does $plain get promoted, or does the result from the division get demoted?
Should parrot bother to even check, or should it just promote automatically
and let the implementation decide? I think promotion would be best and
fastest for all circumstances. Perhaps there could be a sort of 'try' for
conversion that returns the best possible result? for instance:
my Complex $c = 3+4i;
my Complex $d = <unknown qty>;
my $plain = try_demote( $c / $d );
$plain now ISA Complex if it couldn't demote the result of the math, or it
is an int if it could. Now if you need to know, then just check:
$plain = $c / $d;
# the '(or)'s here are alternate forms, not comparison
if( $plain.ISA == "Complex" (or) $plain.Complex ){
print "It promoted!\n";
}
elsif( $plain.ISA == "Scalar" (or) $plain.Scalar ) {
print "Result was reduced!\n";
}
Ramblings of a madman,
Grant M.
