wantarray() should be named wantlist() (was Re: date interface (was Re: perl6 requirements, on bootstrap))

[Tad McClellan]

On Thu, Aug 03, 2000 at 10:53:02AM +0100, Hildo Biersma wrote:

> If functions could distinguish between
> 'wantarray' and 'wanthahs' this would be easy to do. 


Due to the recent "rename local()" and "can't return an array"
discussions here, we should also consider "rename wantarray()"
as well.

It should be named wantlist(), because it does not tell you
if it wants an array, it tells you whether you were called in
list context or not.

I will RFCify this within the next few days (unless someone
can shoot it down right now).



Tangentially related:

If the list/array distinction is retained in Perl 6, the docs
need to be much more careful about not misusing the terms.

There are (at least) dozens of loosy-goosy uses of "array"
where "list" is more accurate.


(off-topic here, but I'm patiently waiting for a "docs list"
 to be established before letting lose with several RFCs
 regarding documentation, markup, indexing/searching,
 audience level, etc...

 Please don't reply to this tangent part, let's wait for a "docs list".

   Nat, 

      Can we set one of those up now, or should we wait until
      Ziggy can breathe?
)



-- 
    Tad McClellan                          SGML consulting
    [EMAIL PROTECTED]                     Perl programming
    Fort Worth, Texas