Re: We know what you need, and we'll push it down your throat.

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H.Merijn Brand skribis 2006-12-22 16:03 (+0100):
> > In Perl6:
> >     print sqrt(9) + 7;  # Prints 10.
> >     print sqrt (9) + 7; # Prints  4.
> I know something was going to change, but to make a language unusable?

The parens for sqrt(9) are a post-circum-fix operator in Perl6.
Postcircumfix operators cannot be preceded by whitespace.

I think that's pretty usable. Not because it's what everyone has always
been used to, but because it is consistent within this language.

A postcircumfix operator may also be used with method-like syntax, using
a dot:

    print sqrt.(9) + 7;   # Prints 10.

And if you really must use whitespace (for example, a newline
character), you can explicitly escape it, but only if you use the
dot-notation:

    print sqrt\
    .(9) + 7;             # Prints 10.

    print sqrt\ .(9) + 7; # Prints 10.

This syntax is ugly and should be used in emergencies only.

> Well, if above is true, perl6 has lost me too. Forever.

Or you could write a grammar that suits your programming style better.
But the following set of wishes clashes heavily:

- () can be used for grouping (to override precedence)
- () can be used to enclose subroutine arguments
- subroutines can also be used without ()

The solution is to use heuristics, that cause inconsistencies all over
the language. We'd all love that, right? :)

> A function should in my vision *always* be separated from it's paren with a
> space.

My vision is that it should never, but let's not discuss this. Won't get
any of us anyware.

You are right that Perl 6 is less friendly (you could say hostile) for
people with different whitespace styles than Perl 5 was.

I personally think the syntax with a dot is very nice and clear. But if
you insist on using whitespace, not a dot, the default Perl 6 is
certainly hateful for you.
-- 
korajn salutojn,

  juerd waalboer:  perl hacker  <juerd@xxxxx.xx>  <http://juerd.nl/sig>;
  convolution:     ict solutions and consultancy <sales@xxxxxxxxxxx.xx>

Ik vertrouw stemcomputers niet.
Zie <http://www.wijvertrouwenstemcomputersniet.nl/>;.

• H.Merijn Brand 15:03 on 22 Dec 2006
  • Juerd 16:18 on 22 Dec 2006
    • H.Merijn Brand 16:29 on 22 Dec 2006
      • too deep to show
    • Abigail 16:34 on 22 Dec 2006
      • too deep to show
    • Tony Finch 18:07 on 22 Dec 2006
    • A. Pagaltzis 20:12 on 22 Dec 2006
• Peter da Silva 15:16 on 22 Dec 2006
  • Abigail 15:43 on 22 Dec 2006
    • Juerd 16:33 on 22 Dec 2006
      • too deep to show
• David Cantrell 14:12 on 28 Dec 2006

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