[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index]

Re: function definition

• To: mathgroup at christensen.cybernetics.net
• Subject: Re: function definition
• From: Richard Mercer <richard at rmercer.wright.edu>
• Date: Mon, 24 Oct 1994 09:05:18 -0400

Reply to Will Self:

Yes, I agree that I did not fully explain why the kernel was not programmed to  
recognize x_ and y_ as the "same" for the purpose of function definition; I  
think the only explanation for that is that it was easier to keep all  
non-identical patterns.

I was trying to answer the literal question of "why does it work the way it  
does" rather than the real question of "why doesn't it work the way it should".

While I don't think the current condition is a true "bug", it IS a very  
annoying "feature", and I don't see any obstacle to fixing it. Surely no one  
has written code that uses this feature in an essential way?!?

Richard Mercer