On Thu, Jan 29, 2009 at 09:00:06AM +0100, Eirik Berg Hanssen wrote:
: Jon Lang <datawea...@gmail.com> writes:
: 
: > So "$a -<=> $b" is equivalent to "$b <=> $a", not "-($a <=> $b)".  OK.
: >  I'd suggest choosing a better character for the meta-operator (one
: > that conveys the meaning of reversal of order rather than opposite
: > value); but I don't think that there is one.
: 
:   A transposition of the parameters of a binary operator?  Well,
: transpositions are occasionally denoted by ticks:
: 
:   $a  op' $b === $b  op $a
: 
:   $a <=>' $b === $b <=> $a
:   $a cmp' $b === $b cmp $a
:   $a leg' $b === $b leg $a
: 
:   ... hmmm ...
: 
:   $a  -' $b === $b  - $a
:   $a  /' $b === $b  / $a
:   $a **' $b === $b ** $a
: 
:   ... and just to complete the madness ...
: 
:   $a  =' $b === $b  = $a
: 
:   ...
: 
:   ... transposed assignment! :-)
: 
: 
:   Somehow I think Huffman may have something to say about this. :)

The basic problem with ' is visual and psychological.  It needs to
be something more visible out front where it is noticed first, so
maybe instead of - it should be R (for reversed):

    $a  Rop $b === $b  op $a
  
    $a R<=> $b === $b <=> $a
    $a Rcmp $b === $b cmp $a
    $a Rleg $b === $b leg $a
  
    ... hmmm ...
  
    $a  R- $b === $b  - $a
    $a  R/ $b === $b  / $a
    $a R** $b === $b ** $a
  
    ... and just to complete the madness ...
  
    $a  R= $b === $b  = $a

There is, after all, precedent with X...X.

Hmm, I suppose an argument could be made for simplifying meta-cross
to just X...

    @a X~ @b
    @a X* @b
    ...

Trying to think of the downsides, and having trouble...

Larry

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