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