Paul Rubin wrote: > Ken Tilton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > >>don't know. The point is, we need code (not just data) in defskill >>(apologies for nasty formatting): > > > Man that whole thing is messy. I can't for the life of me understand > why it's so important to use a macro for that. Even in Lisp, I'd > probably set up the reverse thingie as an auxiliary function.
And when you got to skill 42 and you discovered you needed a new optional argument to the reversal method you would throw up your hands and register for bartending school rather than go edit the other 41. defskill is writing my code for me. When things change, I have it write different code. Implementation is hidden, even from the programmer. I am one step removed from the code when writing a macro. This is the "meta" in metaprogramming. ken -- Algebra: http://www.tilton-technology.com/LispNycAlgebra1.htm "Well, I've wrestled with reality for thirty-five years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it." -- Elwood P. Dowd "I'll say I'm losing my grip, and it feels terrific." -- Smiling husband to scowling wife, New Yorker cartoon -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
