271–272 of 272 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
A teaching language doesn't have mounds of legacy code constraining its evolution.
Just mounds of legacy documentation and teaching materials.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd disagree with the second one. `[list: 1, 2, 3]` reads more like in English: "I'm going to define a list: one, two, three…". Whereas `[list| 1, 2, 3]` has no obvious vocalization. (Vocalization is an important characteristic for us; it's how `ask` came to have its syntax.) In addition, we usually use `|` in programming languages in a separator kind of way (even `||` for "or" separates expressions), which it's cert…
"list where the elements are 1, 2, 3", by analogy with set builder notation or list comprehensions :) but i agree the current one reads better as english. it's the separator aspect i was getting at with my proposal though - visually it's [ datatype | elements ] whereas the current one looks more like the colon is part of the first element - [(list : 1), 2, 3]
Frankly, I'm really trying, and I'm having a very hard time suffering from the "list: 1" confusion you claim. I admit, that's just me.
Also, `|` as a separator suggests a kind of symmetry. But the two sides are not symmetric at all. Whereas in English, `:` does not imply symmetry.