Re: variables: open issue a) date variables

On Saturday 03 May 2003 02:06, ned(_dot_)freed(_at_)mrochek(_dot_)com wrote:
<snip>
> I have no problem with defining a magic variable namespace. In fact
> in some way I'd prefer it. That being said, however, I have a big
> problem with defining it and not using it in the same document. All
> too often this leads to issues being left open and problems not being
> spotted until too late.
<snip>

We'd have the date and imapflags (and notify) extensions to go along 
with variables. The variables draft also defines the special 
num-variable "system variables" for the regex extension and :matches.

> I'd somewhat prefer to use $ for the prefix, but it works either way.
<snip>

I don't like $ being the prefix since it's also the variable special 
character. "${$year}" smells like resolving references (or pointers if 
you're C) to a perl programmer. Also, the variables draft mentions this 
example:

>         "${company}" => "ACME"
>         "${President, ${Company} Inc.}"
>                      => "${President, ACME Inc.}"
Which makes (if kept, I'm not sure it should be, personally, I think it 
should give an error) the interpretation of

set "year" "2000";
fileinto "archive.${$year}"

ambiguous (could either file into "archive.${2000}" or "archive.2003" if 
2003 was the current year).

Marc

-- 
We notice things that don't work. We don't notice things that do.
We notice computers, we don't notice pennies.
We notice e-book readers, we don't notice books.
                                          -- Douglas Adams

pgpT57lbdMaUC.pgp
Description: signature