On 4/22/11 1:14 PM, Evan Laforge wrote:
Here's a simple issue that's been with me for a while. As do many people, I use plural variable names for lists, so if a Block as called 'block' then [Block] is 'blocks'.
The other pattern that comes up a lot is 'Maybe Block'. When I have to name it, I call it 'maybe_block', e.g.
maybe_block<- lookup something case maybe_block of Just block -> ...
However, this maybe_ prefix is rather long and unwieldy. I have considered things like 'm' or 'mb' but they don't suggest Maybe to me. An 'm' prefix or suffix is already implying 'monad'.
I tend to use 'm', but you're right that it causes confusion about whether mFoo is "monadic foo" or "maybe foo". Perhaps I should start using 'mb' instead...
If '?' were allowed in identifiers I could use it as a suffix.
I'd love it if '?' were allowed as an identifier suffix, though the lispers will assume it's a predicate rather than a maybe. While we're at it, three cheers for allowing '!' as an identifier suffix for indicating strictness (because the apostrophe has plenty of other uses). -- Live well, ~wren