Re: [Mid-discussion Summary] Proposal: add new Data.Bits.Bits(bitZero) method

I agree with Edward that it would be better to reserve 'zero' for something like an additive identity. I'll withdraw my +1 for the name `zero`, in favor of +1 for `zeroBits`. Twan On 22/02/14 16:48, Edward Kmett wrote:

I am notably strongly against taking 'zero' as it is much more appropriately used by more algebraic classes, and it is an annoyingly common name to take for such an often unqualified import.

-Edward

On Sat, Feb 22, 2014 at 5:03 AM, Herbert Valerio Riedel mailto:hvr@gnu.org> wrote:

Hello *,

Here's a mid-discussion summary of the proposal

>> Introduce a new class method >> >> class Bits a where >> ... >> -- | Value with all bits cleared >> <0-value-method> :: a >> ... >> >> modulo naming of '<0-value-method>'

from my point of view:

- The idea came up already in 2011 when Num-superclass was to be removed from Bits (but discussion derailed)

- So far general consensus (i.e. no "-1"s afaics) it's desired to have an all-bits-clear value introducing method in 'Bits'

- Use "clearBit (bit 0) 0" as default implementation for smooth upgrade-path

- Nameing for <0-value-method> boils down to two candidates:

a) 'Data.Bits.zero'

- based on the idea tha 'Data.Bits' ought to be imported qualified (or with explicit import-list) anyway (-> thus following PVP practice)

- many existing Data.Bits.Bits methods such as 'rotate', 'complement', 'popCount', 'xor', or 'shift' don't have the name 'bit' in it (and those few that have, operate on single bits)

- supporters (in no particular order):

- ARJANEN Loïc Jean David - Henning Thielemann - Herbert Valerio Riedel (+0.99) - Twan van Laarhoven

b) 'Data.Bits.zeroBits'

- more verbose name reduces risk of namespace conflicts with unqualified imports

- supporters (in no particular order):

- Edward Kmett - Eric Mertens - Herbert Valerio Riedel - Twan van Laarhoven - (maybe?) ARJANEN Loïc Jean David

So far there doesn't seem to be a very clear preference for 'zeroBits' over 'zero'. It might help, if those how expressed some kind of support for both variants could clarify if their preference has any bias towards 'zeroBits' or 'zero'.

Cheers, hvr _______________________________________________ Libraries mailing list Libraries@haskell.org mailto:Libraries@haskell.org http://www.haskell.org/mailman/listinfo/libraries

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