On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 01:20:08AM -0400, Gwern Branwen wrote:
For example, why do we have all these repeated <:>? If monads are 'programmable semicolons', surely we could get rid of them. :) That is an interesting option. (I wasn't being that clever.) However, a (non-programmer) beginner probably won't ask "why are there repeated semicolons?", but rather tell himself, "oh, I use semicolons to configure xmonad". This could, of course, teach a bad habit. :)
Another thing: when I cast myself into a beginner's mind, I see no reason that modMask and terminal use '<=>', but layout and layoutHook must use '<+>'. All look like they're updating a variable. Again, try to imagine you're not a programmer, and hence don't know what 'updating a variable' is. :)
The distinction I was trying to draw (and perhaps failing at) was that <-> removes something <=> sets something, and <+> adds something. Not every thing supports every operation. For example, you can add and remove keybindings (or set the whole list from scratch), but can only add new layout choices, or set the list from scratch (since our types won't allow removal).
So I worry that this approach might lead to too much 'magic' and mysteriousness. Fair point.
The current config file at least is discoverable: once you learn haskell syntax, you can then consult the haddocks and find out everything you need to know, and why everything is the way it is. Is learning basic Haskell syntax and semantics too much to ask new users? This is a genuine question; I'm not sure what xmonad's "mission statement" is, here. :P
And if you already know Haskell, then it's just a matter of learning some libraries, something you do all the time. I think if you know Haskell, you'll be okay with the higher-order functions that it employs.
But a list of variable updates, that can be just a mess. But that's what it is now. When we write: layoutHook = smartBorders (layoutHook defaultConfig ||| simpleTabbed) the result is equivalent, just in mixed order (middle-to-right-to-left), whereas main = xmonad =<< do addTo layouts simpleTabbed addTo layoutHooks smartBorders All happens from top-to-bottom order.
* Actually, would anyone lynch me if I did something like go through XMC and remove all the $s from the examples and docs? Hrm... not off-hand, no. I was going to whine re: UrgencyHook docs, but
(There's your monadic syntax. :) then my reasons for the dollar there are more aesthetic than anything. :P Thanks for your thoughts. I will chew. I hope you will, too.