On Jun 18, 5:23 pm, "Stephen C. Gilardi" <squee...@mac.com> wrote:
> On Jun 18, 2009, at 1:25 PM, Adam Blinkinsop wrote:
>
> > Does ref-set not set the "in-transaction-value"? It looks like the
> > only difference is the signature, and that can't be right.
>
> Both set the in-transaction value. ref-set sets a specific value.
> alter runs a function to transform the previous in-transaction value
> to a new one.
>
> Clojure doesn't always offer only a minimal set of tools to work with
> its pieces. One could write ref-set in terms of alter, for example.
> The only practical difference would be a small additional cost in
> runtime.
>
Most important is what they convey to the reader. ref-set says "I'm
trashing the current value of the ref", while alter says "I'm
transforming the current value of the ref". You should never use ref-
set to do the latter. alter, swap!, and send all have the same pattern
of transformation and are preferred.
Rich
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