I think Mathias's point, that it is exactly as useful or useless as `codePointAt`, is a reasonable one. However,
> This method is just as useful as `String.prototype.codePointAt`. If that > method is included, so should `String.prototype.at`. If `String.prototype.at` > is found not to be useful, `String.prototype.codePointAt` should be removed > too. This does not follow. The choice is not between adding two useless methods and adding zero. There is no reason to exclude the possibility of adding only one useless method. But anyway, as some people seem to think that both methods are in fact useful---including Rick, who has agreed to champion---I agree with Scott that after having said our piece it's time to exit the thread. -----Original Message----- From: es-discuss [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of C. Scott Ananian Sent: Friday, February 14, 2014 12:12 To: Mathias Bynens Cc: [email protected] list Subject: Re: `String.prototype.symbolAt()` (improved `String.prototype.charAt()`) Yes, I know what `String#at` is supposed to do. I was pointing out that `String#at` makes it easy to do the wrong thing. If you do `Array.from(str)` then you suddenly have a complete random-access data structure where you can find out the number of code points in the String, iterate it in reverse from the end to the start, slice it, find the midpoint, etc. `Array.from` looks like an O(n) operation, and it is -- so it encourages developers to cache the value and reuse it. That said, I can see where a lexer might want to use `String#at`, being careful to do the correct index bump based on `result.length`. However, the fastest JS lexers don't create String objects, they operate directly on the code point (see http://marijnhaverbeke.nl/acorn/#section-58). So I'm -0, mostly because the name isn't great. But I have exactly zero say in the matter anyway. So I'll shut up now. --scott _______________________________________________ es-discuss mailing list [email protected] https://mail.mozilla.org/listinfo/es-discuss _______________________________________________ es-discuss mailing list [email protected] https://mail.mozilla.org/listinfo/es-discuss
