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

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