Thom Boyer wrote:
> The enumerations and the numerical values are both in correct order.
> Since "abc" is less than "xyz", "abc" cmp "xyz" is being invoked with
> its arguments in increasing order, So it returns Order::Increase. That
> numifies to -1 because that's how "less-than" is usually encoded.
Others have pointed out Joe's actual intent in asking the question; so
I won't belabor the point.
Instead, I'll say that the idea that Order::Increase numifies to -1 is
going to take some getting used to. While I understand the reasoning
behind it, my intuition would have been to numify it to +1 for an
increase and -1 for a decrease.
If C<"abc" cmp "xyz"> must numify to -1, could we please choose
something like 'Order::Before' and 'Order::After' instead of
'Order::Increase' and 'Order::Decrease'? Not only does this make more
intuitive sense, but it also pairs the Order values more closely with
the type-neutral comparison operators ('before' and 'after').
(Which brings up another point, which I'll freely admit I'm too lazy
to look up at the moment: do we already have a type-neutral operator
that corresponds to 'Order::Same'? I suspect that '===' is it; but my
grasp of the plethora of equivalence operators is somewhat shaky. If
not - and possibly even if so, depending on which paradigm is the most
important one to reinforce - I might recommend using 'same' to
complete the 'before'/'after' set of operators.)
--
Jonathan "Dataweaver" Lang
