If you want multiple sentences that execute from left to right, why not write a multiline definition?
I occasionally write a single line definition with two or even three sentences, for which [ works fine as a separator. But for more than these a multiline definition would be better. On Sat, Apr 1, 2023 at 8:54 AM Eric Iverson <eric.b.iver...@gmail.com> wrote: > > [ vs linebreak > [ is a single sentence that executes right to left > linebreak is multiple sentences that execute in turn from left to right > > > On Sat, Apr 1, 2023 at 11:35 AM Henry Rich <henryhr...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > When is linebreak used? That is, when is it superior to [? > > > > Henry Rich > > > > On 4/1/2023 11:29 AM, Eric Iverson wrote: > > > I am in favor of linebreak as well as a linejoin. I'd very much like to > > > have an easier to type NB. > > > > > > .. NB. > > > ... linejoin (followed by comment) > > > .... linebreak > > > > > > I used to think internal and nested comments were important, but not > > > anymore. Not enough bang for the required mechanism. > > > > > > > > > > > > On Sat, Apr 1, 2023 at 10:48 AM Jan-Pieter Jacobs < > > > janpieter.jac...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > >> I'd be in favour of both .. and ... . > > >> Regarding ... , I'd like to note that Matlab uses the same as line > > joiner > > >> (see > > >> > > >> > > https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/continue-long-statements-on-multiple-lines.html > > >> ), > > >> and also turns everything after that into a comment (which is very > > handy). > > >> This would let one also comment longer tacit verbs well, without any > > >> extraneous NB.'s . Trivial example would be: > > >> avg =: ... > > >> +/ ... sum > > >> % ... divided by > > >> # ... count > > >> > > >> Your first comment would be incompatible with the easy commenting > > (without > > >> using NB.). > > >> > > >> I don't like the .:. proposal, since it is more difficult to type > > different > > >> characters instead of the same; I'd rather have ::: (could imagine them > > >> looking like the holes for shoelaces, that can be used to tie together > > >> lines)... > > >> > > >> Jan-Pieter > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> On Sat, 1 Apr 2023, 11:26 Elijah Stone, <elro...@elronnd.net> wrote: > > >> > > >>> Some time ago, Michal proposed that a line separator be added. I want > > to > > >>> rekindle that discussion. The proposal was that .. behave like a line > > >>> break > > >>> when placed on a single line, such that e.g. {{ a=. y+y .. a }} 2 would > > >> do > > >>> the > > >>> obvious thing. Short, distinctive, and to the point. > > >>> > > >>> I also want to propose a line _joiner_, analogous to \ in shell or c: > > >> ..., > > >>> placed at the beginning or end of a line should join it with the > > previous > > >>> or > > >>> next. Joining lines happens _after_ stripping comments, unlike the > > other > > >>> languages I cited; the goal is to enable large, multi-line definitions > > >>> with > > >>> commentary for intermediate terms, without the need for pointless > > >>> intermediate > > >>> definitions. > > >>> > > >>> It might be objectionable to use such similar symbols for separators > > and > > >>> joiners. But maybe it's not such a big deal. Two more ideas: > > >>> > > >>> 1. Could use the _same_ symbol for both, with its sense depending on > > >> where > > >>> it's placed in a line. > > >>> > > >>> 2. Separator could be .:.; metaphor: a hill stops the interpreter in > > its > > >>> tracks. > > >>> > > >>> I don't like 2 because the larger the separator is, the more annoying > > it > > >>> is to > > >>> use. Joiner can afford to be large, since it only comes into play if > > the > > >>> rest > > >>> of the line is sufficiently large. > > >>> > > >>> Anyway--thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? > > >>> > > >>> -E > > >>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >>> For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm > > >>> > > >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >> For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm > > >> > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
