[REBOL] Re: Is a "series" aka an "array"
From: dukeofperl:ml1 at: 5-Nov-2010 6:40
On Fri, 5 Nov 2010, Carl Read wrote:
> On Thursday, 4-Novenber-2010 at 22:45:03 Duke Normandin wrote,
>
> >> As another quick example, there's a datatype called number! that both
> >> integer! and decimal! fall under.
> >
> >I've been thinking the very same thing! But is "number" the data-type,
> >or integer and decimal the data-type (as in other languages). You see?
>
> number! and series! are called pseudo-types to distinguish them from
> the other, normal datatype.
OK! We're getting close...
What is the motivation/reason for having a pseudo-type?
> >I don't see the point, e.g. using the Pascal family paradigm, of having
> >LONGINT, INTEGER, SHORTINT, REAL etc, which are data-types, and giving
> >them the collective name of "numbers". What would be the point?
>
> Well, if you're doing maths you can then check if the data is a number...
>
> >> integer? 7
> == true
> >> integer? 7.5
> == false
> >> number? 7
> == true
> >> number? 7.5
> == true
Sure ... REBOL has "predicates" that asks a question about a data-type
- "are you an integer?" yes or no? Are you a "real"? yes or no?
But what's the point of asking, "are you a number? The question is too
broad, is it not? Does asking "are you a number?" lead me down a
different path than asking the question, "are you an integer?" ?
Get my point?
--
Duke
