[REBOL] Re: On mutability and sameness
From: larry:ecotope at: 6-Jun-2001 16:46
Hi Colin
> 1. From the User Guide:
>
> Series
> Series values hold a sequential collection of elements whether characters
> (string!, email!, url!, etc.), integers (tuple!), bits (binary!), or
elements
> (block!, list!, hash!, etc.).
>
> > That makes Tuple a Series by Definition 1.
I would say that the description of series you quote is over-simplified and
misleading in a couple of respects:
1) It conflicts with the built-in definition, namely that which returns true
for
series? x
which shows that a tuple is not a series.
2) A binary is an ordered collection of bytes, not bits, because it's length
in bits must be a multiple of 8. The access functions index and return
bytes. It is of the pseudotype any-string! and can be converted directly to
a string of 8 bit bytes with TO-STRING. Unfortunately there is no built-in
conversion function to do the reverse (irregular).
Personally, at the present time, I find it easier to maintain my sanity by
using the built-in type system and REBOLS reflective capabilities to get
working answers to questions when possible. The docs (although invaluable)
are sometimes misleading, often incomplete or outdated, and rarely just flat
out wrong.
I certainly agree that some further explanation from RT on the
implementation of datatypes would be extremely useful. I also agree that
there are "irregularities" in the implementation of some REBOL datatypes and
their associated manipulation functions, which are impediments to a clear
and quick understanding of the language. I heartily support your (and Joels)
efforts to coax some more information from RT about language details. I am
cautiously optimistic that this will happen (but probably not any time
soon).
Regards
-Larry
BTW is the quote above from the REBOL/Core users guide? If so, we should
send feedback a msg to fix it.