[REBOL] rebol's code evaluation... [was: MySQL protocol bug]
From: maximo::meteorstudios::com at: 19-Feb-2004 14:41
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Hallvard Ystad [mailto:[hallvard--ystad--oops-as--no]]
> Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 1:52 PM
> To: [rebol-list--rebol--com]
> Subject: [REBOL] Re: MySQL protocol bug
>
> Dixit Maxim Olivier-Adlhoch (15.33 19.02.2004):
> >Because rebol really is just evaluating expressions as it
> encouters them one thing at a time, when it hits a string
> value, for example, IF no previous function required an
> argument, it is ignored, and evaluation simply continues to
> the following item of code.
>
> Correction: the string is not ignored. It is evaluated (to
> itself!). Isn't it so?
yess... I had written it that way first (in my own words) then decided it would be a
little confusing for beginners. but your words make it so clear!
Thanks for bringing that to light.
The way I see it is that any value which does not evaluate into an action simply returns
a clean version if itself. It is possible that some values get reduced or "corrected"
as part of their evaluation, but I do not know how to call this behavior.
example:
>> 2001-3-4
== 4-Mar-2001
Both are valid and equivalent dates, but the evaluated one is what will be molded and
is the expected format.
This is another feature of rebol I like. Because the interpreter expects to evaluate
items as it encouters them, it can loosen up syntax of many things.
-MAx
