[REBOL] Re: Does the REBOL book clarify REBOL semantics?
From: al:bri:xtra at: 21-Nov-2000 16:05
jsw, a boring C programmer, wrote:
> I've recently been looking at REBOL and the manual. I must admit that I
find the latter somewhat unclear in places. For instance, we can pass
arguments with
> 1. 'avar
> 2. avar
> 3. :avar
>
> and maybe some other ways as well.
You can also pass them in strings:
"avar"
or in blocks:
[avar]
or, with care, in parenthesis:
(avar)
> There doesn't seem to be a place in the manual where this crucial matter
is explained in terms of say 'by copy', 'by value', 'by reference', etc -
conventional usage that can clarify matters greatly.
Either the argument is a series! or a object! then it's passed as a pointer,
otherwise it's passed as a copy. Check out pages 87 through 90 of the Core
manual PDF for more.
> Accordingly, I'm considering buying "REBOL-The Official Guide". However,
before doing so I'd like to solicit your opinions on the text. Does it
clarify some of the parameter passing semantics?
Kind of.
> Does it clarify the notion of a "value"?
Yes. It explains it in some detail. Basically a value is the "meaning"
assigned or referenced by a word. For ease of your mind, think of Rebol
words as pointers or references to values or meaning.
> Does it ramble? Please be critical.
Uhm, it does ramble a bit. But then people might get the impression I'm too
brief.
> I sent an email to join the r-tog list but I'm still being processed - for
the last 3 days.
I've just checked and you seem to be a member of the list. It has been quiet
on that list, however.
Andrew Martin
Rebol programmer in NZ.
ICQ: 26227169
http://members.nbci.com/AndrewMartin/
