From: Markus <markus@...>
Date: 2004-10-03T09:01:38+09:00
Subject: Re: Best name for "this method" ?

On Sat, 2004-10-02 at 16:25, trans. (T. Onoma) wrote:
> On Monday 27 September 2004 07:57 pm, Yukihiro Matsumoto wrote:
> >     on Tue, 28 Sep 2004 08:45:59 +0900, "trans.  (T. Onoma)" 
> <transami@runbox.com> writes:
> > |Also, will a method like this be implemented in future Ruby?
> >
> > Possible.  A good name for it is a must.
> >
> What about 'operator'?
> 

     I don't like it.  "Operator" has a pretty specific set of
connotations, both in math and computer science; they are:

      * generally given symbols in preference to names
      * parsed according to rules of precedence (e.g. MDAS) and
        associativity
      * narrow in definition or "algorithmically regular" as it is
        sometimes put
      * almost never have side-effects

    This use would break most of them.  
    Things like "+" or "grad" (typically represented by a downward
pointing equilateral triangle) are operators.  Most methods aren't.

-- Markus