[Template-haskell] Re: Proposal: Allow "\=" for field update in record update syntax

[S. Alexander Jacobson]

Since this didn't get a response on the Haskell list, I thought I 
would forward it here....


On Sat, 19 Feb 2005, Andre Pang wrote:

> On 19/02/2005, at 5:20 AM, Keean Schupke wrote:
>
>> Yes, your idea is much nicer... I was just suggesting TH as a way to 
>> implement custom  syntax... It would be nice if come sort of standard 
>> existed for template-haskell so that other compilers/interpreters could 
>> adopt it. A portable template would be a cool thing.
>
> The $(...) syntax that you need at the splice site greatly diminishes the 
> potential for Template Haskell to be used as syntax, unfortunately.  The 
> interesting (or frustrating?) thing is that Template Haskell implements the 
> majority of the hard work needed for a proper hygienic macro system, but 
> unfortunately doesn't go quite the extra mile to enable you to actually 
> define new syntax.  I suspect all you'd need is a way to annotate the 
> function you wanted to use as a macro, so that the compiler knows that the 
> function should always be spliced in, rather than be explicitly spliced in at 
> the call site.  (People who know better, shoot me down if I'm wrong ...)
>
> I'd actually go so far blame the lack of macro support in TH on the Haskell 
> community as a whole, since the general consensus I get from e.g. the mailing 
> lists is that "syntactic sugar is bad".
>
>
> -- 
> % Andre Pang : trust.in.love.to.save  <http://www.algorithm.com.au/>
>

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S. Alexander Jacobson tel:917-770-6565 http://alexjacobson.com