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Funny characters inference

Aggressive Type Inference
In talking with people at last year's Python Conference (IPC7), I mentioned the possibility of writing a Python compiler... in Python. Not content to stop there, I suggested that the idea could be taken further, to translate Python code into Perl.
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What does this have to do with type inference? The translated Perl code must have the $@%&* type specifiers on all Perl variables.
Can we look at this as a constructive proof that funny characters are (mostly) not needed by compiler, and are there only to please the programmers?

I decided against posting this in the thread that mentioned ugly syntax (not of Python), as it was pretty long and losing focus already.

By Andris Birkmanis at 2005-05-19 05:20 | LtU Forum | previous forum topic | next forum topic | other blogs | 7338 reads

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SNAFU

The translated Perl code must have the $@%&* type specifiers on all Perl variables.

At first I thought this was an expression of frustration, but now I see that it's just Perl.

By Frank Atanassow at Thu, 2005-05-19 10:04 | login or register to post comments

Perl and its sigils

In some contexts, though, aren't they necessary? There are many examples of where both $foo and @foo are valid expressions which produce different results.

This observation isn't intended as an exoneration of Perl; instead it just serves as a reminder that the sigils do carry some significane to the compiler; and just aren't there to serve as a butt-ugly form of language-enforced Hungarian notation. :)

By Scott Johnson at Thu, 2005-05-19 16:07 | login or register to post comments

Yes, I believe they're a form

Yes, I believe they're a form of type specifier - you might call inferring their presence "type inference", if I may coin a phrase.

By Marcin Tustin at Thu, 2005-05-19 17:14 | login or register to post comments

Haskell

We can have the same thing in Haskell using type-classes without having to specify the expected context, if the type inferencer can verify that it's unambiguous. A good example is this:

[Haskell-cafe] Perl-ish =~ operator

By Daniel Yokomizo at Sat, 2005-06-04 12:25 | login or register to post comments