What is Expressiveness in a Computer Language

[Pascal Bourguignon]

Andreas Rossberg <rossberg at ps.uni-sb.de> writes:

> Pascal Costanza wrote:
>> Consider a simple expression like 'a + b': In a dynamically typed
>> language, all I need to have in mind is that the program will
>> attempt to add two numbers. In a statically typed language, I
>> additionally need to know that there must a guarantee that a and b
>> will always hold numbers.
>
> I'm confused. Are you telling that you just write a+b in your programs
> without trying to ensure that a and b are in fact numbers??

Of course.

(shadow '(+ *))
(defun + (&rest args) `(+ , at args))
(defun * (&rest args) `(* , at args))

(let ((var 'x) (init 'b) (slop 'a))
   (+ init (* slop var))) 
--> (+ B (* A X))


-- 
__Pascal Bourguignon__                     http://www.informatimago.com/

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