Adding values to the same variable

[pjot]

Hi,

In some languages (C, AWK, Scriptbasic) it is possible to add a value to the same variable like this:

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value+=5

This actually means 'value = value + 5'.

In newLisp this has to be written as:

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(set 'value (+ value 5))

Can we have maybe a new operator like '+=', '-=' and so on, so these type of calculations can be written as follows:

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(set 'value (+= 5))

- or even better:

(+= 'value 5)

What do you think?

Peter

[Lutz]

for + and - we have already inc and dec:

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> (set 'x 0)
0
> (inc 'x)
1
> (inc 'x)
2
> (inc 'x 2)
4
> (inc 'x 2)
6
> (dec 'x 3)
3
> (dec 'x 3)
0
> 

[pjot]

OK, and of course now the inevitable question: what about the other operators? ;-)

[pjot]

...and also, how about strings?

Now we need to append like this:

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(set 'str "0123")
(set 'str (append str "4567"))

How about something like:

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(set 'str "0123")
(app 'str "4567")

So the 'app' behaves like an 'inc'?

[newdep]

you want smaler code?

you dont like => (push srt <text> -1) ?

[cormullion]

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value+=5

This actually means 'value = value + 5'.

Personally I'd rather see the latter than the former, and it looks better in Lisp form too - (set 'value (+ value 5)). It's more readable - although I'll agree it's a bit more typing.

Perhaps this is a good reason for writing macros to develop your preferred set of shorthand operators...

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(define-macro (scale s x)
   (set s (mul (eval s) x)))
   
(set 'a 12)
(scale a 2)
24

[Lutz]

Then there is also this for destructive string append:

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> (set 'str "123")
"123"
> (write-buffer str "456")
3
> str
"123456"
> 

When you give 'write-buffer' a string instead of a file handle, it appends to it.

[pjot]

Thanks for the answers.

Personally I'd rather see the latter than the former, and it looks better in Lisp form too - (set 'value (+ value 5)). It's more readable - although I'll agree it's a bit more typing.

It's not a matter of typing, but rather shortness and elegance of code. Contrary to Cormullion, I find the '(set 'value (+ value 5))' not very elegant, but it's a matter of taste, I guess :-)

Peter