Re: [Chicken-users] Re: [Chicken Gazette - Issue 13] - ##sys#:keyword:'s

[Peter Bex]

On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 10:47:51PM +0100, Jörg F. Wittenberger wrote:
> May I ask a simple question: what is the actual rational behind keywords
> (wrt. symbols)?

You may ask any question you wish :)

> Are there any good references?

I'm not sure.  It appears to be one of those typical "historically grown"
things.  The DSSSL standard contains *some* documentation for them, but it
boils down to "they're almost like symbols, except self-evaluating" :)

I found a copy of the DSSSL draft here:
ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/sun-info/standards/dsssl/draft/

It's in some odd "DynaText" format though.  Luckily it's more-or-less
readable in plaintext.

> Could we do away with them?
> 
> Boil them down to mere read syntax?  ( 'x same as x: ?)

Maybe.  It would make mistakes a lot easier though, since now keywords
can be distinguished from optional variables more easily.

I think we'll finally see a proper rigorous treatment of keywords when
the RnRS process decides to take it upon them to standardize them ;)

Cheers,
Peter
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