Re: `append' vs. `nconc'

[Pascal J. Bourguignon]

Emanuel Berg <embe8573@student.uu.se> writes:

> What is the reason one has to use `list'? (I suppose
> the ` isn't safe, either.)

list returns a fresh list. ` doesn't. ` may return a structure that
shares literal substructures with others.

Typically, it will be a tail, but it can also be some cars:

    `((a . b) (c . ,x) ,@y d e f)

could translate to:

    (list* '(a . b) (cons 'c x) (append y '(d e f)))

or something similar.  Then each time you execute it, you get a list
whose tail is the same literal (d e f), and whose car is the same
literal cons (a . b).


> And: In Pascal's examples he always used `setf'.
> The help says it can be used for places as well as for
> symbols. In the examples tho there has been only
> symbols if I'm not mistaken.

It's simplier to forget about set and setq, and always use setf.
That frees two neurons to think about other things.


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