From: joel de guzman (isis-tech_at_[hidden])
Date: 2001-06-01 11:13:49
From: "Greg Colvin" :
> > > And don't forget
> > >
> > > a*b*c
> > >
> > > Commutative for numbers, but not matrices, and a common
> > > substitute in computer languages for
> > >
> > > a b c
> > >
> > > in algebra. Nice high precedence too.
> >
> > Clashes with the Kleene star.
>
> What clash? If
> A * A
> in Spirit means
> A A
> in EBNF and if
> *A
> in Spirit means
> A*
> in EBNF then
> *A
> in Spirit matches nothing, or
> A
> or
> A * A
> or
> A * A * A
> and so on.
>
Hello Greg,
That's the coolest argument I've seen so far!
At first I didn't get it but a second look and
omi-gosh, he's right!!! You are great, man!
a b <in math> ----> a * b <in programming>
a b <in BNF> ----> a * b <in Spirit>
nice parallels!
*a ---> nothing | a | a * a | a * a * a | a * a * a * a....
<star> a means repeat the <stars> as many as you want.
And as many stars as the heavens!
I'm convinced. I vote for the star :-)
-Joel de Guzman
PS> Some trivial bug fixes by Colin McPhail. Please
download the latest version. I will upload into boost's
vault as soon as the ports and tests done by those
concerned have become stable.