Re: That numeric verb thing again.

• Date: Mon, 19 Feb 1996 12:24:50 PST
• From:
  hpa@trantor.storm.net (H. Peter Anvin)
• Content-Type: text
• Newsgroups: local.moo
• Organization: Where Stormnet meets the Internet
• References: <01BAFED5.917D3120@phoenix.clawpaw.com>

In article <01BAFED5.917D3120@phoenix.clawpaw.com>,
Ron Stanions <chaeon@roc.clawpaw.com> wrote:
>
>The first and biggest is with .program.  pre 1.8.0, .program #123:foo
>or .program #123:3 would access the same verb.  now, in 1.8.0 it
>becomes 'safe' to create a verb named "3", but now which verb does
>.program #123:3 refer to, the third verb, or the verb named "3" ?
>The syntax for .program will have to change somewhat.
>

I suggest using the already-unambiguous MOOcode syntax:

object:verb OK iff verb doesn't contain " ( )
object:("verb") otherwise
object:(verbno) for verb numbers

>Secondly, a lot of verbs that work off of verbnames expect a string
>argument, and it's a lot easier to write verbs for verbs when you
>always know there's gonna be a string argument. Now, many of those
>verbs that expects a verbname 'should' be modified to deal with a
>possible numeric argument.

It's a lot of work to change a preexisting db over to the "clean"
solution.  That's why a compatibility option has been provided.

	-hpa
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• That numeric verb thing again.
• From: Ron Stanions <chaeon@roc.clawpaw.com>

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