[ANSI-Smalltalk] re: array creation syntax

[Panu Logic]

Paolo Bonzini wrote:
> I proposed
>     Dictionary from: { a -> b. c -> d }
>     Set from: { a. b. c. d }

If we define  the binary operators #-> and   #.  in a proper way,
I don't think there is a stressing need for  syntactic extensions
to achieve a similar effect, is there?

    Dictionary from:   (a -> b) .  (c -> d )

might  just work,  if we can define the binary operator #->  in the 
right way.
And

      Set from:  a. b. c. d

might  be enough  if we can define the binary operator #.  in the right way.

Neither of the above requires any new curly syntax { },  IF  we can
define #-> and #.  within the standard library to achieve a similar
 result as to what you are proposing.


I think it is important to make a clear distinction between
extensions needed for

  a) The standard syntax
  b) The standard class-library


The Strength of Smalltalk has always been that you can
do so much with its STANDARD library, with a very simple syntax.

Just think about what we can do with block-closures,
without needing any specific built-in syntax for IF-THEN-ELSE.



-Panu Viljamaa