AltME: Ren - Data Exchange Format

Messages

Geomol
R2 distinguish between keys of type word! and of type set-word! in hash! (old map! type).
Gregg
The reason for using set-words as keys is, again, for JSON comparison, but also because it makes a lot of sense to normal people. Whether we enforce that strictly in Ren is a good (and hard) question.
I can't imagine what get-block would even mean as a type. Blocks are not evaluated by default.
I will try to make time to write up a comparison matrix of alternatives. But I'm slammed with work at the moment, so will be happy if someone beats me to it.
Geomol
get-block!
This
    :[a b c]
could mean
    reduce [:a :b :c]
(sometime in the future).
Geomol
I'm not for required set-words in maps. Use contexts (objects), if that's more readable.
I'm ok with both having words and set-words as keys in maps, and maybe they should be different entries into the map.
Gregg
We don't have objects. This is Ren. :-) We also don't have the concept of reduce.
Geomol
I think, you have objects. Ok about reduce, as it is a format. But I see, set-words are planned, so set-blocks may not be ruled out because of some syntax.

Oldes
"About #[a: 1 b: 2] , I see no point in having to write all the keys as set-words. "
I totally agree!... The main purpose of map! is that key may be any (almost?) datatype, not just word!
Gregg
For Ren, then, we need to consider the "almost" part carefully. I agree that being able to use anything as a key value is powerful. What *can't* you use as a key? This is important because the Ren spec needs to be kept a simple as possible, while still allowing much more expressivity than JSON.
From the perspective of data exchange, should there be anything you can't use as a key in a map?
Andreas
I think once we have the syntax settled, we can conceivably deviate between (base) Ren and full Rebol.
Gregg
And, again we're talking Ren here, is this a good thing?
Andreas
In Ren, it may be very useful to restrict potential keys slightly further, to ease interop with other languages.
For full Rebol, we could have slightly more relaxed restrictions.
In particular, I think that compound types as keys should be carefully considered for Ren.
Gregg
Yes, Ren is separate, and not only good for interop, but also a helpful constraint to require keys to be set words.
Andreas
Compound types: blocks, (parens?), maps.
Gregg
Potentially helpful. It's a tough call, because we think in terms of Redbol, and want to exchange all data seamlessly.
Agreed on compound types.
Enormous power there, if you allow anything.
Andreas
And enormous potential for problems as well, because you then need to carefully define a equivalence story as well.

Last message posted 406 weeks ago.