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newRPL: [UPDATED April 27-2017] Firmware for testing available for download
01-24-2017, 05:50 PM
Post: #531
RE: newRPL: [UPDATED December-29-16] Firmware for testing available for download
I've been thinking some more about EVAL. It has always been a command that tried to wear way too many hats.

* It replaces variables.

* It simplifies expressions.

* It executes programs.

* It "executes" lists.

* It even makes Julienne French fries!

I get the compatibility argument. But I wonder if it's outweighed by the blessed ability to treat vectors, matrices, and lists in exactly the same way?

What if EVAL did only the first two things on the list above, and executing things was a new command? I notice there's a new command XEQSECO, which I assume is for executing secondary programs in some sense; what if there were a command XEQ which does for programs and lists what EVAL does now?

The only downside (other than compatibility) that I can see is that there'd be no obvious button to run a program on the stack. Really the only objection I have to EVAL is what it does to lists; maybe it could continue to run programs? Or maybe we map XEQ to where PRG is now and call it good.

P.S. Three totally unrelated things:

1. Shouldn't there be angle commands to 'label number as an angle of the current format, whatever that may be' and 'convert angle to current format'?

2. Is there any way to get a list of units that have been UDEFINE'd? Since they don't show up in directories, and there's no way to add them to the Units menu, I imagine it would be easy to lose track of them.

3. Is there any compelling reason not to use the left and right arrow keys as NXT and PREV? Or some shifted version, if it's felt important to keep the SWAP function on the right arrow? (I personally almost never use it.)

Oh, and I just noticed:

4. I wiped memory, but once again I'm getting the problem with the DISABLE key.
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RE: newRPL: [UPDATED December-29-16] Firmware for testing available for download - The Shadow - 01-24-2017 05:50 PM



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