Re: truth of %nil

["Mark H. Weaver" <mhw@netris.org>]

I've discovered two more tests that can be optimized using the same
bit masking tricks: scm_is_bool and scm_is_bool_or_lisp_nil (newly
created).  Since SCM_BOOL_F and SCM_BOOL_T differ by only one bit,
that one is easy.  The other one can be implemented the same way
as scm_is_lisp_false in my last proposal, by making IFLAG 5 another
never-to-be-used value.  That way, IFLAGS 0/1/4/5 (#f %nil #t
dont-use-2) are all the same except for two bit positions.

So I was thinking that scm_is_bool and scm_is_bool_or_lisp_nil could
be implemented as macros, which are as fast and as compact as testing
for boolean truth.  What do you think?

Also, since writing my last email, I've realized that my testing
macros need to use SCM_UNPACK.

I'm currently in the process of preparing a patch.  As part of that
process, I'm reviewing all uses of the affected macros, and evaluating
for each use case how %nil should be handled.  In order to remain
flexible with regards my other pending proposal, I'm forking macros
into two variants: one which checks for %nil when appropriate, and one
which doesn't.  We can decide what their names should be later.

I found one thorny use of scm_is_bool and scm_is_null, and request
your collective wisdom:

scm_class_of() in goops.c tries to determine the class of a scheme
value.  If scm_is_bool returns true, it's classified as
scm_class_boolean, and if scm_is_null returns true, it's classified as
scm_class_null.  Right now, that code doesn't consider %nil at all.

How do you all think %nil should be handled by goops?

It seems to me that it would be nice to try to support %nil
transparently when possible.

    Mark