more spam on extension language fu

more spam on extension language fu

[dskr]

Hi,

One of the things I value most about Guile as an extension language is  
the terrific set of facilities for introspection available. I've  
always thought the included readline support was vile (mostly due to  
readline itself) and so
I've been using my own pure-guile completion library for about 7 years.

=> (tab-complete-string "(socke" (current-module))
"(socket"
=> (tab-complete-string "(socket " (current-module))
"(socket family"
=> (tab-complete-string "(socket AF_IN" (current-module))
"(socket AF_INET"
=> (tab-complete-string "(socket AF_INET SOCK_ST" (current-module))
"(socket AF_INET SOCK_STREAM"

The big plus for me is that it has let me build GTK and AJAX  
interfaces that get the benefit of completions
without the C-fu and fport orientation of the readline stuff. The fact  
that this facility can be built in Scheme is a testament to Guile.

What's the point? The point is that Guile is my extension language and  
also my interface for navigating my own sprawling code. I'm concerned  
that many of the changes that would push Guile down the performance  
path also impact the terrific and underused introspection features  
that Guile already has.

Tab completion is a parlor trick. The fact that environments are  
inspectable and that procedure source is recoverable mean that many  
powerful lexical analysis tricks are easier in Guile than in many  
other Scheme environments.

Cheers,
	Dan Ridge



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Re: more spam on extension language fu

[Neil Jerram]

dskr <dskr@mac.com> writes:

> What's the point? The point is that Guile is my extension language and
> also my interface for navigating my own sprawling code. I'm concerned
> that many of the changes that would push Guile down the performance
> path also impact the terrific and underused introspection features
> that Guile already has.
>
> Tab completion is a parlor trick. The fact that environments are
> inspectable and that procedure source is recoverable mean that many
> powerful lexical analysis tricks are easier in Guile than in many
> other Scheme environments.

FWIW, I value these introspection features too.  I would hope that
whatever performance improvements happen, it will be possible to
retain such features, at least in a "debugging" or "interactive" mode.

       Neil



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