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nil IS a list...

tweeks 
ddGetObjChildren( 
b_objId 
) 
=> l_children | nil

When you say l_children, isn't it already implied that the list could be empty?  After all, if the object has no children, then you get nil, which is just a zero-length list of children.  So shouldn't the return type be simply l_children, like this:

ddGetObjChildren( 
b_objId 
) 
=> l_children

Just sayin'....

Parents
  • Andrew Beckett

    If looking for any nils present in the list, I would use:

    (forall elem lst elem)

    as that's probably more expressive than (apply or ...). 

    In general I always advise against overuse of macros. Peter Norvig makes a good point in Paradigms of Artificial Intelligence Programming about this. "The first step in writing a macro is to recognize that every time you write one, you are defining a new language that is just like Lisp except for your new macro. The programmer who thinks that way will rightfully be extremely frugal in defining macros. Introducing a macro puts much more memory strain on the reader of your program than does introducing a function, variable or data type, so it should not be taken lightly. Introduce macros only when there is a clear need, and when the macro fits in well with your existing system."

    And yes, that is two pence or "tuppence" (with a u rather than an o)!

    Andrew 

Reply
  • Andrew Beckett

    If looking for any nils present in the list, I would use:

    (forall elem lst elem)

    as that's probably more expressive than (apply or ...). 

    In general I always advise against overuse of macros. Peter Norvig makes a good point in Paradigms of Artificial Intelligence Programming about this. "The first step in writing a macro is to recognize that every time you write one, you are defining a new language that is just like Lisp except for your new macro. The programmer who thinks that way will rightfully be extremely frugal in defining macros. Introducing a macro puts much more memory strain on the reader of your program than does introducing a function, variable or data type, so it should not be taken lightly. Introduce macros only when there is a clear need, and when the macro fits in well with your existing system."

    And yes, that is two pence or "tuppence" (with a u rather than an o)!

    Andrew 

Children
No Data

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