Subject: Re: Why learn Lisp
From: Erik Naggum <erik@naggum.no>
Date: 29 Aug 2002 00:49:23 +0000
Newsgroups: comp.lang.lisp
Message-ID: <3239570963748240@naggum.no>

* Nils Goesche
| So, the printed representation is determined at the time a symbol is
| interned?

  The time of first read seems like a better option.  That is, only the reader
  should remember the case to be preserved.  This might involved some more
  housekeeping information.

| If yes, suppose I have two files containing our symbol.  Once it is written
| `foo', once `Foo'.  Will the printed representation now depend on the order
| the files are loaded?

  It might, but again, I think the first time you write a symbol's name, it
  should honor your choices.  You should also be able to "reset" this flag.

  But in general, this is a very messy thing.  It gets messier the more you
  think about it.

-- 
Erik Naggum, Oslo, Norway

Act from reason, and failure makes you rethink and study harder.
Act from faith, and failure makes you blame someone and push harder.