operator for equations, was: Re: [Maxima] Plot options foo=bar vs [foo, bar]

Robert Dodier writes:
> Hi Vadim,
> 
>> [foo,bar] by foo:bar
> 
> I have trouble seeing the : however.
> An = sign is more easily visible.
> 
> Also the presence of : makes for evaluation trouble.
> 
> On the balance, foo:bar is an improvement over [foo, bar].
> But I would like foo=bar even better.

Yes.  Actually I also prefere =  But Maxima
already use : for assignment and = for equation.
So I proposed : as temporary assignment for
plot option.

>> Compare to Mathematica's notation.  They have
>> {x,0,5} for intervals and foo->bar for plot options
>> (temporary assignments). Maybe Mathematica's style
>> is not the best to follow but certainly there is some
>> logic behind it.
> 
> Maybe we can think of reasons to prefer [x, a, b] but
> I hope we have something stronger than "it is like Mathematica".
> Mathematica is an especially ugly language.
> 

I mean here not specific notation -- Mathematica's or any other.
The key point is that notation for options and
plotting interval should or even must be different.


-- 
      Vadim V. Zhytnikov

       <vvzhy at mail.ru>
      <vvzhy at netorn.ru>