interface for numerical integration, roots etc

> Consider using the Maxima function assoc along with a list argument. Then
> you should be able to do things like
> 
>   nintegerate(blob, x, 0, 1, method = 'trapezodial, number_panels = 42, ...)
> 
> The final optional arguments can be in any order. 

I want to use the same method of passing options,
some of which may be equations, in many
functions, some of which have varying numbers of non-option
arguments, some of which may be equations. In other words,
I am looking for a generic way to pass named arguments, mixed
with positional arguments. So these would work

 highlevelfunc(blob, [x,0,1],[y,a,b], u=v, maxiterations -> 10, eq1 -> c=d);
 highlevelfunc(blob, [x,0,1],[y,a,b], u=v, maxiterations => 10, eq1 => c=d);

 highlevelfunc(blob, [x,0,1],[y,a,b], u=v, opts(maxiterations = 10, eq1 = c=d));
 highlevelfunc(blob, [x,0,1],[y,a,b], u=v, opts=[ maxiterations = 10, eq1 = c=d ]);

Reading the last two lines, you have to think a little to decide
what = means (even for the first option); It's similar to a
listener understanding slightly more slowly when
disambiguating a phrase. But the last two are not too bad, and
don't rob the user of privately defining  somewhat
popular infix operator symbols.

Regards,
John