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Subject: unifying arrays and records (was Re: Rational for not making cursor
 tagged in Containers)
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From: Ray Blaak <rAYblaaK@STRIPCAPStelus.net>
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Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 04:48:17 GMT
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"Randy Brukardt" <randy@rrsoftware.com> writes:
> The better question is why there are arrays at all. A homogeneous container
> is by definition more limited than a heterogeneous one. So, the ideal
> language would find a way to completely unify arrays and records. Perhaps
> the array syntax would have to remain, but it would just be a language
> defined synonym for a record access.

Believe it or not, ECMAScript/JavaScript manages to do it.

obj.field is equivalent to obj["field"], like an implicit hashmap lookup.

obj[1] is just another lookup.

Now JavaScript is a wierd completely dynamic language. The kinds of games it
plays really relies on its non-staticness to work. It is actually closer to
Lisp rather than anything else, just with a Java-ish syntax, even down to its
functions being equivalent to full blown closures. It has nothing at all to do
with Java though.

I both hate it and love it at the same time.

-- 
Cheers,                                        The Rhythm is around me,
                                               The Rhythm has control.
Ray Blaak                                      The Rhythm is inside me,
rAYblaaK@STRIPCAPStelus.net                    The Rhythm has my soul.