[r6rs-discuss] [Formal] (no subject)

[Andre van Tonder]

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This message is a formal comment which was submitted to formal-comment at r6rs.org, following the requirements described at: http://www.r6rs.org/process.html
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Name        : Andre van Tonder
Email       : andre at het.brown.edu
Type        : simplification
Priority    : minor
Component   : enumerations
Version     : 5.91
Pages       : 118-120
Dependencies: None

Summary:
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No rationale is given for having the library (r6rs enum) in the report.  Unless 
there is a compelling rationale, it is suggested that the library be dropped.

Description:
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In the absence of a rationale, it is difficult to judge whether this library is 
really essential.  In contrast to most of the other libraries included in the 
report,

   - I do not think enumerations were part of the r6rs mandate.
   - there does not seem to be a general feeling in the community that
     enumerations are essential and should be standardized.
   - it is unclear what sets enumerations apart from a whole plethora
     of excluded possible libraries that may have been as useful or more useful.
   - there is no widespread prior usage experience of enumerations.
   - it seems to be an ad hoc encapsulation of accidental functionality
     used in the implementation of other libraries.

I do not personally know a sufficiently strong reason to include 
this library in the report.  I do not deny that enumerations may 
be useful, but since the report is already regarded by many as too large,
perhaps this library might be profitably excised.

Suggestion:
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Perhaps drop this library.  Alternatively, it may be helpful to provide a 
compelling rationale for including it.