[r6rs-discuss] Scheme should not be changed to be case sensitive

[Shiro Kawai]

You mean,

 (eq? 'a 'A) => #f

and

 (let ((FOO 3)) foo) => 3

Right?

It is an interesting idea, but what should happen when I
import Xlib, which defines distinctive constants XK_A and XK_a?

--shiro


From: John Cowan <cowan at ccil.org>
Subject: Re: [r6rs-discuss] Scheme should not be changed to be case sensitive
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 13:23:03 -0500

> Shiro Kawai scripsit:
> 
> > Symbol case folding is not only a matter of the reader but
> > also affects the writer if we want to guarantee write-read
> > invariance.   
> 
> It occurs to me that a possibility not yet addressed is to provide
> symbol case-folding but identifier case-folding.  That is, Scheme
> should fold identifiers in the interpreter or compiler, rather than
> folding the names of symbols at run time.  That would, I believe,
> satisfy the code-backward-compatibility issue.
> 
> (I'm still in favor of case-sensitive identifiers *and* symbols.)
> 
> -- 
> There is no real going back.  Though I          John Cowan
> may come to the Shire, it will not seem         cowan at ccil.org
> the same; for I shall not be the same.          http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
> I am wounded with knife, sting, and tooth,
> and a long burden.  Where shall I find rest?           --Frodo
>