[r6rs-discuss] [Formal] String positions and string slices

[Chris Hanson]

Thomas Lord wrote:
> Chris Hanson wrote:
>> Except that the only strong argument for keeping the string interface is
>> historical compatibility. 
> 
> I disagree.
> 
> A strong argument for keeping the CHAR type is to have a model
> for encoding units.

Agreed.  I'm not suggesting changing the character type.

> Then, a strong argument for keeping the STRING type is that
> a mutable, homogenous, disjoint, arbitrary-size sequence of CHAR
> is a vital abstraction for common I/O operations.

I don't see how "mutable" is vital here, unless you are referring to
implementation of I/O buffers.  I don't see that buffering need be done
using the text abstraction; vectors of characters will work fine.