[r6rs-discuss] Case-Sensitivity Optional, Case-Preservation Mandatory

[Erich Rast]

Case-sensitivity should be optional in the sense that a language
implementor MAY implement a processing option that makes source file
processing case-sensitive, but MUST provide a processing option that
makes source file processing case-insensitive.

In turn, I submit that all implementations MUST be case-preserving under
certain circumstances. Whatever is done to source code/data file input
MUST preserve case information if (a) the implementation provides a way
to retrieve the original symbols of the source data (i.e. the source
data is not compiled to something else entirely anyway), and (b) the
respective symbols are not mapped to another case explicitly.

Preserving case is IMHO crucial. If the language provides me with a way
to convert an external or internal symbol to a string, then the
resulting string better reflect the case of the characters of the
original symbol.

That's my 2 cents on that matter.

Best,

Erich