Re: [Caml-list] syntax change (was: camlp4o problem)

["Benjamin C. Pierce" <bcpierce@saul.cis.upenn.edu>]

> I think you rarely get a chance to change major things, and so you
> should take the opportunity before it's too late.  I would support such
> a change if the team wanted to do it.  I don't think they should do it
> lightly, obviously, but I also don't think they should be terrified of
> a change like this either.  Decide what's best for the future of caml,
> weighing user pain (but not overly strongly) and cleanliness benefit,
> and make a decision. 

[Wearing my computer-science-educator hat...]

I *do* think the OCaml team should be terrified of syntax changes.  At
this stage, one of the things that is most hampering the spread of OCaml,
particularly in educational settings, is the dearth of books.  If
incompatible changes are not kept to a minimum, no one will want to write
any, and the few that do get written will quickly go out of date.

       B

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Prof. BENJAMIN C. PIERCE
Dept. of Computer & Information Science                bcpierce@cis.upenn.edu
University of Pennsylvania                                    +1 215 898-2012
200 South 33rd St.                                       Fax: +1 215 898-0587
Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA                http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~bcpierce
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