Re: [Boost-docs] The beauty of LATEX

Subject: Re: [Boost-docs] The beauty of LATEX
From: Joel de Guzman (joel_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-10-26 15:39:23

On 10/26/2011 11:02 PM, Dave Abrahams wrote:
> 
> on Wed Oct 26 2011, Joel de Guzman <joel-AT-boost-consulting.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 10/26/2011 4:40 PM, Daniel James wrote:
>>> On Tuesday, 25 October 2011, Joel de Guzman wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>     On 10/25/2011 6:01 PM, Daniel James wrote:
>>>     >
>>>     > Yes, that works. Although now when you want to pass the function as a
>>>     > parameter, you have to define another lambda function. Which could get
>>>     > very verbose - especially if the function takes a few arguments. It
>>>
>>>     That's how it's done in lisp/scheme, it's foolish to go invent
>>>     something else.
>>>
>>>     > also requires you to always know how many arguments a function takes.
>>>
>>>     What's wrong with that? Ah, you want it like C function pointers
>>>     where you pass only f and be done with it? That's too limiting.
>>>     You can't even curry with it.
>>>
>>>
>>>  You can do that in Scheme:
>>>
>>> http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/full-text/book/book-Z-H-12.html#%_sec_1.3.1
>>
>> Oh right, I forgot about that. Yes, we can have both.
> 
> No offense, but this is starting to sound a little silly...  Could
> someone explain to me why we don't use a real scheme (or some other)
> interpreter?

Actually, we have a real scheme interpreter. Behind the scenes, I'll
probably use that. The template processor is a bit different though
in that it is purely a text generation engine. Also, I'm trying to
get as close as possible to the current Qbk syntax and there are
big differences. For example, notice that [* This Is Bold] does not
mean the same thing in scheme which will try to multiply three symbols,
This, Is and Bold. It's a totally different beast. Don't be misled
by the similarity in syntax. What we have is a closer to an FP version
of Terence Parr's StringTemplate (http://www.stringtemplate.org/).

Regards,
-- 
Joel de Guzman
http://www.boostpro.com
http://boost-spirit.com