• From: David <dlee@c...>
• To: xml-dev@l...
• Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 18:47:43 -0400

> The ability to create self-selecting units of code is very powerful. It resounds of decentralization, local-control, Complex Systems. Wow!
>
>    
Complex & powerful , Yes.  Thats a double-edged sword, IMHO.
Imagine the entire web as self-selecting.  That would be complex and 
powerful ! (and really really dangerous).



> Are there other programming languages that support self-selecting units of code?
>
>    
Any language that allows function overloading by signature is "self 
selecting" in the sense you describe templates, IMHO.
e.g. say in C++ or Java

foo( int x );
foo( String x)

... call
foo(  "hi")  ;

Self-selects by the parameter type (and number).   Perhaps not quite the 
same as self-selecting by a select expression but similar in concept.

Some languages self-select by the return type as well (but not java or C++).

Again, powerful, complex, and dangerous.
There have been many debates (undecided  IMHO) as to if this is "good" 
or "bad".
But its unambiguously "powerful".





> Do you agree that self-selecting units of code represents a more fundamental concept than functions?
>    

Not sure exactly what you mean by "fundamental" ... it can have 
different meanings.



-------------------------
David A. Lee
dlee@c...
http://www.calldei.com
http://www.xmlsh.org

• References:
  • A more fundamental concept than functions: units of code thatself-select
    • From: "Costello, Roger L." <costello@m...>