Re: [RIF-APS] Rules Sign

</chair>
Michael Kifer wrote:
> 
> On Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:44:37 -0400
> Chris Welty <cawelty@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Syntax for named arguments to use '('Name  TERM)')' instead of (Name '->' TERM)
>> Syntax for frames to use TERM '::' TERM instead of TERM '->' TERM
>> Syntax for member to use TERM 'TY' TERM instead of TERM '#' TERM
>> Syntax for subclass to us TERM 'SC' TERM instaed of TERM '##' TERM
> 
> 
> You are proposing to replace perfectly good syntax with ugly alternatives.

No, I am proposing to replace absolutely RIDICULOUS syntax with something less 
so.  I used shortened symbols because you have been arguing for 1-2 character 
operators.

> CSMA's proposal for using Name = Term is bad because it misleadingly suggests
> that there is only one value for Name, but in fact the value of Name is a set
> and Term is just one of the values in a set.

Agreed.

> If you want to overhaul the syntax and free up -> for (classical) implication,
> then let's use something that mnemonically makes sense:
> 
>    a isa b
>    c subclassOf cc or c sub cc
>    name hasValue val  or name hasVal val

That's fine with me.  Mnemonics are better than meaningless things like ##, but 
spelling it out is even more preferable to me.  I don't feel that strongly about it.

>    etc.
> 
> We should use a different sign for rule implication both in BLD and in PRD.
> That should be => <= and not -> <- (provided that we agree on the overall
> overhaul).

That, too is fine with me. I actually don't care what symbol is used for 
implication, nor whether they are different for bld and prd, all I care about 
NOT HAVING "->" in the frame and named argument syntax.

However, using --> instead of -> is also ridiculous.  I like having a symbol 
that indicates direction, and can be inverted, but I'd also be fine with good 
old IF THEN.

-Chris

<chair>
> 
> 
> 	--michael  
> 

-- 
Dr. Christopher A. Welty                    IBM Watson Research Center
+1.914.784.7055                             19 Skyline Dr.
cawelty@gmail.com                           Hawthorne, NY 10532
http://www.research.ibm.com/people/w/welty

Received on Tuesday, 2 September 2008 17:42:59 UTC