syntax ambiguities.

[Pierre De Pascale <dpa@siemens.ch>]

Hello selfer's,

I have read the self 3.0 reference manual and stopped at the appendix
where the syntax of the self language was presented. In particular the
syntax presented is highly ambiguous, but a small foot-note says that
the ambiguities are resolved using standard precedence techniques.

But I still got some problems:

1. when you initialize a slot. How do you determine if it is a method
or a simple value ? for example:
        
        (| mySlot = ( randomNumber ) |)

what is the meaning of the mySlot initialization: do I initialize
mySlot with a one-time call to randomNumber (i.e. mySlot is a value
slot) or mySlot returns a new randomNumber everytime (i.e mySlot is a
method) ?

2. a same kind of ambiguities appears in expressions: what is the
meaning of this expression ?

        aVariable: ( randomNumber )

Do I initialize aVariable with one random number, in this case () are
for precedence reason, or with the object "(randomNumber)", in this
case a method object.

3. how can you detect a resend ? for example:

        myResendSlot.resendMethod

This could be interpreted as a directed resend or two expressions
consisting of two method sends, one myResendSlot and one
resendMethod. How do you make the difference ? is there a runtime
decision of the meaning ?

It may be possible that those issues were already discussed in this
mailing list. Since I subscribed only lately I was lazy enough not to
check the past issues. Just tell me if I need to kick myself :^)

thanks,

- Pierre.