Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
> I think c ! 2 is the third element of c, not unlike c[2].

  [] is used almost universally for indexing in most languages (not only
for random access of arrays, but also eg. accessing relational sets (where
the thing inside the square brackets is the key and the return value is the
data)). Is there a logical reason why Haskell chooses an odd syntax of
"x ! y" for the same thing than most other languages express as "x[y]"?

  Using ! for the nth element is not very expressive. In mathematics ! is
usually used for factorials, in many programming languages it's used to
express logical negation (granted, not a very logical choice per se, but
quite established), and in natural languages it's used to express shouting
or to emphasize the importance of something (like "WARNING!").

  So why choose ! as "the nth element"? Did they run out of obfuscated
one-character operators and it was the only one left? Or is there a logical
reason to choose that symbol out of all possible that I'm not aware of?
(Well, I wouldn't actually be surprised if that symbol had been used for
that purpose in some weird mathematical notations eg. in some lambda
calculus or the like since the 1930's or such.)

  I know Haskells undying love for obfuscating brevity, but would it have
hurt to actually use a descriptive *name* for that function? I don't know,
like "c element_at 2" (or even "c at 2") or whatever.

  Btw, what is logical not in Haskell?

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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