Re: [RFD] Unified Methods

[Roberto Ierusalimschy <roberto@...>]

> If a change can at the same time simplify the API or standard function set,
> make programs more terse or easier to maintain, and run at the same speed
> then all that's left is the compatibility argument.
> [...]
> Any other opinions on this?

There is also another aspect about compatibility: learning Lua. For 
instance, I am halfway in writing a book about Lua programming, and every 
change in the language makes my book obsolete! Also, now it is not uncommon 
to see job offers asking for Lua programmers; if the language changes too 
much, they will have to add a qualifier to those adds ("Lua 3.2 
programmer", for instance ;-) 

I am not saying that we will not change Lua (we do it all the time), just 
that there are other "conservative" forces that must be weighted against 
each change.

-- Roberto

PS: of course, we are not "in the mood" for changes right now, as we are 
near the final release of Lua 4.0, and we want to keep our promisse: "we 
intend it [the beta version] to be as final as possible."