Re: mathlib

[Sean Conner <sean@...>]

It was thus said that the Great Christopher Berardi once stated:
> On Apr 7, 2014 12:57 PM, "steve donovan" <steve.j.donovan@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > On Mon, Apr 7, 2014 at 6:43 PM, Christopher Berardi
> > <cberardi32@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > I would like to see a comprehensive (3rd party) math library for Lua,
> one
> > > that could be used for a wide variety of mathematical disciplines
> instead.
> >
> > Well, there's lhf's lmathx, binds the extra C99 functions.  Then
> > things get ... complicated, because people have different mathematical
> > needs.
> 
> Getting a common and useful subset for a sizable userbase is the tricky
> part. Or, fill a niche market. My areas of interest are not the same as
> other peoples which are different yet again from some else. But a stab at
> it may give me something to do.
> 
> > > I'll also put myself with those who want a more robust and expressive
> > > require function.
> >
> > But precisely what does this mean?
> 
> For one example of expressiveness, and I know its been beaten to death
> before, would be akin to Python's import statement:
>     import module1
>     import module2 as m2
>     import module3, module4
>     from module5 import func1, func2
>     ...

  I think I've mentioned this before, but why not extend the programming
editor you use to do the expansion for you?  I can certainly extend my
editor such that I highlight

	module5 func1 func2 func3

and have it (the editor) generate:

	local module5 = require "module5"
	local func1   = module5.func1
	local func2   = module5.func2
	local func3   = module5.func3

(or formatted however you like).  No changes to Lua, you get exactly what
you want.  Sure, if you "import" a library like "math" you'll get:

	local math       = require "math"
	local abs        = math.abs
	local acos       = math.acos
	local asin       = math.asin
	local atan       = math.atan
	local atan2      = math.atan2
	local ceil       = math.ceil
	local cos        = math.cos
	local cosh       = math.cosh
	local deg        = math.deg
	local exp        = math.exp
	local floor      = math.floor
	local fmod       = math.fmod
	local frexp      = math.frexp
	local huge       = math.huge
	local ldexp      = math.ldexp
	local log        = math.log
	local log10      = math.log10
	local max        = math.max
	local min        = math.min
	local modf       = math.modf
	local pi         = math.pi
	local pow        = math.pow
	local rad        = math.rad
	local random     = math.random
	local randomseed = math.randomseed
	local sin        = math.sin
	local sinh       = math.sinh
	local sqrt       = math.sqrt
	local tan        = math.tan
	local tanh       = math.tanh

but I see this as A Good Thing(TM)---you document exactly what you are
using and it's obvious to anyone using Lua what you are doing.

  -spc