[Larceny-users] [ikarus-users] [plt-scheme] Re: side effects in R6RS modules

[David Rush]

2009/5/6 Ramana Kumar <ramana.kumar at gmail.com>:
> is there a good argument for set! to return unspecified?

Because Scheme is not C. Or C++ for that matter.

In more obfuscated terms: Mixing the state monad with referentially
transparent expressions is generally a bad idea. Scheme believes
programmers are well-intentioned and allows stateful code to freely
intermingle with  pure expressions, but it doesn't encourage such
behavior.

although, FWIW, I agree that it would be handy on occasion if SET! had
those semantics.

david
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