[e-lang] Bug (0.8.37d+): term`foo` pattern behavior changed

[Mark S. Miller]

Kevin Reid wrote:
> In E 0.8.36t,
> 
>    ? def term`foo` := term`foo(bar)`
>    # value: term`foo(bar)`
> 
> In E 0.8.37d and SVN:
> 
>    ? def term`foo` := term`foo(bar)`
>    # problem: foo doesn't match: term`foo(bar)`
> 
> This change has broken several term-using programs, and I do not  
> recall it being announced.


This is an unintended consequence of the change announced at
<http://erights.org/download/0-8-37/highlights.html#non-up>:

# Change term-tree coercion rules  	
<https://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=1593181&group_id=75274&atid=551529>
# Only tags can serve as functors.
# Strings in other positions convert to term-strings rather than tags.

I have amended the closed bug report linked to above with your observation and 
added the note:

# Although this behavior surprised me, I don't consider it a bug, and so am
# leaving this bug closed.


Cases such as you show above can be fixed as follows:

     ? def term`foo at _` := term`foo(bar)`

Sorry for the unpleasant surprise, and for the fact that I did not anticipate 
it, but I do not dislike the change in behavior.

-- 
Text by me above is hereby placed in the public domain

     Cheers,
     --MarkM