4 ms·

`with` is an oddball. It's a macro but it's also a special form that has unique syntax that's not used anywhere else. It's basically the only variadic function

• pmontra 8y ago
  Actually I'd like this with x = foo() y = bar(x) z = baz(y) blah(z) else err -> handle_err(err) end No do (uselessly verbose, it litters all the language) and = instead of <- It should be normal code and take the else branch whenever there is any error, pattern matching included. The advantage is that the code can be indented in or out a with block, without any change. Much more convenient. Elixir also have a try/catch https://elixir-lang.org/getting-started/try-catch-and-rescue.html https://elixir-lang.org/getting-started/try-catch-and-rescue... > In Elixir, we avoid using try/rescue because we don’t use errors for control flow. We take errors literally: they are reserved for unexpected and/or exceptional situations.
  • PopeDotNinja 8y ago
    > No do (uselessly verbose, it litters all the language) and = instead of <- It should be normal code and take the else branch whenever there is any error, pattern matching included. Using '=' insead of '<-' would break how with works. I can understand why one thinks the syntax looks weird. I avoid with when possible, but sometimes it's the easiest abstraction to use.