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I find it bizarre how the code examples provided on github use λ. I know JavaScript allows this, but I can't imagine myself switching to a greek layout to type

by spoiler 12y ago

I find it bizarre how the code examples provided on github use λ. I know JavaScript allows this, but I can't imagine myself switching to a greek layout to type λ. Otherwise, I have to copy and paste it, which adds a lot of overhead. I also remember someone suggested a ±/∓ signs for CoffeeScript at one point, and they justified it as "Well, I can type it using <insert fancy keyboard combination> on my Mac." I know this is slightly off-topic, but I had to point it out because I feel like it stabbed me in the eye. Anyway, I do like the idea of Lambdaws, kudos to the author.

_delirium 12y ago
A reasonable number of vim users use the RFC 1345 digraphs, since they have a default key binding (ctrl+k followed by the digraph). That makes it easy to insert many of the more common Unicode characters. Lambda's digraph is l*. Emacs also supports inserting Unicode characters using either their RFC 1345 digraph or their TeX symbol.
witty_username 12y ago
You can type it on Linux too with XCompose.
- onli 12y ago
  You can type it everywhere, somehow with something. The point is that it is needlessly complicated.
TeMPOraL 12y ago
I'm pretty sure it is meant only for aesthetics and readability of the demo. Speaking of readability, I actually use a package for my editor that renders word "lambda" as λ. This way, I get to see code that's more pleasant to read and don't have to type in (and save) any greek characters.
- cturhan 12y ago
  Which editor?
  - TeMPOraL 12y ago
    Emacs. There are various code snippets for that floating around, e.g. http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/pretty-lambdada.el http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/pretty-lambdada.el.
josteink 12y ago
> I find it bizarre how the code examples provided on github use λ. I know JavaScript allows this, but I can't imagine myself switching to a greek layout to type λ Like someone else mentioned you can use the compose-key, or if you use an editor like Emacs, there are commands to insert Unicode symbols. If you're a lisper, you might also have a macro for inserting those :)
- seabee 12y ago
  DrRacket (the default IDE for the Racket language) has a keyboard shortcut specifically to insert this symbol. I use it a lot!

by spoiler 12y ago

_delirium 12y ago

A reasonable number of vim users use the RFC 1345 digraphs, since they have a default key binding (ctrl+k followed by the digraph). That makes it easy to insert many of the more common Unicode characters. Lambda's digraph is l*. Emacs also supports inserting Unicode characters using either their RFC 1345 digraph or their TeX symbol.

witty_username 12y ago

You can type it on Linux too with XCompose.

onli 12y ago
You can type it everywhere, somehow with something. The point is that it is needlessly complicated.

TeMPOraL 12y ago

I'm pretty sure it is meant only for aesthetics and readability of the demo. Speaking of readability, I actually use a package for my editor that renders word "lambda" as λ. This way, I get to see code that's more pleasant to read and don't have to type in (and save) any greek characters.

cturhan 12y ago
Which editor?
- TeMPOraL 12y ago
  Emacs. There are various code snippets for that floating around, e.g. http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/pretty-lambdada.el http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/pretty-lambdada.el.

josteink 12y ago

> I find it bizarre how the code examples provided on github use λ. I know JavaScript allows this, but I can't imagine myself switching to a greek layout to type λ Like someone else mentioned you can use the compose-key, or if you use an editor like Emacs, there are commands to insert Unicode symbols. If you're a lisper, you might also have a macro for inserting those :)

seabee 12y ago
DrRacket (the default IDE for the Racket language) has a keyboard shortcut specifically to insert this symbol. I use it a lot!