OpenEuphoria

My first reaction was great! SDPringle can invent, and implement, new ideas.

Delayed reaction is: my head might explode. Euphoria does not take kindly to shortcuts and new syntax.

To show that you are working with a subroutine you need an argument list, possibly empty, shown by ( ) parenthesis.

s = append(s, pair ) 
s append= (pair) 
 
s = store(s, key, data ) 
s store=(key,data) 

Allowing () to "vanish" is a nice shortcut that adds another rule, an exception, that must be learned. Extra congnitive effort means not simple. The result is that

--either 
s append= pair     -- breaks a pattern, so it is a problem 
 
-- or 
s store=(key,data) -- adds a pattern, so it is a problem 

Will I get confused between a binary operator and a two argument function?

-- two argument function 
 
x = append(x,3) 
x append=(3) 
 
 
-- binary operator ... two arguments 
 
x = x + 2 
x += 2 
 
-- another kind of two argument function 
 
function add( atom a, atom b ) 
	return a+b 
	end function 
	 
x = add(2,3) 
x add=(2,3) 
	-- the previous pattern suggests that somehow "add" must be a three argument function 
	-- with the first argument being "x" 
	-- but, that is not what I have in add(2,3) 

My point is that I, thats one viewpoint, will make various typing errors in working with this syntax.

Then again, if you had dot notation, then the transition to your shortcut notation might be easy to visualize.

s = append(s, pair ) 
s = s.append( pair ) 
s append=(pair) 
 
s = store(s, key, data ) 
s = s.store( key, data ) 
s store=(key,data) 

In dot notation the "self" argument moves to a new location but does not vanish. In the shortcut notation the "self" argument vanishes. If something vanishes, then it is not Euphoric syntax.

_tom