Re: [Lua-users-stdlib] Upheaval (blame Jamie Webb!)

[Jamie W. <j...@jm...>]

On Sunday 08 February 2004 23:48, Johann Hibschman wrote:
> It doesn't really matter that much.  I can always rename any "vector"
> module to "list" and be done.  I'm just lazy, find it easier to type
> "list", and think its natural-language overtones mesh better with the
> word "table".

At present, you could gave the module an alias, but if you deleted the 
original name it would break the internal references. That probably ought to 
be changed.

> Actually, this reminds me.  What are the times on Lua tables?  I know
> that integer indices are special, but do they get true O(1) access?
> Presumably, other keys are O(log n), as usual.

They are hash tables, so in practice can usually be treated as O(1). Integer 
indices are implemented as an array, so are guaranteed O(1). There is a 
'sparsity' heuristic which determines the size of the array. Any indices 
falling outside the array are hashed as usual.

> In any case, I don't see much of a point in continuing to discuss this,
> since I can always rename packages to whatever I prefer.  If you would
> really rather call it a vector package, we can just go with that.

TBH I don't much like vector either. I just also don't like misnaming things, 
not least because it leaves no name for the real thing. In terms of wasted 
keystrokes and display width, perhaps vec would be better than vector.