[OctDev] Re: sparse tests

[Andy A. <ad...@si...>]

On Thu, 11 Dec 2003, Paul Kienzle wrote:

> The sparse tests at line 240 is failing since sparse(eye(3)).^x does not
> fill in the zeros with 1 for x==0 or inf for x<0.  This is bug-compatible
> with matlab.  Shall we correct it?

This is bug compatible with Matlab. I remember asking on this list
about this (mis) feature when I was developing it.

Advantages of the matlab way:
 - faster (ignore everything corresponding to a zero)
 - compatible

Advantages of the correct way:
 - correct ;-)

I agree with John that introducing "feature" variables is a bad
idea. I say we leave it and put a _big_bad_warning_ somewhere.

Andy