[TCLCORE] TIP #347: Add 'string is bignum' to the 'string is' Subcommand

[Jos D. <jos...@gm...>]

 TIP #347: ADD 'STRING IS BIGNUM' TO THE 'STRING IS' SUBCOMMAND 
================================================================
 Version:        $Revision: 1.2 $
 Author:         Jos Decoster <jos.decoster_at_gmail.com>
 State:          Draft
 Type:           Project
 Tcl-Version:    8.6
 Vote:           Pending
 Created:        Monday, 09 February 2009
 URL:            http://purl.org/tcl/tip/347.html
 WebEdit:        http://purl.org/tcl/tip/edit/347
 Discussions-To: news:comp.lang.tcl
 Post-History:   

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

 ABSTRACT 
==========

 The *string* command supports tests for a number of Tcl's basic types, 
 for example, integers, doubles, and booleans. This TIP proposes adding 
 bignum integers, as was done for wide integers in [TIP #188]. 

 RATIONALE 
===========

 The *string* command includes tests for the common Tcl types: *string 
 is boolean*, *string is double* and *string is integer*. Unaccountably, 
 *string is bignum* is missing from the list, making it difficult for an 
 input validation procedure to determine whether, in fact, a string 
 contains a valid (bignum) integer. 

 SPECIFICATION 
===============

 This document proposes augmenting the *string is* command with a 
 *string is bignum* that functions the same as *string is integer* in 
 every respect except for the fact that it accepts any string containing 
 a substring that is valid as a bignum integer (that is, acceptable to 
 /Tcl_GetBignumFromObj/) possibly surrounded by whitespace. 

 REFERENCE IMPLEMENTATION 
==========================

 Patches that implement *string is bignum*, provide test cases for it, 
 and update /doc/string.n/ to include it are available at SourceForge as 
 Tcl Patch 
 #2581150[<URL:https://sourceforge.net/support/tracker.php?aid=2581150>]. 

 COPYRIGHT 
===========

 This document has been placed in the public domain. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

 TIP AutoGenerator - written by Donal K. Fellows