[plt-scheme] Semantics of quote

On Jun 24, 2008, at 1:50 AM, Eli Barzilay wrote:

> I thought it was supposed
> to be printing values in a way that is readable (or looks like it's
> readable)


> the quote is meaningless as a consructor


Eli, QUOTE is NOT a constructor. As you well know, QUOTE doesn't even  
exist anymore at compile time. It's gone.

Constructor-style means "algebraic construction of the data, plus  
sharing" (cons, make-foo, vector, etc). This has nothing to do with  
reading but comprehension.

QUOTE is incomprehensible for the novice and living w/o is  
impossible, too, especially QUASI and QUINE. Constructor style  
printing is a bridge between the two worlds.

-- Matthias