[racket-dev] guidelines on error messages -- please send feedback

On Jun 3, 2011, at 3:13 PM, Jay McCarthy wrote:

> "Use ‘argument’ for actual arguments and ‘variable’ for formal
> arguments and in the body of the definition."
> 
> I prefer argument and parameter name, because until ASL, they don't
> vary. But it seems you prefer just variable, because you don't want
> two terms for the things made by 'define' and the things made by
> 'lambda'? This is very bikesheddy, but I dislike your choice.

I agree with Jay here.  I explicitly address the distinction between "argument" and "parameter" (i.e. formal argument) in _Picturing Programs_; to me, "variable" (in *SL) means the <identifier> in (define <identifier> <expr>), and its subsequent occurrences.


Stephen Bloch
sbloch at adelphi.edu