Thread

Why isn't mutable a subtype of immutable, or vice versa?

28 points · 56 comments · ibobev

Sharlin · 1789893091 · focus · HN ↗
As a total aside, the names `car` and `cdr` for "head" and "tail" are honestly some of the most baffling historical relics in all of computing.
1. MiroslavPokorny · 1789893536 · focus · HN ↗
  What i dont understand is why does everything have to be so brief. Take car and cdr there is only one character difference, more character differences is a good thing not bad.
  1. kaoD · 1789900496 · focus · HN ↗
    > What i dont understand is why does everything have to be so brief
    Computers used to have very little memory and processing power, and screens had very low pixel density so line width was not that big. Then you have to deal with the baggage 50 years later.
    Modern Lisps have the luxury so they use head/tail or first/rest.

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