Re: Function definitions

[Meino Christian Cramer <Meino.Cramer@gmx.de>]

From: Bart Schaefer <schaefer@brasslantern.com>
Subject: Re: Function definitions
Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 04:14:49 +0000

Hi Bart !

 THANKS a LOT for that enlightment ! :)

 Far better than what I saw (but not understood in that extent as you
 have explained it!!!).

 With "I found nothing appropiate" I meant exactly this! 
 I _saw_ words from that context...but...I _understood_ what Bart
 wrotes!!!

 :O)

 Keep zshing!  (<<- that words reminds me of the sound of opening a
			   bottle fresh beer...;)
 Meino
 

> On Jun 6,  5:23am, Meino Christian Cramer wrote:
> >  
> >  Is there any difference in defining functions like
> 
> In zsh there is no difference whether you use the "function" keyword or
> not, but in ksh the variable scoping rules are different for definitions
> that use it.  So be careful if you have any intention of porting.
> 
> I prefer to use "function" because it avoids problems with function and
> alias names clashing.
> 
> However:
> 
> >  function fnord(){
> >  fnord(){
> 
> Those two are OK and do what you expect, but you should get used to
> putting spaces before the empty parens and before the open-brace, because
> even though zsh does not always enforce it, the grammar does say that the
> spaces should be there, and it's crucial to this next example:
> 
> >  function fnord{
> 
> That defines a function named "fnord{" whose body will consist of the next
> single command seen (*not* up to a matching close-brace).  If you add a
> space ...
> 
>   function fnord {
> 
> ... then *that* does what you meant.
> 
> >  fnord{
> 
> This is a *call* to the function named "fnord{".  Even with a space ...
> 
>   fnord {
> 
> ... is not a definition, it's a *call* to the "fnord" function with the
> argument "{".  You must have either the keyword "function" or the empty
> parens to make a definition.  I believe using both is a syntax error in
> ksh, although zsh allows it.
> 
> > (In 'man zshall' I found nothing appropiate...)
> 
> In the COMPLEX COMMANDS section:
> 
>        function word ... [ () ] [ term ] { list }
>        word ... () [ term ] { list }
>        word ... () [ term ] command
>               where term is one or more newline or ;.  Define a function
>               which is referenced by any one of word.
>