dlang.org Library Reference

[foobar]

On Sunday, 23 December 2012 at 13:21:16 UTC, Andrei Alexandrescu 
wrote:
> On 12/23/12 6:44 AM, foobar wrote:
>> Using an all encompassing "algorithms" module is also 
>> unhelpful as all
>> code is essentially an algorithm to accomplish some task. This 
>> is akin
>> to opening a store called - "A store" or perhaps "A place to 
>> sell you
>> stuff".
>
> That I disagree with a bit. I think it's rather clear that 
> std.algorithm includes classic, consecrated algorithms the kind 
> you'll find in a book entitled "Algorithms". By your argument a 
> book called "Algorithms" would not make sense because it would 
> need to describe the entire computing world.
>
> So if I'm looking for sort, I'd open "algorithm". If I'm 
> looking for parsing program options, I wouldn't expect it to be 
> in the same place.
>
>> As a client of said shop, I want a better description if I to 
>> buy at the
>> shop. Even a general "Clothes shop" is already much better. 
>> For 3rd
>> party it also often makes sense to have a brand name - e.g we 
>> all know
>> what "vibe.d" is all about.
>
> Such differentiation is also useful.
>
>
> Andrei

Does it mean you agree with the rest? :)

Regarding std.algorithm, the module isn't called - 'classic, 
consecrated algorithms the kind you'll find in a book entitled 
"Algorithms"'. It is simply called 'std.algorithm' and there are 
many, *many* books on algorithms. Should this module include 
concurrent algorithms? Should it include distributed algorithms? 
Should it include statistic algorithms? Should it include natural 
language processing algorithms? Should it include genetic 
algorithms? I think it's clear by now that the name does not 
convey what you intend it to convey.

A much better and more user friendly scheme would be to classify 
the algorithms by their *functionality* and not by some undefined 
"belongs to classical algorithms books" relation.
e.g. "Sorting algorithms", "Set operations", etc.
Now, if I want to sort something I know to "shop" at the "sorting 
algorithms" outlet and don't need to spend time going over a 
potentially infinite list of algorithms.