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digitalmars.D.bugs - [Issue 4909] New: Two suggestions for std.algorithm.schwartzSort()

reply d-bugmail puremagic.com writes:
http://d.puremagic.com/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=4909

           Summary: Two suggestions for std.algorithm.schwartzSort()
           Product: D
           Version: D2
          Platform: All
        OS/Version: All
            Status: NEW
          Severity: enhancement
          Priority: P2
         Component: Phobos
        AssignedTo: nobody puremagic.com
        ReportedBy: bearophile_hugs eml.cc



Both my experience with Python and some practice with D v2 shows me that in
script-like programs schwartzSort() is useful very often. Python 3 has even
removed the "cmp" argument for its built-in sort, so it always performs a
Schwartz sorting using the "key" argument, because it's simpler to use.

This an usage example of schwartzSort usage, to sort an array of arrays
according to the second item in the sub-arrays:


import std.algorithm;
void main() {
    auto arr = [[5,9],[5,3],[4,12],[7,8],[12,2],[5,8]];
    schwartzSort!((e){ return e[1]; })(arr);
    assert(arr == [[12,2],[5,3],[7,8],[5,8],[5,9],[4,12]]);
}


To improve the usage of schwartzSort a support for transform function expressed
as string may be added.

For non-English speaking programmers the spelling of schwartzSort is not easy,
and a so commonly used function may enjoy a shorter name any way, so a
"keySort" name may be better ("key" refers to the key argument function of the
Python sort, that's named "transform" in Phobos):


import std.algorithm;
void main() {
    auto arr = [[5,9],[5,3],[4,12],[7,8],[12,2],[5,8]];
    keySort!q{a[1]}(arr);
    assert(arr == [[12,2],[5,3],[7,8],[5,8],[5,9],[4,12]]);
}


To help the understanding of this "keySort" name, in the signature of keySort
the "transform" argument may be renamed "key".

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Sep 21 2010
next sibling parent d-bugmail puremagic.com writes:
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See also:
http://www.digitalmars.com/webnews/newsgroups.php?art_group=digitalmars.D&article_id=144557

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Sep 16 2011
prev sibling next sibling parent d-bugmail puremagic.com writes:
http://d.puremagic.com/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=4909


Andrei Alexandrescu <andrei metalanguage.com> changed:

           What    |Removed                     |Added
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Status|NEW                         |ASSIGNED
                 CC|                            |andrei metalanguage.com
         AssignedTo|nobody puremagic.com        |andrei metalanguage.com



09:07:36 PDT ---
Omitting a string form for the transform is an oversight that should be fixed.

Regarding naming, searching google etc. for schwartz sort yields relevant
results whereas key sort does not. Please refrain from suggesting name changes
of public APIs unless they add significant value.

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Sep 16 2011
prev sibling next sibling parent d-bugmail puremagic.com writes:
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 Regarding naming, searching google etc. for schwartz sort yields relevant
 results whereas key sort does not.


Schwartz sort is a common name and it's meaningful, but I am never able to
remember its correct spell. Being it a very common operation (I use it about as
often as the normal sort), I think it's better to rename it with a name that's
simpler to remember (in spell) and maybe shorter too. Maybe Kagamin is not the
only person that agrees on this.

If you don't like keySort (I was just a quick idea), then we may search for
something else, that possibly uses only short and easy to spell English words.

Google is handy in many situations, but it's not the Alpha and Omega when you
have to give names to things.

"Schwart sort" gives 9,500 hits.
"Decorate Sort Undecorate" gives 7,270 hits.



 Please refrain from suggesting name changes of public APIs unless they add
significant value.


Sorry, I'll keep suggesting what I think is better/right.

Also, this enhancement request if from 2010-09, and I think I have said that
schwartzSort is a bad name from the beginning, from the first time I have seen
it. So it was not really a "name change". It's a name change now.

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Sep 16 2011
prev sibling next sibling parent d-bugmail puremagic.com writes:
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10:20:10 PDT ---



 

 Regarding naming, searching google etc. for schwartz sort yields relevant
 results whereas key sort does not.


 
 Schwartz sort is a common name and it's meaningful, but I am never able to
 remember its correct spell. Being it a very common operation (I use it about as
 often as the normal sort), I think it's better to rename it with a name that's
 simpler to remember (in spell) and maybe shorter too. Maybe Kagamin is not the
 only person that agrees on this.


If you are using schwartzSort heavily, it makes sense to define a local alias
for it. At any rate, you may be overstating your case; if you use something as
frequently as you claim, you _will_ know the spelling.


 If you don't like keySort (I was just a quick idea), then we may search for
 something else, that possibly uses only short and easy to spell English words.


It's not about what I like or not. It's about doing sensible things. It doesn't
seem sensible to simply decree that schwartzSort is inadequate to the extent it
affects the productivity of people using it, and then solve the remaining
problem of finding a different name for it.


 Google is handy in many situations, but it's not the Alpha and Omega when you
 have to give names to things.
 
 "Schwart sort" gives 9,500 hits.
 "Decorate Sort Undecorate" gives 7,270 hits.


What would be the argument here? (That you unsubtly insert a typo, thus
underlining how you can't remember the right spelling?)


 Please refrain from suggesting name changes of public APIs unless they add
significant value.


 
 Sorry, I'll keep suggesting what I think is better/right.


You are of course welcome to do so, but I'm just suggesting to invest energy in
things that may actually improve the state of affairs. You are suggesting a
change of name from a name that is easily searchable and memorable to a name
that you haven't even found yet but are sure is better.


 Also, this enhancement request if from 2010-09, and I think I have said that
 schwartzSort is a bad name from the beginning, from the first time I have seen
 it. So it was not really a "name change". It's a name change now.


The change didn't add value then, either.

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prev sibling next sibling parent d-bugmail puremagic.com writes:
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 (That you unsubtly insert a typo, thus
 underlining how you can't remember the right spelling?)


I have not done that on purpose, I am sorry.

But please trust me when I say I have problems with spelling that word :-)

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Sep 16 2011
prev sibling next sibling parent d-bugmail puremagic.com writes:
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In Clojure language the sort with a key function is named "sort-by":
http://clojuredocs.org/clojure_core/1.2.0/clojure.core/sort-by

In Mathematica it is named "SortBy":
http://reference.wolfram.com/mathematica/ref/SortBy.html

In Scala it is named "sortBy":
http://www.scala-lang.org/docu/files/collections-api/collections_5.html

I suggest to deprecate "schwartzSort" name. In Phobos the "sortBy" name (as in
Scala) will be better than "schwartzSort".

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Oct 01 2011
prev sibling next sibling parent d-bugmail puremagic.com writes:
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PDT ---
https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/phobos/pull/1197

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Mar 10 2013
prev sibling next sibling parent d-bugmail puremagic.com writes:
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 https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/phobos/pull/1197



 The naming issue will have to wait.


I still hate the "schwartzSort" name, after more than two years I am not able
to remember its spelling. So I still think any other name will be better, like
"keySort", "sortBy" or what else you prefer.

(On the other hand to tell the truth nowadays I write that swartz name kind of
randomly, compile the module, and dmd suggests me the right name, that I copy &
paste (in 2010 there was no spelling corrector). So now the situation is
bearable).

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Mar 10 2013
prev sibling next sibling parent d-bugmail puremagic.com writes:
http://d.puremagic.com/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=4909




Commits pushed to master at https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/phobos

https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/phobos/commit/aeaf0cadeddce486337423e7c05ca73f703a8b50
Fix issue 4909

https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/phobos/commit/7cba78d5db6451de170f9d287fdbbfe25b47aaee


Fix issue 4909 - Two suggestions for std.algorithm.schwartzSort()

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Mar 23 2013
prev sibling parent d-bugmail puremagic.com writes:
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 (On the other hand to tell the truth nowadays I write that swartz name kind of
 randomly, compile the module, and dmd suggests me the right name, that I copy &
 paste (in 2010 there was no spelling corrector). So now the situation is
 bearable).


We are back to an unbearable situation, because currently with UFCS chains D
doesn't give suggestions for wrong names:


import std.algorithm;
void main() {
    ["red", "yellow"].shwartzSort!q{ a.length };
}


DMD 2.063beta5 gives:

temp.d(3): Error: no property 'shwartzSort' for type 'string[]'


So please rename that function name to something simpler.

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May 24 2013