[swift-evolution] define backslash '\' as a operator-head in the swift grammar

[Dave Abrahams]

on Sun Feb 05 2017, Nicolas Fezans <swift-evolution at swift.org> wrote:

> Dear all,
>
> This is a rather simple proposal to add '\' (backslash character) as a
> valid operator-head in the swift grammar.
>
> One argument for it, is that there exist a backslash operator in the
> MATLAB/Scilab/Octave languages. In this languages A\B solves the linear
> system A*X = B for X (or the least square problem associated to it if the
> system of equations is overdetermined). I am doing some numerical
> computation in Swift and it would be nice to be able to declare the same
> operator name for this functionality.
>
> I might have missed some arguments for not adding them, but I seems to me
> that until now the \ character is only used inside of string literals. If
> that is the case, both uses should never generate a conflict or be
> ambiguous, isn't it? (String literals keep their interpretation of \ and \
> used otherwise within the swift code will be interpreted as an operator or
> as the beginning of an operator)
>
> I am curious to see what will be the feedback on this.

+1 if it doesn't clash with the grammar.

-- 
-Dave