Re: Opinions: line/column numbering conventions in the Guile API

[Tim Pierce <twp@skepsis.com>]

> Per Bothner pointed out that there is already a standard for error
> reports, and we should probably adhere to it: In error reports,
> column numbers should probably start with 1.  If we're running Guile
> under Emacs, there are ways of letting Emacs swallow this position
> information and do something useful with it instead of exposing it to
> the user.

It hadn't occurred to me that the issues of error reporting could
cleanly be separated from the internal numbering scheme.  Thanks for
explaining this.

> > If that were not the case, I think I would prefer 1-origin numbers for
> > both lines and columns.  It would be less confusing to me as a Guile
> > user to count lines and columns starting at 1.  If `port-lines' and
> > `port-column' are intended mainly as user interface tools, it makes
> > sense to cater to the user's expectations.
> 
> Hmm... "user" in what sense?  As a programmer, I usually prefer when
> things are numbered starting with 0.  Note that `port-column' and
> `port-line' will only be used by programmers.

Well, in that case, I don't really have any objections to 0-numbering.

love, T.