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Order of evaluation and ratios


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Hi,

Sorry if this is too basic!! I'm trying really to understand details in the order of evaluation.

In a recursive line, does the inner nest always produce ALL of its elements before passing the list to the outer nest?

 

in the example below I think this is what happens:

 

1. randomize-octaves in the list x, the randomise operates on each element of the list in turn and thus creates a new list

2. evaluate that 5 times, thus creating five list with different octave randomisation because the seed is nil

3. the 5 lists are modified where each sequential element in a list may be repeated three times for each element that is not repeated... ratio 1:3 (so it is 3 times as likely to stutter a value than not, correct?)

 

thank you,

Julio

 

;;here is a simple list of pitches
(setf x '(a3 b3 c3 d3 e3))

;; what I want is for a random octave to be evaluated for each individual note of the list... 
;; so I did this and it seems to work...

(setf exp1 (gen-repeat-seq '(5) 1 3 (gen-eval 5 '(randomize-octaves '(c0 g6) x :seed nil))))
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Hi J,

 

I think I obtained the result I wanted, but I am not entirely sure I understand the process... I wanted 5 versions of the original list where each element had its 8ve randomised, as opposed to each sub-list being transposed, and I obtained that.

 

I just want to be sure I understand the order of execution of operations upon a list when they are nested. It seems each function is executed completely before moving to the next outer function, thus passing a list to the next function (as opposed to each element in turn, which I think is what happens with a stream). I guess I am confused between streams and lists (which is what I work with in SC and lists here).

 

This is proving to be a hard learning curve, so thanks for your help.

Julio

 

 

 

 

 

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Hi Julio,

In my understanding, the order of evaluation of forms is left to right. When we write Macros, we are expected to adhere to this convention. If there is a need to be different, it should be noted clearly.

 

In your example, at the top level, "gen-repeat-seq" will be evaluated after "expl". Within "gen-repeat-seq", after evaluating its first 3 args, evaluation of "gen-eval" will start. Within that "randomize-octaves" takes place, and so on. In other words, "gen-eval"will finish only AFTER "randomize-octaves" finishes; "gen-repeat-seq" will complete only AFTER "gen-eval" completes.

 

Hope this is clear? In some languages, this order is not guaranteed, for example in C++.

 

Regards,

Rangarajan

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In continuation of the above reply, try to evaluate the following in your Listener:

 

(and (print 1) (print 2) (print (+ (print 3) (print 4))) "Done")

You should see this:

1 
2 
3 
4 
7 
"Done"

This shows left-to-right evaluation. More importantly, because of nested evaluation, 7 is printed only after 3 and 4

 

 

Regards,

Rangarajan

 

 

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