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author | Karl Berry <karl@freefriends.org> | 2006-01-09 00:49:07 +0000 |
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committer | Karl Berry <karl@freefriends.org> | 2006-01-09 00:49:07 +0000 |
commit | 007f67a693e4d031fd3d792df8e4d5f43e2cb2e7 (patch) | |
tree | 90d17e00e572ecb1e24764b6f29c80e098b08d29 /Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/lazylist | |
parent | 950209b26f70aa87ed07c54f82a95b6f03b7c3a0 (diff) |
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git-svn-id: svn://tug.org/texlive/trunk@84 c570f23f-e606-0410-a88d-b1316a301751
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diff --git a/Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/lazylist/lazylist.tex b/Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/lazylist/lazylist.tex new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..9173ed7e789 --- /dev/null +++ b/Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/lazylist/lazylist.tex @@ -0,0 +1,1156 @@ +% Filename: lazylist.tex +% Author: Alan Jeffrey +% Last modified: 11 May 1990 +% Modified: 24 July 2003 by Robin Fairbairns, for file name changes +% and use with LaTeX 2e +% +% Copyright (c) 1990 Alan Jeffrey. Permission is granted to Tugboat +% to publish any or all of this. +% +% A keyboard check: +% +% @ # $ % ^ & * ~ at hash dollar percent caret ampersand asterisk tilde +% : ; , . colon semicolon comma period +% ? ! question-mark exclamation-mark +% " ' ` double-quote apostrophe back-quote +% ( ) { } [ ] parentheses braces square-brackets +% - + = / \ minus plus equals forward-slash backslash +% _ | < > underscore vertical-bar less-than greater-than +% + +\documentclass{ltugboat} +\usepackage{lazylist} + +% This document defines a whole load of extra commands, some of which +% over-ride how LaTeX normally lays things out. For example, ~ is +% redefined to give a hairspace in math mode. This whole document +% should probably be put in a group to stop it getting in the way +% of other articles' macros. + +\title{Lists in \TeX's Mouth} + +\author{Alan Jeffrey} + +\address{Programming Research Group\\ + Oxford University\\ + 11 Keble Road\\ + Oxford OX1 3QD} + +\netaddress{Alan.Jeffrey@uk.ac.oxford.prg} + +\makeatletter + +% The mathcodes for the letters A, ..., Z, a, ..., z are changed to +% generate text italic rather than math italic by default. This makes +% multi-letter names look neater. The mathcode for character 'c' +% is set to "7000 (variable family) + "400 (text italic) + c. +% +% This neat bit of code is due to Mike Spivey. +% +% \def\@setmcodes#1#2#3{{\count0=#1 \count1=#3 +% \loop \global\mathcode\count0=\count1 \ifnum \count0<#2 +% \advance\count0 by1 \advance\count1 by1 \repeat}} +% +% \@setmcodes{`A}{`Z}{"7441} +% \@setmcodes{`a}{`z}{"7461} + +% however, for all its neatness, the code doesn't actually work in 2e; +% the following looks even neater (if you don't consider what goes on +% behind the scenes), and does the specified job + +\DeclareSymbolFont{letters} {OT1}{cmr} {m}{it} + + +\def\Number#1{\csname Number-#1\endcsname} +\def\Label#1{\csname Label-#1\endcsname} + +\newcount\Lastnum + +\def\Forward#1% + {\global\advance\Lastnum by 1 + \csnameafter\xdef{Number-#1}% + {\the\Lastnum}% + \csnameafter\xdef{Label-\the\Lastnum}% + {\@currentlabel}} + +\def\csnameafter#1#2% + {\expandafter#1\csname#2\endcsname} + +\def\Bylist#1% + {\Map\Label + {\Insertsort\Lessthan + {\Map\Number{#1}}}} + +\def\By{\Show\Bylist} + +\let\bindspace=~ +\def~{\ifmmode \, \else \bindspace \fi} + +\def\start#1{\lefteqn{#1}\quad\\} + +\def\nil{[\,\,]} + +\newtheorem{fact}{Fact} +\def\thefact{\@roman\c@fact} + +\def\cstok#1{\leavevmode\thinspace\hbox{\vrule\vtop{\vbox{\hrule\kern1pt + \hbox{\vphantom{\tt/}\thinspace{\tt#1}\thinspace}}% + \kern1pt\hrule}\vrule}\thinspace} + +\begingroup \catcode `|=0 \catcode `[= 1 +\catcode`]=2 \catcode `\{=12 \catcode `\}=12 +\catcode`\\=12 |gdef|@xTeXcode#1\end{TeXcode}[#1|end[TeXcode]] +|endgroup + +\def\TeXcode + {\@verbatim \smallskip\hrule\medskip \frenchspacing\@vobeyspaces \@xTeXcode} +\def\endTeXcode + {\medskip\hrule\smallskip\endtrivlist} + +\makeatother + +\begin{document} + +\maketitle + +\section{Why lists?} + +Originally, I wanted lists in \TeX\ for +a paper I was writing which contained a lot of facts. +\begin{fact} +\Forward{Fac-cows} + Cows have four legs. +\end{fact} +\begin{fact} +\Forward{Fac-people} + People have two legs. +\end{fact} +\begin{fact} +\Forward{Fac-yawn} + Lots of facts in a row can be dull. +\end{fact} +These are generated with commands like +\begin{verbatim} +\begin{fact} +\Forward{Fac-yawn} + Lots of facts in a row can be dull. +\end{fact} +\end{verbatim} +I can then refer to these facts by saying +\begin{verbatim} +\By[Fac-yawn,Fac-cows,Fac-people] +\end{verbatim} +to get +\By[Fac-yawn,Fac-cows,Fac-people]. +And as if by magic, the facts come out sorted, rather than in +the jumbled order I typed them. This is very useful, as I can +reorganize my document to my heart's content, and not have to worry +about getting my facts straight. + +Originally I tried programming this sorting routine in \TeX's +list macros, from Appendix~D of \TB, but I soon ran into trouble. +The problem is that all the Appendix~D macros work by assigning +values to macros. For example: +\begin{verbatim} +\concatenate\foo=\bar\baz +\end{verbatim} +expands out to +\begin{verbatim} +\ta=\expandafter{\bar} +\tb=\expandafter{\baz} +\edef\foo{\the\ta\the\tb} +\end{verbatim} +which assigns the macro \verb|\foo| the contents of \verb|\bar| +followed by the contents of \verb|\baz|. Programming sorting routines +(which are usually recursive) in terms of these lists became rather +painful, as I was constantly having to watch out for local variables, +worrying about what happened if a local variable had the same name +as a global one, and generally having a hard time. + +Then I had one of those ``flash of light'' experiences --- +``You can do lambda-calculus in \TeX,'' I thought, +and since you can do lists directly in lambda calculus, +you should be able to do lists straightforwardly in \TeX. And so you +can. Well, fairly straightforwardly anyway. + +So I went and did a bit of mathematics, and derived the \TeX\ macros +you see here. They were formally verified, and worked first time +(modulo typing errors, of which there were two). + +\section{\TeX's mouth and \TeX's stomach} + +\TeX's programming facilities come in two forms --- there are \TeX's +{\em macros\/} which are expanded in its mouth, and some additional +{\em assignment\/} operations like \verb|\def| which take place in the +stomach. \TeX\ can often spring surprises on you as exactly what +gets evaluated where. +For example, in \LaTeX\ I can put down a +label by saying \verb|\label{Here}|. +\label{Here} +Then I can refer back to that label by saying +\verb|Section~\ref{Here}|, which +produces Section~\ref{Here}. Unfortunately, \verb|\ref{Here}| does +{\em not\/} expand out to {\tt\ref{Here}}! Instead, it expands out to: +\begin{verbatim} +\edef\@tempa{\@nameuse{r@Here}} +\expandafter\@car\@tempa\@nil\null +\end{verbatim} +This means that I can't say +\begin{verbatim} +\ifnum\ref{Here}<4 Hello\fi +\end{verbatim} +and hope that this will expand out to Hello. Instead I +get an error message. Which is rather a pity, as \TeX's mouth is +quite a powerful programming language (as powerful as a Turing Machine in +fact). + +\section{Functions} + +A {\em function\/} is a mathematical object that takes in an argument +(which could well be another function) and returns some other mathematical +object. For example the function $Not$ takes in a boolean and returns +its complement. I'll write function application without brackets, +so $Not~b$ is the boolean complement of $b$. + +Function application +binds to the left, so $f~a~b$ is $(f~a)~b$ rather than $f~(a~b)$. +For example, $Or~a~b$ is the boolean or of $a$ and $b$, and +$Or~True$ is a perfectly good function that takes in a boolean +and returns $True$. + +The obvious equivalents of functions in \TeX\ are macros --- +if I define a function $Foo$ to be: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Foo~x & = & True +\end{eqnarray*} +then it can be translated into \TeX\ as: +\begin{verbatim} +\def\Foo#1{\True} +\end{verbatim} +So where $Foo$ is a function that takes in one argument, \verb|\Foo| +is a macro that takes in one parameter. Nothing has changed except +the jargon and the font. \TeX\ macros can even be partially applied, +for example if we defined: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Baz & = & Or~True +\end{eqnarray*} +then the \TeX\ equivalent would be +\begin{verbatim} +\def\Baz{\Or\True} +\end{verbatim} +Once \verb|\Baz| is expanded, it will expect to be given a parameter, +but when we are defining things, we can go around partially applying +them all we like. + +Here, I'm using $=$ without formally defining it, which is rather +naughty. If I say $x = y$, this means +``given enough parameters, $x$ and $y$ will eventually +expand out to the same thing.'' For example $Foo = Baz$, because +for any $x$, +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{Foo~x} + & = & True \\ + & = & Or~True~x \\ + & = & Baz~x +\end{eqnarray*} +Normally, functions have to {respect equality\/} which means that: +\begin{itemize} +\item if $x = y$ then $f~x = f~y$, and +\item if $x$ respects equality, then $f~x$ respects equality. +\end{itemize} +However, some \TeX\ control sequences don't obey this. For example, +\verb|\string\Foo| and \verb|\string\Baz| are different, even though +$Foo = Baz$. Hence $string$ doesn't respect equality. +Unless otherwise stated, we won't assume functions respect equality, +although all the functions defined here do. + +All of our functions have capital letters, so that their \TeX\ equivalents +(\verb|\Not|, \verb|\Or| and so on) don't clash with standard \TeX\ or +\LaTeX\ macros. + +\subsection{Identity} + +The simplest function is the {\em identity\/} function, called +$Identity$ funnily enough, which is defined: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Identity~x & = & \Identity{x} +\end{eqnarray*} +This, it must be admitted, is a pretty dull function, but +it's a useful basic combinator. It can be implemented +in \TeX\ quite simply. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Identity#1{#1} +\end{TeXcode} +The rules around this definition mean that it is actually part of +\verb|Lambda.sty| and not just another example. + +\subsection{Error} + +Whereas $Identity$ does nothing in a fairly pleasant sort of way, +$Error$ does nothing in a particularly brutal and harsh fashion. +Mathematically, $Error$ is the function that destroys everything +else in front of it. It is often written as $\perp$. +\begin{eqnarray*} + Error~x & = & Error +\end{eqnarray*} +In practice, destroying the entire document when we hit one error +is a bit much, so we'll just print out an error message. +The user can carry on past an error at their own risk, as the code +will no longer be formally verified. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Error + {\errmessage{Abandon verification all + ye who enter here}} +\end{TeXcode} +Maybe this function ought to return a more useful error message \ldots + +\subsection{First and Second} + +Two other basic functions are $First$ and $Second$, both of which +take in two arguments, and do the obvious thing. They are defined: +\begin{eqnarray*} + First~x~y & = & x \\ + Second~x~y & = & y +\end{eqnarray*} +We could, in +fact, define $Second$ in terms of $Identity$ and $First$. +For any $x$ and $y$, +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{First~Identity~x~y} + & = & Identity~y \\ + & = & y \\ + & = & Second~x~y +\end{eqnarray*} +So $First~Identity = Second$. This means that anywhere in our \TeX\ code +we have \verb|\First\Identity| we could replace it by \verb|\Second|. +This is perhaps not the most astonishing \TeX\ fact known to humanity, +but this sort of proof did enable more complex bits of \TeX\ to be +verified before they were run. + +The \TeX\ definitions of \verb|\First| and \verb|\Second| are pretty +obvious. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\First#1#2{#1} +\def\Second#1#2{#2} +\end{TeXcode} +Note that in \TeX\, \verb|\First\foo\bar| expands out to +\verb|\foo| {\em without\/} expanding out \verb|\bar|. +This is very useful, as we can write macros that would take +forever and a day to run if they expanded all their arguments, +but which actually terminate quite quickly. This is called +{\em lazy evaluation\/} by the functional programming community. + +\subsection{Compose} + +Given two functions $f$ and $g$ we would like to be able to {\em compose\/} +them to produce a function that first applies $g$ then applies $f$. +Normally, this is written as $f \circ g$, but unfortunately \TeX\ doesn't +have infix functions, so we'll have to write it $Compose~f~g$. +\begin{eqnarray*} + Compose~f~g~x & = & f~(g~x) +\end{eqnarray*} +>From this definition, we can deduce that $Compose$ is associative: +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{Compose~(Compose~f~g)~h} + & = & Compose~f~(Compose~g~h) +\end{eqnarray*} +and $Identity$ is the left unit of $Compose$: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Compose~Identity~f & = & f +\end{eqnarray*} +The reader may wonder why $Identity$ is called a {\em left\/} unit +even though it occurs on the right of the $Compose$ --- this is a side-effect +of using prefix notations where infix is more normal. The infix version +of this equation is: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Identity \circ f & = & f +\end{eqnarray*} +so $Identity$ is indeed on the left of the composition. + +$Compose$ can be implemented in \TeX\ as +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Compose#1#2#3{#1{#2{#3}}} +\end{TeXcode} + +\subsection{Twiddle} + +Yet another useful little function is $Twiddle$, which takes in +a function and reverses the order that function takes its (first two) +arguments. +\begin{eqnarray*} + Twiddle~f~x~y & = & f~y~x +\end{eqnarray*} +Again, there aren't many immediate uses for such a function, but it'll +come in handy later on. It satisfies the properties +\begin{eqnarray*} + Twiddle~First & = & Second \\ + Twiddle~Second & = & First \\ + Compose~Twiddle~Twiddle & = & Identity +\end{eqnarray*} +Its \TeX\ equivalent is +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Twiddle#1#2#3{#1{#3}{#2}} +\end{TeXcode} +This function is called ``twiddle'' because it is sometimes written +$\widetilde f$ (and $\sim$ is pronounced ``twiddle''). +It also twiddles its arguments around, +which is quite nice if your sense of humour runs to appalling puns. + +\section{Booleans} + +As we're trying to program a sorting routine, it would be nice to +be able to define orderings on things, and to do this we need some +representation of boolean variables. Unfortunately \TeX\ doesn't have a type +for booleans, so we'll have to invent our own. We'll +implement a boolean as a function $b$ of the form +\begin{eqnarray*} + b~x~y & + = & + \left\{ + \begin{array}{ll} + x & \mbox{if $b$ is true} \\ + y & \mbox{otherwise} + \end{array} + \right. +\end{eqnarray*} +More formally, a +boolean $b$ is a function which respects equality, +such that for all $f$, $g$ and $z$: +\begin{eqnarray*} + b~f~g~z & = & b~(f~z)~(g~z) +\end{eqnarray*} +and for all $f$ and $g$ which respect equality, +\begin{eqnarray*} + b~(f~b)~(g~b) & = & b~(f~First)~(g~Second) +\end{eqnarray*} +All the functions in this section satisfy these properties. Surprisingly +enough, so does $Error$, which is quite useful, as it allows us to +reason about booleans which ``go wrong''. + +\subsection{True, False and Not} + +Since we are implementing booleans as functions, we already have the +definitions of $True$, $False$ and $Not$. +\begin{eqnarray*} + True & = & First \\ + False & = & Second \\ + Not & = & Twiddle +\end{eqnarray*} +So for free we get the following results: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Not~True & = & False \\ + Not~False & = & True \\ + Compose~Not~Not & = & Identity +\end{eqnarray*} +The \TeX\ implementation is not exactly difficult: +\begin{TeXcode} +\let\True=\First +\let\False=\Second +\let\Not=\Twiddle +\end{TeXcode} + +\subsection{And and Or} + +The definitions of $And$ and $Or$ are: +\begin{eqnarray*} + And~a~b & + = & + \left\{ + \begin{array}{ll} + b & \mbox{if $a$ is true} \\ + False & \mbox{otherwise} + \end{array} + \right. + \\ + Or~a~b & + = & + \left\{ + \begin{array}{ll} + True & \mbox{if $a$ is true} \\ + b & \mbox{otherwise} + \end{array} + \right. +\end{eqnarray*} +With our definition of what a boolean is, this is just the same as +\begin{eqnarray*} + And~a~b & = & a~b~False \\ + Or~a~b & = & a~True~b +\end{eqnarray*} +>From these conditions, we can show that $And$ is associative, and +has left unit $True$ and left zeros $False$ and $Error$: +\begin{eqnarray*} + And~(And~a~b)~c & = & And~a~(And~b~c) \\ + And~True~b & = & b \\ + And~False~b & = & False \\ + And~Error~b & = & Error +\end{eqnarray*} +$Or$ is associative, has left unit $False$ and left zeros $True$ and $Error$: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Or~(Or~a~b)~c & = & Or~a~(Or~b~c) \\ + Or~False~b & = & b \\ + Or~True~b & = & True \\ + Or~Error~b & = & Error +\end{eqnarray*} +De~Morgan's laws hold: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Not~(And~a~b) & = & Or~(Not~a)~(Not~b) \\ + Not~(Or~a~b) & = & And~(Not~a)~(Not~b) +\end{eqnarray*} +and $And$ and $Or$ left-distribute through one another: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Or~a~(And~b~c) & = & And~(Or~a~b)~(Or~a~c) \\ + And~a~(Or~b~c) & = & Or~(And~a~b)~(And~a~c) +\end{eqnarray*} +$And$ and $Or$ are {\em not\/} commutative, though. For example, +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{Or~True~Error} + & = & True~True~Error \\ + & = & True +\end{eqnarray*} +but +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{Or~Error~True} + & = & Error~True~True \\ + & = & Error +\end{eqnarray*} +This is actually quite useful since there are some booleans that +need to return an error occasionally. If $a$ is $True$ when $b$ +is safe (i.e.\ doesn't become $Error$) and is $False$ otherwise, we can +say $Or~a~b$ and know we're not going to get an error. This is handy +for things like checking for division by zero, or trying to get the +first element of an empty list. + +Similarly, because of the possibility of $Error$, +$And$ and $Or$ don't right-distribute through each other, +as +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{Or~(And~False~Error)~True} + & \ne & And~(Or~False~True)~(Or~Error~True) +\end{eqnarray*} +As errors shouldn't crop up, this needn't worry us too much. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\And#1#2{#1{#2}\False} +\def\Or#1#2{#1\True{#2}} +\end{TeXcode} + +\subsection{Lift} + +Quite a lot of the time we won't be dealing with booleans, but with +{\em predicates}, which are just functions that return a boolean. +For example, the predicate $Lessthan$ is defined below so that +$Lessthan~i~j$ is true whenever $i<j$. +Given a predicate $p$ we would like to be able to +{\em lift\/} it to $Lift~p$, defined: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Lift~p~f~g~x & = & p~x~f~g~x +\end{eqnarray*} +For example, $Lift~(Lessthan~0)~f~g$ takes in a number and applies +$f$ to it if it is positive and $g$ to it otherwise. This is quite +useful for defining functions. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Lift#1#2#3#4{#1{#4}{#2}{#3}{#4}} +\end{TeXcode} + +\subsection{Lessthan and \TeX if} + +Finally, we would like to be able to use \TeX's built-in booleans +as well as our own. For example, we would like a predicate +$Lessthan$ such that: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Lessthan~i~j & + = & + \left\{ + \begin{array}{ll} + True & \mbox{if } i < j \\ + False & \mbox{if } i \ge j \\ + Error & \mbox{otherwise} + \end{array} + \right. +\end{eqnarray*} +The $Error$ condition happens if we try applying $Lessthan$ to something +that isn't a number --- $Lessthan~True~False$ is $Error$% +\footnote + {Actually, that's a little white lie --- trying to persuade \TeX\ to + do run-time type checking isn't much fun. So the \TeX\ implementation + of this is actually a {\em refinement\/} where the $Error$ condition + has been replaced by whatever it is \TeX\ does if you try doing + {\tt\string\ifnum $x$ < $y$} when $x$ and $y$ aren't numbers}. +This is fine as a mathematical definition, but how will +we implement it? If we assume we have a macro \verb|\TeXif|, +which converts \TeX\ if-statements into booleans, we could just +define: +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Lessthan#1#2{\TeXif{\ifnum#1<#2 }} +\end{TeXcode} +So the question is just how to define \verb|\TeXif|. +Unfortunately, the ``obvious'' code does not work: +\begin{verbatim} +\def\TeXif#1#2#3{#1#2\else#3\fi} +\end{verbatim} +For example, \verb|\TeXif\iftrue\True\True| doesn't expand out to +\verb|\True|. Instead, it expands as: +\begin{verbatim} +\TeXif\iftrue\True\True + = \iftrue\True\else\True\fi + = \True\else\True\fi + = \else\fi + = +\end{verbatim} +Another common \TeX nique is to use a macro \verb|\next| to +be the expansion text: +\begin{verbatim} +\def\TeXif#1#2#3% + {#1\def\next{#2}\else\def\next{#3}\fi + \next} +\end{verbatim} +However, this uses \TeX's stomach to do the \verb|\def|, and we are +trying to do this using only the mouth. One (slightly tricky) solution +is to use pattern-matching to gobble up the offending \verb|\else| and/or +\verb|\fi|. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\gobblefalse\else\gobbletrue\fi#1#2% + {\fi#1} +\def\gobbletrue\fi#1#2% + {\fi#2} +\def\TeXif#1% + {#1\gobblefalse\else\gobbletrue\fi} +\end{TeXcode} +So if the \TeX\ if-statement is true, \verb|\gobblefalse| gobbles +up the false-text, otherwise \verb|\gobbletrue| gobbles up the +true-text. For example, +\begin{verbatim} +\TeXif\iftrue\True\True + = \iftrue\gobblefalse\else + \gobbletrue\fi\True\True + = \gobblefalse\else + \gobbletrue\fi\True\True + = \fi\True + = \True +\end{verbatim} +Phew. And so we have booleans. + +\section{Lists} + +A list is a (possibly infinite) sequence of values. For example, +the list $[1,2,3]$ contains three numbers, the list $\nil$ contains +none, and the list $[1,2,3,\ldots]$ contains infinitely many. +A list is either {\em empty\/} (written $\nil$) or is comprised +of a {\em head\/} +$x$ and a {\em tail\/} $xs$ (in which case it's written $x:xs$). +For example, $1:2:3:\nil$ is $[1,2,3]$. + +In a similar fashion to the implementation of booleans, +a list $xs$ is implemented as a function of the form +\begin{eqnarray*} + xs~f~e & + = & + \left\{ + \begin{array}{ll} + e & \mbox{if $xs$ is empty} \\ + f~y~ys & \mbox{if $xs$ has head $y$ and tail $ys$} + \end{array} + \right. +\end{eqnarray*} +Again, we are implementing a datatype as a function, a quite powerful +trick, just not one usually seen in \TeX. We will assume that +whenever a list $x:xs$ is applied to $f$ and $e$, $f~x$ respects equality. +This allows us to assume that if $xs = ys$ then $x:xs = x:ys$, +which is handy. + +\subsection{Nil, Cons, Stream and Singleton} + +The simplest list is $Nil$, the empty list which we have been writing +$\nil$. +\begin{eqnarray*} + Nil & = & Second +\end{eqnarray*} +The other possible list is $Cons~x~xs$, which has head $x$ and tail $xs$. +\begin{eqnarray*} + Cons~x~xs~f~e & = & f~x~xs +\end{eqnarray*} +Every list can be constructed using these functions. +The list $[1,2,3]$ is $Cons~1~(Cons~2~(Cons~3~Nil))$, and the +list $[a,a,a,\ldots]$ is $Stream~a$ where $Stream$ is defined: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Stream~a & = & Cons~a~(Stream~a) +\end{eqnarray*} +There's even at least one application for infinite lists, +as we'll see in Section~\ref{outputroutines}. + +The singleton list $[a]$ is $Singleton~a$, defined as: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Singleton~a & = & Cons~a~Nil +\end{eqnarray*} +These all have straightforward \TeX\ definitions. +\begin{TeXcode} +\let\Nil=\Second +\def\Cons#1#2#3#4{#3{#1}{#2}} +\def\Stream#1{\Cons{#1}{\Stream{#1}}} +\def\Singleton#1{\Cons{#1}\Nil} +\end{TeXcode} + +\subsection{Head and Tail} + +So, we can construct any list we like, but we still can't get any information +out of it. To begin with, we'd like to be able to get the head +and tail of a list. +\begin{eqnarray*} + Head~xs & = & xs~First~Error \\ + Tail~xs & = & xs~Second~Error +\end{eqnarray*} +For example, the tail of $x:xs$ is +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{Tail~(Cons~x~xs)} + & = & Cons~x~xs~Second~Error \\ + & = & Second~x~xs \\ + & = & \Tail{\Cons{x}{xs}} +\end{eqnarray*} +The tail of $\nil$ is, as one would expect, +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{Tail~Nil} + & = & Nil~Second~Error \\ + & = & Error +\end{eqnarray*} +And the head of $Stream~a$ is +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{Head~(Stream~a)} + & = & Stream~a~First~Error \\ + & = & Cons~a~(Stream~a)~First~Error \\ + & = & First~a~(Stream~a) \\ + & = & \Head{\Stream{a}} +\end{eqnarray*} +So we can get the head of an infinite list in finite time. This is +fortunate, as otherwise there wouldn't be much point in allowing +infinite objects. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Head#1{#1\First\Error} +\def\Tail#1{#1\Second\Error} +\end{TeXcode} + +\subsection{Foldl and Foldr} + +Using $Head$ and $Tail$ we can get at the beginning of any non-empty list, +but in general we need more information than that. Rather than write +a whole bunch of recursive functions on lists, I'll implement two +fairly general functions, with which we can implement (almost) everything +else. + +$Foldl$ and $Foldr$ both take in functions and apply them recursively +to a list. $Foldl$ starts at the left of the list, and $Foldr$ +starts at the right. For example, +\begin{eqnarray*} + Foldl~f~e~[1,2,3] & = & f~(f~(f~e~1)~2)~3 \\ + Foldr~f~e~[1,2,3] & = & f~1~(f~2~(f~3~e)) +\end{eqnarray*} +These functions will be used a lot later on. $Foldl$ can be defined: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Foldl~f~e~xs & = & xs~(Foldl'~f~e)~e \\ + Foldl'~f~e~x~xs & = & Foldl~f~(f~e~x)~xs +\end{eqnarray*} +So $Foldl~f~e~\nil$ is +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{Foldl~f~e~Nil} + & = & Nil~(Foldl'~f~e)~e \\ + & = & \Foldl{f}{e}\Nil +\end{eqnarray*} +And $Foldl~f~e~(x:xs)$ is +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{Foldl~f~e~(Cons~x~xs)} + & = & Cons~x~xs~(Foldl'~f~e)~e \\ + & = & Foldl'~f~e~x~xs \\ + & = & Foldl~f~(f~e~x)~xs +\end{eqnarray*} +For example, $Foldl~f~e~[1,2,3]$ is +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{Foldl~f~e~[1,2,3]} + & = & Foldl~f~(f~e~1)~[2,3] \\ + & = & Foldl~f~(f~(f~e~1)~2)~[3] \\ + & = & Foldl~f~(f~(f~(f~e~1)~2)~3)~\nil \\ + & = & f~(f~(f~e~1)~2)~3 +\end{eqnarray*} +as promised. Similarly, we can define $Foldr$ as +\begin{eqnarray*} + Foldr~f~e~xs & = & xs~(Foldr'~f~e)~e \\ + Foldr'~f~e~x~xs & = & f~x~(Foldr~f~e~xs) +\end{eqnarray*} +For $Foldr~f$ to respect equality, $f~x$ should respect equality. + +When we do the unfolding, we discover that +\begin{eqnarray*} + Foldr~f~e~\nil & = & e \\ + Foldr~f~e~(x:xs) & = & f~e~(Foldr~f~e~xs) +\end{eqnarray*} +$Foldr$ tends to be more efficient than $Foldl$, because $Foldl$ +has to run along the entire list before it can start applying $f$, +whereas $Foldr$ can apply $f$ straight away. If $f$ is a lazy function, +this can make quite a difference. $Foldl$ on infinite lists, anyone? +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Foldl#1#2#3% + {#3{\Foldl@{#1}{#2}}{#2}} +\def\Foldl@#1#2#3#4% + {\Foldl{#1}{#1{#2}{#3}}{#4}} +\def\Foldr#1#2#3% + {#3{\Foldr@{#1}{#2}}{#2}} +\def\Foldr@#1#2#3#4% + {#1{#3}{\Foldr{#1}{#2}{#4}}} +\end{TeXcode} + +\subsection{Cat} + +Given two lists, we would like to be able to stick them together, +which is what $Cat$ (short for ``concatenate'') +does. For example, $Cat~[1,2]~[3,4]$ is +$[1,2,3,4]$. It can be defined using $Foldr$: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Cat~xs~ys & = & Foldr~Cons~ys~xs +\end{eqnarray*} +So +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{Cat~[1,2]~[3,4]} + & = & Foldr~Cons~[3,4]~[1,2] \\ + & = & Cons~1~(Foldr~Cons~[3,4]~[2]) \\ + & = & Cons~1~(Cons~2~(Foldr~Cons~[3,4]~\nil)) \\ + & = & Cons~1~(Cons~2~[3,4]) \\ + & = & \Unlistize{\Cat{\Listize[1,2]}{\Listize[3,4]}} +\end{eqnarray*} +The \TeX\ code for \verb|\Cat| is suspiciously similar to its mathematical +definition. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Cat#1#2{\Foldr\Cons{#2}{#1}} +\end{TeXcode} + +\subsection{Reverse} + +We can reverse any list with the function $Reverse$, defined using +$Foldl$: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Reverse & = & Foldl~(Twiddle~Cons)~Nil +\end{eqnarray*} +For example, $Reverse~[1,2,3]$ can be calculated: +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{Reverse~[1,2,3]} + & = & Foldl~(Twiddle~Cons)~Nil~[1,2,3] \\ + & = & Twiddle~Cons \\ + & & \quad (Twiddle~Cons~(Twiddle~Cons~Nil~1)~2)~3 \\ + & = & Cons~3~(Cons~2~(Cons~1~Nil)) \\ + & = & \Show\Reverse[1,2,3] +\end{eqnarray*} +The \TeX\ code for \verb|\Reverse| doesn't even take in any parameters. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Reverse{\Foldl{\Twiddle\Cons}\Nil} +\end{TeXcode} + +\subsection{All, Some and Isempty} + +Given a predicate $p$, we can find out if all the elements of +a list satisfy $p$ with $All~p$. Similarly we can find if something +in the list satisfies $p$ with $Some~p$. For example, +\begin{eqnarray*} + All~(Lessthan~1)~[1,2,3] + & = & \All{\Lessthan 1}{\Listize[1,2,3]}{True}{False} \\ + Some~(Lessthan~1)~[1,2,3] + & = & \Some{\Lessthan 1}{\Listize[1,2,3]}{True}{False} +\end{eqnarray*} +These can be defined +\begin{eqnarray*} + All~p & = & Foldr~(Compose~And~p)~True \\ + Some~p & = & Foldr~(Compose~Or~p)~False +\end{eqnarray*} +For example, $Isempty$ can be defined +\begin{eqnarray*} + Isempty & = & All~(First~False) +\end{eqnarray*} +This is probably not the most efficient check in the world, but we +hardly ever need it --- $Foldl$ or $Foldr$ will normally do the job. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\All#1{\Foldr{\Compose\And{#1}}\True} +\def\Some#1{\Foldr{\Compose\Or{#1}}\False} +\def\Isempty{\All{\First\False}} +\end{TeXcode} + +\subsection{Filter} + +$Filter$ takes a predicate $p$ and a list $xs$, and returns a list +containing only those elements of $xs$ that satisfy $p$. For example, +\begin{eqnarray*} + Filter~(Lessthan~1)~[1,2,3] & = & \Show\Filter{\Lessthan 1}[1,2,3] +\end{eqnarray*} +$Filter$ can be defined as a $Foldr$: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Filter~p & = & Foldr~(Lift~p~Cons~Second)~Nil +\end{eqnarray*} +Another easy bit of \TeX: +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Filter#1% + {\Foldr{\Lift{#1}\Cons\Second}\Nil} +\end{TeXcode} + +\subsection{Map} + +$Map$ takes a function $f$ and a list $xs$ and applies $f$ to every +element of $xs$. For example, +\begin{eqnarray*} + Map~f~[1,2,3] & = & \Show\Map{f~}[1,2,3] +\end{eqnarray*} +This is another job for $Foldr$. +\begin{eqnarray*} + Map~f & = & Foldr~(Compose~Cons~f)~Nil +\end{eqnarray*} +We shall see $Map$ used later on, to convert from a list of +names such as \Show\Map{\Compose\mbox\tt}[Fac-yawn,Fac-cows], to a list of +labels such as \By[Fac-yawn,Fac-cows]. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Map#1{\Foldr{\Compose\Cons{#1}}\Nil} +\end{TeXcode} + +\subsection{Insert} + +The only function we need which isn't easily defined as a reduction +is $Insert$, which inserts an element into a sorted list. For example, +\begin{eqnarray*} + Insert~Lessthan~3~[1,2,4,5] & = & \Show\Insert\Lessthan3[1,2,4,5] +\end{eqnarray*} +$Insert$ takes in an ordering as its first parameter, so we're not stuck +with one particular order. It is defined directly in terms of the +definition of lists. +\begin{eqnarray*} + Insert~o~x~xs & = & xs~(Insert'~o~x)~(Singleton~x) \\ + Insert'~o~x~y~ys & = & o~x~y \\ + & & \quad (Cons~x~(Cons~y~ys)) \\ + & & \quad (Cons~y~(Insert~o~x~ys)) +\end{eqnarray*} +We can then define the function all this has been leading up to, +$Insertsort$ which takes an ordering and a list, and insert-sorts the +list according to the ordering. For example, +\begin{eqnarray*} + Insertsort~Lessthan~[2,3,1,2] & = & \Show\Insertsort\Lessthan[2,3,1,2] +\end{eqnarray*} +We can implement this as a fold: +\begin{eqnarray*} + Insertsort~o & = & Foldr~(Insert~o)~Nil +\end{eqnarray*} +And so we've got sorted lists. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Insert#1#2#3% + {#3{\Insert@{#1}{#2}}{\Singleton{#2}}} +\def\Insert@#1#2#3#4% + {#1{#2}{#3}% + {\Cons{#2}{\Cons{#3}{#4}}}% + {\Cons{#3}{\Insert{#1}{#2}{#4}}}} +\def\Insertsort#1{\Foldr{\Insert{#1}}\Nil} +\end{TeXcode} +Interestingly, as we have implemented unbounded lists in \TeX's mouth, +this means we can implement a Turing Machine. So, if you believe +the Church-Turing thesis, \TeX's mouth is as powerful as any +computer anywhere. Isn't that good to know? + +\section{Sorting reference lists} +\label{thissection} + +So, these are the macros I've got to play with --- how do we apply them to +sorting lists of references? Well, I'm using \LaTeX, which keeps the +current reference in a macro called \verb|\@currentlabel|, which +is~\ref{thissection} at the moment, as this is Section~\ref{thissection}. +So I just need to store the value of \verb|\@currentlabel| somehow. + +Fortunately, I'm only ever going to be making references to facts +earlier on in the document, in order to make sure I'm not proving +any results in terms of themselves. So I don't need to play around +with auxiliary files, and can just do everything in terms of +macros. + +\subsection{Number and Label} + +Each label in the document is given a unique number, in the order +the labels were put down. So the number of \verb|Fac-cows| +is \verb|\Number{Fac-cows}|, which expands out to~\Number{Fac-cows}, +the number of \verb|Fac-people| is~\Number{Fac-people}, and so on. + +Each number has an associated label with it. For example, +the first label is \verb|\Label{1}|, which is~\Label{1}, +the second label is~\Label{2} and so on. So to find the label for +\verb|Fac-cows|, we say \verb|\Label{\Number{Fac-cows}}| which expands +out to~\Label{\Number{Fac-cows}}. + +These numbers and labels are kept track of in macros. For example, +the number of \verb|Fac-cows| is kept in \cstok{Number-Fac-cows}. +Similarly, the first label is kept in \cstok{Label-1}. +As these macros have dashes in their names, they aren't likely to +be used already. + +So the \TeX\ code for \verb|\Number| and \verb|\Label| is pretty +simple. +\begin{verbatim} +\def\Number#1{\csname Number-#1\endcsname} +\def\Label#1{\csname Label-#1\endcsname} +\end{verbatim} + +\subsection{Lastnum and Forward} + +The number of the most recent label is kept in \verb|\Lastnum|. +\begin{verbatim} +\newcount\Lastnum +\end{verbatim} +To put down a label \verb|Foo|, I type \verb|\Forward{Foo}|. +\Forward{Foo} +This increments the counter +\verb|\Lastnum|, and \verb|\xdef|s \cstok{Number-Foo} +to be the value of +\verb|\Lastnum|, which is now~\the\Lastnum. So +\verb|\Number{Foo}| now expands to~\Number{Foo}. +Similarly, it \verb|\xdef|s \cstok{Label-\Number{Foo}} to be +\verb|\@currentlabel|, which is currently~\Label{\Number{Foo}}. +So \verb|\Label{\Number{Foo}}| now expands to~\Label{\Number{Foo}}. +\begin{verbatim} +\def\Forward#1% + {\global\advance\Lastnum by 1 + \csnameafter\xdef{Number-#1}% + {\the\Lastnum}% + \csnameafter\xdef{Label-\the\Lastnum}% + {\@currentlabel}} +\end{verbatim} +This uses \verb|\csnameafter\foo{bar}|, which expands out to +\verb|\foo\bar|. +\begin{verbatim} +\def\csnameafter#1#2% + {\expandafter#1\csname#2\endcsname} +\end{verbatim} + +\subsection{Listize, Unlistize and Show} + +At the moment, lists have to be built up using \verb|\Cons| and +\verb|\Nil|, which is rather annoying. Similarly, we can't actually +do anything with a list once we've built it. We'd like some way +of converting lists in the form \verb|[a,b,c]| to and from the +form $[a,b,c]$. This is done with \verb|\Listize| and \verb|\Unlistize|. +So \verb|\Listize[a,b,c]| expands to +\begin{verbatim} +\Cons{a}{\Cons{b}{\Cons{c}{\Nil}}} +\end{verbatim} +Similarly, \verb|\Unlistize| takes the list $[a,b,c]$ and expands out +to \verb|[a, b, c]|. \verb|\Unlistize| is done with a $Foldr$. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Unlistize#1{[#1\Unlistize@{}]} +\def\Unlistize@#1{#1\Foldr\Commaize{}} +\def\Commaize#1#2{, #1#2} +\end{TeXcode} +The macro \verb|\Listize| is just a \TeX\ hack with pattern matching. +It would have been nice to use \verb|\@ifnextchar| for this, but +that uses \verb|\futurelet|, which doesn't expand in the mouth. Oh well. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Listize[#1]% + {\Listize@[#1,\relax]} +\def\Listize@#1,#2]% + {\TeXif{\ifx\relax#2}% + {\Singleton{#1}}% + {\Cons{#1}{\Listize@#2]}} +\end{TeXcode} +This only works for nonempty lists --- \verb|\Listize[]| produces the +singleton list \verb|\Singleton{}|. It also uses \verb|\relax| as its +end-of-list character, so lists with \verb|\relax| in them have to +be done by hand. You can't win them all. So +\begin{verbatim} +$\Unlistize{\Listize[a,b,c]}$ +\end{verbatim} +produces +$\Unlistize{\Listize[a,b,c]}$. This is such a common construction +that I've defined a macro \verb|\Show| such that +\verb|\Show\foo[a,b,c]| expands out to +\begin{verbatim} +\Unlistize{\foo{\Listize[a,b,c]}} +\end{verbatim} +For example, the equation +\begin{eqnarray*} + Filter\,(Lessthan\,1)\,[1,2,3] + &=& \Show\Filter{\Lessthan 1}[1,2,3] +\end{eqnarray*} +was generated with +\begin{verbatim} +\begin{eqnarray*} + Filter\,(Lessthan\,1)\,[1,2,3] + &=& \Show\Filter{\Lessthan 1}[1,2,3] +\end{eqnarray*} +\end{verbatim} +Many of the examples in this article were typeset this way. +\begin{TeXcode} +\def\Show#1[#2]% + {\Unlistize{#1{\Listize[#2]}}} +\end{TeXcode} + +\subsection{By} + +Given these macros, we can now sort any list of references with $Bylist$, +defined +\begin{eqnarray*} + Bylist~xs & = & Map~Label \\ + & & \quad (Insertsort~Lessthan \\ + & & \quad\quad (Map~Number~xs)) +\end{eqnarray*} +This takes in a list of label names like \verb|Fac-yawn|, +converts it into a list of numbers with $Map~Number$, +sorts the resulting list with $Insertsort~Lessthan$, +and finally converts all the numbers into labels like +\Label{\Number{Fac-yawn}} with $Map~Label$. For example, +\begin{eqnarray*} + \start{Bylist~\Show\Map{\Compose\mbox\tt}[Fac-yawn,Fac-cows]} + & = & Map~Label~(Insertsort~Lessthan \\ + & & \quad (Map~Number~ + \Show\Map{\Compose\mbox\tt}[Fac-yawn,Fac-cows])) \\ + & = & Map~Label~(Insertsort~Lessthan~ + \Show\Map\Number[Fac-yawn,Fac-cows]) \\ + & = & Map~Label~\Show\Compose{\Insertsort\Lessthan}{\Map\Number} + [Fac-yawn,Fac-cows] \\ + & = & \Show\Bylist[Fac-yawn,Fac-cows] +\end{eqnarray*} +The \TeX\ code for this is +\begin{verbatim} +\def\Bylist#1% + {\Map\Label + {\Insertsort\Lessthan + {\Map\Number{#1}}}} +\end{verbatim} +So we can now stick all this together, and define the macro \verb|\By| +that prints out lists of references. It is +\begin{verbatim} +\def\By{\Show\Bylist} +\end{verbatim} +So \verb|\By[Fac-yawn,Fac-cows]| is~\By[Fac-yawn,Fac-cows]. +Which is quite nice. + +\section{Other applications} +\label{outputroutines} + +Is all this worth it? Well, I've managed to get my lists of facts in +order, but that's not the world's most astonishing application. +There are other things that these lists are useful for, though. + +For example, Damian Cugley has a macro package under development for +laying out magazines. {\sc Mag}\TeX's output routine needs to be quite +smart, as magazines often have gaps where illustrations or photographs +are going to live. In general, each block of text needs to be output +in a different fashion from every other block of text. +This will be handled by keeping an infinite list of output +routines. Each time a box is cut off the scroll to be output, +the head of the list is chopped off and is used as the output routine +for that box. That way, quite complex page shapes can be built up. + +Mainly, though, these macros were written just as a challenge. +I learned quite a lot about \TeX\ and needed some \TeX niques I'd +never seen before. It was also quite pleasing to see that \TeX\ code +can be formally verified, albeit in a rather noddy way. Without +some sort of abstract view of lists, these \TeX\ macros could +not have been written. + +\section{Acknowledgements} + +Thanks to Jeremy Gibbons for letting me bounce ideas off him +and spotting the duff ones, +to Damian Cugley for saying ``Do you really think \TeX\ is meant +to do this?'', and to the Problem Solving Club for hearing me out. +This work was sponsored by the Science and Engineering +Research Council and Hewlett Packard. + +\makesignature + +\end{document} + |