Question

For a framework I’m writing I have to implement matcher functions, like e.g. equals (whicl tests for equality and also prints out what was expected to match if it doesn’t match).

The problem is I need to implement this for strings as well as integers (and probably arrays) and I don’t know how distinguish those functions based on their type. Some ideas are:

1. using some sort of prefix

   integer_equals '1' '2'
   string_equals '1' '2'
   

2. passing the type to the function

   equals 'integer' '1' '2'
   equals 'string' '1' '2'
   

3. separating the prefix with a . (dot)

   string.equals '1' '2'
   integer.equals '1' '2'
   

Which one of these would fit best, i.e. which one would be the most idiomatic one or the least astoninishing?

Answer 1

I think your proposal 1 (string_equals) is the clearest and least surprising.