Posts from 2016 - Wilfred miniblog

x86 Register Encoding https://eklitzke.org/x86-register-encoding (fascinating article on how compilers choose which registers to use — save bytes!)

Given the choice between a docstring and a type signature, I find a docstring much more helpful on the first read (ideally I'd have both!)

If you ever use cloc to measure LOC in a project, tokei is shockingly faster. https://github.com/Aaronepower/tokei (really nice Rust project)

Woohoo! I've got commit access to Emacs! GNU ELPA powers come with core access — next step is to learn debbugs.

Nifty Emacs command of the day: avy-goto-char-timer: https://github.com/abo-abo/avy#avy-goto-char-timer . It combines avy-goto-char with an isearch style search.

I did not see that coming: Atom seems to be the first non-Emacs editor with elisp support!

Interesting thread on Clojure-style function literals in elisp: https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2015-01/msg00618.html (unsuccessful but there's interest in reader macros)

Emacs tip of the day: annotate your functions! The byte compiler can replace entire function calls at compile time if your function is pure.

Macros where you have to specify a var name are really clean. They have few hygiene issues, and work with both lexical and dynamic binding!

Interesting, well executed research on test-first: https://neverworkintheory.org/2016/10/05/test-driven-development.html (found no benefit, shame to see how defensive people can be)

What else are we getting wrong? https://danghica.blogspot.com/2016/09/what-else-are-we-getting-wrong.html (on the importance of evidence-based PL research)

Amazing Emacs package of the day: https://github.com/emacs-pe/docker-tramp.el allows you to access Docker containers over Tramp!