[R] Bug in "is" ?

[Michael Dewey]

At 02:02 26/09/2008, Rolf Turner wrote:

>On 26/09/2008, at 12:34 PM, jim holtman wrote:
>
>>The nice thing about R is if you don't like something, then get create
>>your own function (is.Integer?) that does what you want without asking
>>to have the base code changed and therefore impact a lot of programs.
>>You can have whatever functions your heart desires and use them
>>privately and quit bellyaching about a very good software projects.
>>If you have ever worked in developing software, then you know there
>>are always "work arounds" to any problem.
>
>That's not the point.  Once it is drawn to my attention that
>is.integer()
>does not do what one would reasonably expect, I can cope with that,
>quite easily.  I already suggested creating one's own function to do
>what one wants (I suggested the name is.WholeNumber() --- is.Integer()
>has the advantage of being shorter, but the disadvantage of being more
>error-prone; slip on the shift key, and then where are you? :-) )
>
>The point is that is.integer() is a trap, for all but the ultra- 
>sophisticated.
>It invites errors, and is unnecessarily counter-intuitive.
>
>Given that is.integer() exists in its current form, and is not going
>to change, it would help if the counter-intertuitive nature of the
>function were prominently warned about in the help.

Perhaps an alternative which would address various other problems 
(including at least one FAQ) as well would be for the start-up 
message to change to something like

What is true in mathematics is not necessarily true in R.



>         cheers,
>
>                 Rolf Turner
>
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Michael Dewey
http://www.aghmed.fsnet.co.uk