[R] Pipe operator

[Richard O'Keefe]

The simplest and best answer is "fashion".
In FSharp,
> (|>);;
val it: ('a -> ('a -> 'b) -> 'b)
The ability to turn f x y into y |> f x
makes perfect sense in a programming language
where Currying (representing a function of n
arguments as a function of 1 argument that
returns a function of n-1 arguments, similarly
represented) is a way of life.  It can result
in code that is more readable.  And it is
pretty much unavoidable:
let x |> f = f x
is definable in the language.

In programming languages like Erlang and R,
where Currying is *not* a way of life, the
matter is otherwise.

Really, it's all about whether you talk like Luke
or like Yoda talk, it's not about what you say or
efficiency or anything but perceived readability.


On Wed, 4 Jan 2023 at 05:49, Sorkin, John <jsorkin using som.umaryland.edu> wrote:

> I am trying to understand the reason for existence of the pipe operator,
> %>%, and when one should use it. It is my understanding that the operator
> sends the file to the left of the operator to the function immediately to
> the right of the operator:
>
> c(1:10) %>% mean results in a value of 5.5 which is exactly the same as
> the result one obtains using the mean function directly, viz.
> mean(c(1:10)). What is the reason for having two syntactically different
> but semantically identical ways to call a function? Is one more efficient
> than the other? Does one use less memory than the other?
>
> P.S. Please forgive what might seem to be a question with an obvious
> answer. I am a programmer dinosaur. I have been programming for more than
> 50 years. When I started programming in the 1960s the only pipe one spoke
> about was a bong.
>
> John
>
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