Re: MAKE-METHOD-FUNCTION and APPLY-METHOD

[kempf@Sun.COM]

>The method combination can be obtained from the generic function by
>calling generic-function-method-combination, so the only reason to
>pass it as an argument to compute-discriminator-code is if it's needed
>for method selection.

Right, so it can go back to just one parameter.

>I see.  Here's another way to write it that might make what you're doing
>easier to understand:
>
>    (defmethod compute-discriminator-code 
>        ((generic-function standard-generic-function))
>      (let ((f (get-handler-for #'compute-effective-method
>				generic-function
>				(generic-function-method-combination
>				  generic-function)
>				nil)))
>	  #'(lambda (&rest args)
>	      (let* ((applicable-methods 
>		       (compute-applicable-methods generic-function args))
>		     (effective-method-form
>		       (funcall f generic-function
>				(generic-function-method-combination
>				  generic-function)
>				applicable-methods)) ....
>
>get-handler-for is a new primitive that provides a proper separation
>between the act of finding the effective method function and the act of
>applying it.  This pulls the generic dispatch for
>compute-effective-method out of the loop.  This is mere code hoisting,
>except that it shows where to put the special case to break the
>circularity.

Yes, this would be a more general primitive. This looks good.

Reactions from others? Patrick, Gregor? It would be particularly interesting
to hear how people feel about letting compute-discriminator-code and
make-method-function negotiate their own contract for the calling interface
in method metaclasses other than the default.

		jak