The meaning of `isFunction`

Questions
1

I was hoping isFunction might be a “protocol identifier”, but alas only Function itself and its subclasses make it true. BinaryOpFunction.isFunction is false for instance. There are no actual uses for isFunction in the class library… but I found the need myself to treat BinaryOpFunction as “the same”, meaning I need to call value on it to “resolve” it, i.e.

f = {42}
g = f + 3

f.value // 42
g.value // 45

g.isFunction // -> false

Of course it is trivial to do

g.isKindOf(AbstractFunction) // -> true

instead, but I was wondering what the meaning of isFunction is actually supposed to be.

2

isX and asX are convenience methods. E.g. there’s asArray, but sometimes you need as(Array)

3

Note also that not all AbstractFunctions are interchangeable with Functions (Pattern and UGen in particular). So isKindOf(AbstractFunction) is a bit dangerous if you expect to .value the object.

I do think it would be reasonable for XxxOpFunctions to answer true here. Seems like a minor oversight. Feel free to submit a PR.

hjh

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4

Aaaaand… I just got tripped up by this myself.

I kinda think we should change this…

hjh

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