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The need to specify 'rec' in a recursive function defintion

Saptarshi Guha
- Guillaume Yziquel
  - Saptarshi Guha
- Gerd Stolpmann
- Jon Harrop
  - Saptarshi Guha
    - Jon Harrop
- Stefan Monnier
  - Till Varoquaux
    - Jon Harrop
    - Stefan Monnier
      - Jon Harrop
        
        Stefan Monnier
        
        Stefan Monnier
        
        Ashish Agarwal

Date:	2010-02-09 (22:14)
From:	Saptarshi Guha <saptarshi.guha@g...>
Subject:	Re: [Caml-list] The need to specify 'rec' in a recursive function defintion

Thanks, very helpful.

>> let f = fun x -> x + 1   (1)
>>
>> let f x = f (f x)  (2)

This works in ocaml because, it replaces f (in (2) ) from that of (1).
Which is why i need f previously defined.
Correct me if i'm wrong.


>
>> Wouldn't one of way of detecting a recursive function would be to see
>> if the indeed the function calls itself?
>
> No. Because you never know if you intended to call the function recursively,
> or if you intended to call an homonymous function you defined before.
>

Very true, hadn't considered this.


> All the best,
>
> --
> Â  Â  Guillaume Yziquel
> http://yziquel.homelinux.org/
>