Proper or well formed Lists

[Robert Virding]

Francesco Cesarini <cesarini@REDACTED> writes:
>A well formed list follows the definition List = [Term|List] or []. Why
>where non proper (or well formed) lists (List = [Term|Term] ex:
>[hello|world]) allowed in the language in the first place? 
>
>I am having a hard time seeing the need or intent with non well formed
>lists, other than a simplifying run-time evaluations and possibly the
>parsing. Wouldn't it have been better to have expressions not evaluating
>to a well formed list result in a run time error? 

The reason is mainly hereditary, the high-level languages we were used
to when we started developing Erlang were Lisp and Prolog and both these
languages allow this.  Also the early versions of Erlang were Prolog
interpreters.  We did have some discussion about this but did really 
feel it important enough to warrant a change.

Anyway think of the cool things you can do with it!  Also think how 
much more efficient cons is. :-)

	Robert