Abstract form

[Matthias Lang]

Vlad Dumitrescu writes:

 > I read the manual, and I knew about the difference you so kindly point out.
...

Vlad Dumitrescu writes:

 > erl_parse:abstract([3,a,5]). --->
 >     {cons,0,{integer,0,3},{cons,0,{atom,0,a},{string,0,[5]}}}
 > erl_parse...("[3,a,5]"). --->
 >     
 > {cons,1,{integer,1,3},{cons,1,{atom,1,a},{cons,1,{integer,1,5},{nil,1}}}}

Can you start by explaining what the above is supposed to mean?  I
can't make head or tail of it, yet "erl_parse" experts seem to know
what you mean, which suggests there's some sort of known irritation. I
got stuck here:

  1> erl_parse...("[3,a,5]").
  ** 1: syntax error before: '.' **
  1> erl_parse...("[3,a,5]"). --->
  ** 1: syntax error before: '.' **
  1> --->

Matthias