[erlang-questions] Invoking a function based on name only

[Håkan Stenholm]

Dustin Sallings wrote:
> On Sep 13, 2007, at 22:24, igwan wrote:
>
>   
>> It is worth noting that if the number of arguments is known at  
>> compile time, it's more efficient to use Module:Function(Arg1,  
>> Arg2, ...) than apply/3.
>> From the the Efficiency Guide : "The syntax |M:Foo(A1,A2,An)| (also  
>> referred to as implicit apply, where M and Foo are bound variables)  
>> where equivalent with |apply(M,Foo,[A1,A2,An])| in releases pre OTP- 
>> R10B. The compiler will now optimize this syntax giving it better  
>> performance than apply/3"
>>     
>
> 	Thanks.  I thought I saw something like that.  Revised:
>
> 1> M = list_to_atom("erlang").
> erlang
> 2> F = list_to_atom("now").
> now
> 3> M:F().
> {1189,750920,871983}
>
> or
>
> 4> {M, F} = {list_to_atom("erlang"), list_to_atom("now")}.
> {erlang,now}
> 5> M:F().
> {1189,750980,161945}
>   
or

1> (list_to_atom("erlang")):(list_to_atom("now"))().
{1189,752160,276431}


> 	Whichever is more appropriate in the given context.
>
>   
>> igwan
>>
>> Dustin Sallings a écrit :
>>     
>>> On Sep 13, 2007, at 15:42 , Kevin A. Smith wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>>>> If I have the name of the function and the module it belongs to, how
>>>> can I invoke it? I tried cobbling together erl_scan and friends but
>>>> the embedded macros in the code gave me some heartburn. Any  
>>>> pointers?
>>>>
>>>>         
>>> 1> apply(list_to_atom("erlang"), list_to_atom("now"), []).
>>> {1189,724492,627140}
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>>     
>
>