[erlang-questions] Re: atoms used as status info, 'constants' etc

[Dave Pawson]

Hi Steve.

2009/8/18 Steve Davis <steven.charles.davis@REDACTED>:
> Dave,
> Here's my 2c on this one.
>
> 1) reuse atoms that are also used as return values from other modules
> in the OTP platform where it makes sense,

Makes sense. I'm using ok etc as I've seen it used.


> 2) try to name the atoms cleverly for best grok-ability
:-) OK. by the reader I guess.


> 3) if you return an unpredictable number of status values, then use
> "string" status values

See below*

> 3a) and... by "string" then probably it is "better" to use a binary
> representation of the text, e.g. <<"my unpredictable return value">>

Never even seen that way of building a string!


My problem is a function that should return, say, a record, yet
the sought record does not exist?
  Return a 'dummy' / null record or
  Just a status value?
Groking in the case would be by the Erlang code rather
than the user.

suggestions on how to handle this please?


regards

-- 
Dave Pawson
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