[erlang-questions] Should erlang have macro FUNCTION_ARGS ?

[Zhongzheng Liu]

Hi mail-list:

We have FUNCTION_NAME and FUNCTION_ARITY in OTP 19+.

Is there FUNCTION_ARGS to get the argument list in current functions?

For example:

     a_function(X, Y) ->
       ?FUNCTION_ARGS.

After preprocessing, the example will look like:

    a_function(X, Y) ->
        [X, Y].

Using this macro, we can use erlang:apply(fun
?FUNCTION_NAME/?FUNCTION_ARITY,  ?FUNCTION_ARGS) to make any function
recursively.

For example:
      -define(RECURSIVE_FUNCION, erlang:apply(fun
?FUNCTION_NAME/?FUNCTION_ARITY,  ?FUNCTION_ARGS)).

      b_function(A) ->
             do_something(),
             ?RECURSIVE_FUNCION.

After preprocessing, the example will look like:

      b_function(A) ->
             do_something(),
             erlang:apply(fun b_function/1, [A]).

Using this macro, we can use io:format("~p", [FUNCTION_ARGS]) to print
arguments in any function.

For example:

      -define(PRINT_ARGS, io:format("~p", [FUNCTION_ARGS])).

      c_function(A) ->
             PRINT_ARGS,
             do_something(A).


After preprocessing, the example will look like:

      b_function(A) ->
             io:format("~p", [A]),
             erlang:apply(fun b_function/1, [A]).