Question about 'if'

[Bengt Kleberg]

Marc van Woerkom wrote:

> why is
>   if     f(X) =:= 42 ->
>        ..
>   end
>
> not allowed, but
>
>   Y = f(X),
>   if
>     Y =:= 42 ->
>     ..
>   end

most likely it is this way to ensure that the 'if branch selection' is 
done in bounded time.
assume that the choosing of a branch is done inside the virtual machine. 
in your first example that means that f(X) would run to compleation, 
without letting any other process run.


bengt