An "is_string" BIF?

[Matthias Lang]

Thomas Johnsson XA (LN/EAB) writes:
 > This really exposes an ugly wart on the language, in that 
 > one cannot use any expression in a guard, 

If the restriction were removed, a number of problems arise. 

Those problems are discussed

     here: http://www.erlang.org/faq/x868.html   (question 9.4)
 and here: http://www.erlang.org/ml-archive/erlang-questions/200402/msg00257.html
 and here: http://www.erlang.org/ml-archive/erlang-questions/200406/msg00046.html
 and here: http://www.erlang.org/ml-archive/erlang-questions/200309/msg00382.html
 and here: http://www.erlang.org/ml-archive/erlang-questions/200309/msg00263.html
 and here: http://www.erlang.org/ml-archive/erlang-questions/200309/msg00219.html
 and here: http://www.erlang.org/ml-archive/erlang-questions/200204/msg00079.html

Matthias