[erlang-questions] clarify: Sending big messages

[Johnny Billquist]

Kostis Sagonas wrote:
> Zoltan Peter Toth wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> We have a function like this:
>>
>> deliver(Port, Data) ->
>>     Port ! {data, Data}.
>>
>> This function returns Data.
> 
> Nope.  This function returns {data, Data}.
> 
> I personally think that !/2 returning a value instead of being void as 
> it should, is a design flow in the definition of the language. (*)

???
Erlang is a functional language. Everything returns something. There is 
no "void".
Maybe it should always return "ok" instead, but I think it's better it 
returns the expression sent, in case you do want to play around with it 
somehow.

	Johnny