0086-pythonic-string-reader.org

pythonic-string-reader

This is a small package which adds a new syntax for writing multiline string as you do in Python.

I already reviewed the “heredoc” library providing a similar functionality:

http://40ants.com/lisp-project-of-the-day/2020/05/0055-cl-heredoc.html

Here is how pythonic-string-reader can be used:

;; Enable the syntax:
POFTHEDAY> (named-readtables:in-readtable
            pythonic-string-reader:pythonic-string-syntax)

;; Using it from the REPL:
POFTHEDAY> """
Hello "Lisp World!"
"""
"
Hello \"Lisp World!\"
"

;; Using it for function's docstring:
POFTHEDAY> (defun foo (x)
             """ This is a function
                 which multiplies "x"
                 to itself.
             """
             (* x x))
FOO
POFTHEDAY> (documentation 'FOO
                          'function)
" This is a function
                 which multiplies \"x\"
                 to itself.
             "

Whereas cl-heredoc package allowed you to choose a string which will denote the end of the string literal, pythonic-string-reader supports only 3 or 4 double-quotes.

4 double-quotes might be useful if you want to use 3 double quotes in the text:

POFTHEDAY> (defun foo ()
             """"
             You also might enter text with 3 double quotes:

             """
             Just use 4 double quotes when starting such string
             literal.
             """
"""")

POFTHEDAY> (foo)
"
             You also might enter text with 3 double quotes:

             \"\"\"
             Just use 4 double quotes when starting such string
             literal.
             \"\"\"
"