Simple tail calls

[David-Sarah Hopwood]

Michael Day wrote:
> Hi Mike,
> 
>> What about
>>
>> function f()
>> {
>>    try {
>>        return g();
>>    } finally { h(); }
>> }
> 
> Good point! Is there any solution other than to say that try { }
> disables tail calls?

try blocks generally disable tail-call optimization in other language
implementations.

> It seems that the h() inside the finally could be return h(), which
> would make it a tail call.

Yes, but 'return g();' still wouldn't be.

>> function f()
>> {
>>   with (o)
>>      return g();
>> }
> 
> Okay, so the with statement modifies the scope chain, which must be
> undone after the call to g(). Off the top of my head, I would say that
> this should still be a tail call unless enough implementers complain :)

Probably not worth the hassle given the usage frequency of 'with'.

-- 
David-Sarah Hopwood