isNil ifTrue: idiom

> I must say I have been wondering that myself...!
>
> Rob
>
>
> Jimmie Houchin-3 wrote:
>> Why is
>>
>> addresses isNil ifTrue: [self initAddresses].
>>
>> used in AIDA as opposed to
>>
>> addresses ifNil: [self initAddresses].
>>
>> ?
>>
>> Is ifNil unavailable in VW? or is there something I don't understand?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Jimmie
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>>
>>
>

> isNil ifTrue: instead if ifNil: is used mostly from two reasons:
> historical and portability.
>
> Historical: back in 1996 there was no ifNil: on VW. This came later,
> first as extensions by some packages and just in recent years as part of
> core image.
>
> Portability: because of ifNil: is probably still not part of all
> Smalltalks it is just better to avoid it in core Aida.
>
> But it is also true that I'm used of old method and that I didn't find
> yet a compelling reason to change that habit :)

> Janko Mivšek wrote:
>> Dear all,
>>
>> Let me first apologize for such an unresponsiveness and a backlog of
>> your  posts to be answered. I have all of them blue tagged on my
>> Thunderbird, so they will be answered, sooner or later. Thanks again for
>> your understanding!
>
> Not a problem. I'm sure we all understand that you are a busy man. And
> we are quite grateful for what you are able to give.
>
>> isNil ifTrue: instead if ifNil: is used mostly from two reasons:
>> historical and portability.
>>
>> Historical: back in 1996 there was no ifNil: on VW. This came later,
>> first as extensions by some packages and just in recent years as part of
>> core image.
>>
>> Portability: because of ifNil: is probably still not part of all
>> Smalltalks it is just better to avoid it in core Aida.
>>
>> But it is also true that I'm used of old method and that I didn't find
>> yet a compelling reason to change that habit :)
>
> Ok, sounds reasonable. As one who does not quite go back so far and has
> only used Squeak, I am quite fond of ifNil:, and will continue to do so
> for personal code.
>
> Like you, I have the habit of using a certain idiom, in my case, ifNil:,
> and before I made effort to do differently, I just wanted to know if
> there was a reason other than personal preference.
>
> Would you like for any code written for AIDA and all of its composite
> libraries to use the isNil ifTrue:? If so, then it would be good to add
> this to the coding convention page.