CLHS: Issue BUTLAST-NEGATIVE Writeup

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## Issue BUTLAST-NEGATIVE Writeup

    Issue:        BUTLAST-NEGATIVE
    Forum:	      Editorial
    References:   BUTLAST (p271), NBUTLAST (p271)
    Category:     CLARIFICATION/CHANGE
    Edit history: 01-Mar-91, Version 1 by Pitman
    Status:	      For X3J13 consideration

    Problem Description:

      What happens if the second argument to BUTLAST and NBUTLAST is negative?

    Proposal (BUTLAST:SHOULD-SIGNAL):

      Specify that if the second argument, N, to BUTLAST or NBUTLAST is negative,
      then an error `should be signalled'.

    Test Cases:

      1. (BUTLAST '(A B C) -2)

      2. (LET ((X (LIST 'A 'B 'C)))
           (NBUTLAST X -2))

    Rationale:

      Mostly this precludes implementations from adopting other,
      variant interpretations.

    Current Practice:

      1. Symbolics Genera returns (A B C NIL NIL).

      2. Symbolics Genera signals an error.

    Cost to Implementors:

      Small.

    Cost to Users:

      None.  Portable programs cannot currently rely on any particular
      behavior.

    Cost of Non-Adoption:

      Users would be confused about what to expect because implementations might
      adopt creative interpretations (such as Genera's) which are not supported
      in other implementations and so become a barrier to portability.

    Benefits:

      Tighter spec.

    Aesthetics:

      Genera's alternate interpretation of BUTLAST is arguably aesthetic, but
      does not extend well to NBUTLAST.  The interpretation proposed here makes
      BUTLAST and NBUTLAST more consistent.

    Discussion:

      Pitman supports this proposal.

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