[PD] Finding "$0" and dealing with it in messages

[Phil Stone]

IOhannes m zmoelnig wrote:
> Phil Stone wrote:
>
>   
>> I think the fact that this is an eternally-recurring topic points to
>> just how irritating this one little foible of Pd is -- it's confusing to
>> newbies, 
>>     
>
> i agree
>
>   
>> and it's annoying to more experienced programmers.
>>     
>
> but i can't follow here .-)
>   

Well, I'm annoyed.  :-)  But I think I'll get over it.

> But $0 is exceptional in *all* cases!  Its use in objects has a very
> different meaning than the use of $1, $2.... in objects.  Yet no one
> calls for eliminating $0 from object boxes -- why is the same argument
>   
>
> actually i do.
> obviously it would break everything, so i won't say that loud.
>
> <snip>
> as explained lengthily months ago, i still don't think that messages
> should have any notion of the surrounding patch.
>   

I'd be interested in reading that, though I haven't been able to find 
the post yet.  Do you have a reference?

Currently, the only time I've needed to get $0 into a message is for 
dynamic patching.  Since this practice is an unloved bastard child of 
Pd, it's unlikely I'll get anywhere advocating for making it easier.  
Nevertheless, the less-readable patches (as if dynamic patches aren't 
obscure enough!) that result from the contortions needed to get $0 into 
the message annoy me, and tempt me to write bad, name-clash-ripe dynamic 
objects.


Best,

Phil
http://www.pkstonemusic.com/pubmusic.html