Inspecting the standard library

By means of the focus- and show-command we can inspect not only the definitions which we have entered ourselves but also those of the standard library (see Appendix A). In chapter 5.2.4 the mechanics of this facility are explained. We will use it to look at the available additions.


#litout572#

We observe there are several definitions, of which the first one is presently the focus. By means of the (repeated) use of the next command


#litout574#

we can make any of these definitions the focus. We can inspect it by giving a show-command


#litout576#

which does not really makes us much wiser.

A name with more than one definition (such as <#447#>+<#447#> or <#448#>put<#448#>) is called generic. Modifying definitions for generic names from the standard library is rather tricky. The easiest way is to focus on some harmless refinement name (like <#449#>a<#449#>) and then massaging the resulting screen text into the desired definition.