Hi,
I am using PEBL to program a software for associative learning
experiments. The software is somewhat flexible in that it reads
several configuration files defining stimuli and the structure of
trials and training phases, and generates the experiment based on this
information. As such, I think I am using most of PEBL's "real
programming language" features in addition to the more display and
experiment oriented features. I have come across two small quirks that
perhaps need consideration:

- Lookup() seems to return a list if multiple matches are found, an
item if the item is found, and an empty list if nothing is found. This
is somewhat inconsistent and complicates error checking a bit, because
one does not know what kind of object the function will return.
Perhaps Lookup should always return a list (of length one in the case
of a single match).

- it is *very* useful, from a psychologist's perspective, that
FilenOpenWrite() never overwrites a file. However, that also means
that the caller is never sure of what filename has been assigned to
the file. What if one wants to rename or remove the file later in the
program? Perhaps the function could return a list with first element
the file handle and second the actual file name opened. The only
option seems to program my own renaming scheme in case of filename
conflicts, which duplicates the effort already put into FileOpenWrite.

Just two minor suggestions. PEBL is invaluable in my work and I hope
to be able to contribute a bit to it and its popularity.

Best,
Stefano

-- 
Stefano Ghirlanda - www.intercult.su.se/~stefano - drghirlanda.com
Full Professor of Psychology, Biology, and Anthropology, Brooklyn College
Founder and Fellow, Stockholm University Centre for the Study of
Cultural Evolution

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