Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Eval

Article listed on Votes for deletion Apr 28 to May 6 2004, consensus was to keep. Discussion:

Do we really want a separate article on every command in every programming language? RickK 23:05, 28 Apr 2004 (UTC)


 * Delete. I could see keeping if it was expanded to discuss eval functions in other programming languages, with information on the uses and security risks. Eurleif 23:09, Apr 28, 2004 (UTC) Keep. A lot more information has been added, including a few different programming languages. Eurleif 22:07, Apr 29, 2004 (UTC)
 * I second Eurleif on this one. Fredrik 23:18, 28 Apr 2004 (UTC)
 * Keep this, as it's linked to twice. I agree that it seems a little "in-the-corner-all-by-itself", but the content can't really be merged out (I could be wrong). Dysprosia 23:22, 28 Apr 2004 (UTC)
 * Keep, useful and encyclopedic. Can have more information on how the interpreter/engine handles this command. Jay 06:56, 29 Apr 2004 (UTC)
 * Keep. This is not a command specific to one programming language. It is a concept common to many and worth an article in its own right. -- Derek Ross 22:14, 29 Apr 2004 (UTC)
 * I'd like to say delete as it just doesn't seem like an encyclopedic topic but I can't think of any valid reason. It's not quite a dictionary definition.  I'm not sure I can agree that it's primary research.  No vote, but I'd really like to see a suggestion as to how to deal with these types of entries.  We don't want every command in every programming language, do we? anthony (see warning)
 * It was originally about the eval function in Perl only, as a command description, which would be a bit redundant. Now that it covers a function found in many languages and more than just the syntax used for calling it, it should be worth keeping. Discussion about the uses of such a function, the security risks involved, and how such a function can be implemented in compiled/interpreted languages is encyclopedic. Fredrik 14:29, 1 May 2004 (UTC)
 * I don't know of any precedent for an encyclopedia which contains an article about a function, even if that function does exist in multiple languages (as most functions do), so I can't see how it is per se an encyclopedic topic. If it is an encyclopedic topic (I haven't really decided my opinion), then I don't think we should limit Wikipedia to certain instances of functions. anthony (see warning)
 * Eval is not a run-of-the-mill function. If it were something like int, abs, sin, or log, I would agree with you. There are already articles in the mathematics section dealing with these concepts/functions and they are all that is required. But eval is a computer science concept/function which is not currently described in the mathematics section, so an article on it is called for. -- Derek Ross 03:59, 3 May 2004 (UTC)
 * We also have goto and fork, so I guess the precedent is there, anyway. And standard encyclopedias generally have an article on trigonometry, so I guess there's no reason not to have one on programology (no not literally), and split it out into many sections. You've also made a good distinction from "run-of-the-mill" functions.  I'm convinced.  Keep.  Also, I'd like to find a way to combine these, not to remove the full article, but more as an index.  But programology doesn't cut it, obviously.  And computer science seems far too broad.  anthony (see warning)

End discussion