Frank Mittelbach wrote:
> I like the article (and as I said once it is ready I would like to like or
> have a copy for the LaTeX web site).
> 
> a couple of comments (in random oder)
> 
>  - I already made a remark concerning tlp not being similar to strings (tokens
>    aren't chars so token lists aren't strings) I think this is dangerous to
>    imply

Okay, I'll go back over this.  I guess that the point I'm thinking about
is that if you have experience in other languages, you expect there to
be a string variable type.  As TeX deals with text, not having strings
is very odd.  I'm trying (and obviously failing) to point out that what
you might do with a string in say BASIC you can do with a tlp in LaTeX3.

>  - early on you imply that in section 3.1 + 3.2 you explain the <arg-spec> but
>    I don't think that you really do it justice.
> 
>      *  \def is rather a weird TeX thing so \def:Npn isn't a good example
>         really;  perhaps using something with only standard args would be easier
>         to grasps at this point.
> 
> 
>     *  more importantly, you don't really mention the big strength of the
>        arg-spec concept:
> 
>           - once you have a baase function, e.g. \foo:nnn
>             then any kind of arg manipulation comes for free, eg
> 
>                \foo:cnn \foo:noo \foo:nox  what have you
> 
>             and if it is not predefined then there is a single unique way to
>             obain the missing variant
> 
>             rather than explaining that you go for \exp_args:... which are
>             meant to be used only to define the variant, ie not to be used
>             withing the code really.
> 
>       perhaps reshaping or extending that slightly would be an improvement

I was trying to work from what TeX provides (and therefore people know),
and both \def and \expandafter seemed to fit the bill.  BTW, I'd missed
the point that "\exp_args: ...  not to be used within the code": I'll
have to revisit some of my ideas.

I will have a look at the draft over the weekend and post a note here
once it is revised.  I'm very happy to have constructive suggestions.
-- 
Joseph Wright