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+---
+
+title: Three-way conditional for number signs on Lisp
+
+date: 2021-04-24 3
+
+update: 2021-08-14
+
+categories: lisp scheme common-lisp
+
+---
+
+A useful macro from Paul Graham's [On Lisp][on-lisp] book:
+
+```lisp
+(defmacro nif (expr pos zero neg)
+ (let ((g (gensym)))
+ `(let ((,g ,expr))
+ (cond ((plusp ,g) ,pos)
+ ((zerop ,g) ,zero)
+ (t ,neg)))))
+```
+
+After I looked at this macro, I started seeing opportunities to using it in
+many places, and yet I didn't see anyone else using it.
+
+The latest example I can think of is section 1.3.3 of [Structure and
+Interpretation of Computer Programs][sicp], which I was reading recently:
+
+```scheme
+(define (search f neg-point pos-point)
+ (let ((midpoint (average neg-point pos-point)))
+ (if (close-enough? neg-point post-point)
+ midpoint
+ (let ((test-value (f midpoint)))
+ (cond ((positive? test-value)
+ (search f neg-point midpoint))
+ ((negative? test-value)
+ (search f midpoint pos-point))
+ (else midpoint))))))
+```
+
+Not that the book should introduce such macro this early, but I couldn't
+avoid feeling bothered by not using the `nif` macro, which could even remove
+the need for the intermediate `test-value` variable:
+
+```scheme
+(define (search f neg-point pos-point)
+ (let ((midpoint (average neg-point pos-point)))
+ (if (close-enough? neg-point post-point)
+ midpoint
+ (nif (f midpoint)
+ (search f neg-point midpoint)
+ (midpoint)
+ (search f midpoint pos-point)))))
+```
+
+It also avoids `cond`'s extra clunky parentheses for grouping, which is
+unnecessary but built-in.
+
+As a macro, I personally feel it tilts the balance towards expressivenes
+despite its extra cognitive load toll.
+
+[on-lisp]: http://www.paulgraham.com/onlisptext.html [sicp]:
+https://mitpress.mit.edu/sites/default/files/sicp/index.html