History for GenericMethod

??changed:
-
Problem Space

  At some point, zope will have arbitrary callable methods.  Currently there
  are DTML methods, Python methods, External Methods and SQL Methods
  (though the Python Methods may be objects unto themselves), and at some
  point in the future there will be methods from other languages.

Current Approach

  Right now, Python methods and External Methods have to be called as
  <dtml-call expr="foo(x,y,z)">, which seems not at all in line with
  the SGML-derived approach. 

  *jeffrey - yes!  exprs == evil!  especially when it comes to working with other
  editors (primarily text, but also smarter "visual" ones).  And in thinking with XML,
  strictness is good.  Make them say x="10".*

Possible Alternative

  Why not do <dtml-method name="foo" x y z> where x y and z are
  already defined in the current namespace, or

  <dtml-method name="foo" x=10 y="string" z=5.03> when x, y, and z
  are *not* defined in the current namespace, or you want to override them?

  This could be more than a one-off tag, too:

  <dtml-method name="foo" x y z>

  You have <dtml-var returned-value1> apples,
  <dtml-var returned-value2> oranges, and 
  <dtml-var returned-value3> kumquats.

  </dtml-method>

and yes, dtml-method is a confusing name: it could be called something else.

-- MindLace