[Rd] best reference on generics

[Martin Maechler]

>>>>> "SpG" == Spencer Graves <spencer.graves at prodsyse.com>
>>>>>     on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:42:52 -0800 writes:

    SpG> Hello, All: What would you say is the best succinct
    SpG> reference to cite on use of generic functions,
    SpG> especially S3 generics?

In a very strict sense, S3 generics don't exist; 
S4 ones do.
Less strictly, an R function that uses UseMethod() is an
S3-generic.

?UseMethod  is a pretty good reference, 
and BTW, contains

>> Note:
>> 
>>      This scheme is called _S3_ (S version 3).  For new projects, it is
>>      recommended to use the more flexible and robust _S4_ scheme
>>      provided in the 'methods' package.

[so for a forthcoming book and package, it's pity that S4 had
 not been used...

 Yes, now I go hide before the flames roar at me !
]

Martin Maechler, ETH Zurich

    SpG>       I want to add an appropriate citation on this to
    SpG> a forthcoming book in the Springer "useR!" series
    SpG> (discussing the use of the 'fda' package, which uses
    SpG> the S3 standard).

    SpG>       Thanks, Spencer Graves

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