Prolog - unusual cons syntax for lists

Question

I have come across an unfamiliar bit of Prolog syntax in Lee Naish\'s paper Higher-order logic programming in Prolog. Here is the first code sample from the paper:<

Answer 1

Yes, you are right, the dot it's the list cons infix operator. It's actually required by ISO Prolog standard, but usually hidden. I found (and used) that syntax some time ago:

:- module(eog, []).
:- op(103, xfy, (.)).

% where $ARGS appears as argument, replace the call ($ARGS) with a VAR
% the calle goes before caller, binding the VAR (added as last ARG)
funcs(X, (V, Y)) :-
    nonvar(X),
    X =.. W.As,

    % identify meta arguments
    (   predicate_property(X, meta_predicate M)
        % explicitly exclude to handle test(dcg)
        % I'd like to handle this case in general way...
    ,   M \= phrase(2, ?, ?)
    ->  M =.. W.Ms
    ;   true
    ),

    seek_call(As, Ms, Bs, V),
    Y =.. W.Bs.

% look for first $ usage
seek_call([], [], _Bs, _V) :-
    !, fail.
seek_call(A.As, M.Ms, A.Bs, V) :-
    M @>= 0, M @=< 9, % skip meta arguments
    !, seek_call(As, Ms, Bs, V).
seek_call(A.As, _, B.As, V) :-
    nonvar(A),
    A = $(F),
    F =.. Fp.FAs,
    (   current_arithmetic_function(F) % inline arith
    ->  V = (PH is F)
    ;   append(FAs, [PH], FBs),
        V =.. Fp.FBs
    ),
    !, B = PH.
seek_call(A.As, _.Ms, B.As, V) :-
    nonvar(A),
    A =.. F.FAs,
    seek_call(FAs, Ms, FBs, V),
    !, B =.. F.FBs.
seek_call(A.As, _.Ms, A.Bs, V) :-
    !, seek_call(As, Ms, Bs, V).

:- multifile user:goal_expansion/2.
user:goal_expansion(X, Y) :-
    ( X = (_ , _) ; X = (_ ; _) ; X = (_ -> _) )
    -> !, fail % leave control flow unchanged (useless after the meta... handling?)
    ;  funcs(X, Y).

/* end eog.pl */

I was advised against it. Effectively, the [A|B] syntax it's an evolution of the . operator, introduced for readability.

OT: what's that code?

the code above it's my attempt to sweeten Prolog with functions. Namely, introduces on request, by means of $, the temporary variables required (for instance) by arithmetic expressions

fact(N, F) :-
     N > 1 -> F is N * $fact($(N - 1)) ; F is 1.

each $ introduce a variable. After expansion, we have a more traditional fact/2

?- listing(fact).
plunit_eog:fact(A, C) :-
    (   A>1
    ->  B is A+ -1,
        fact(B, D),
        C is A*D
    ;   C is 1
    ).

Where we have many expressions, that could be useful...