standardization of slot access

I think slot() is only necessary in the case where you have

a <- "myslot"
slot(object, a)

which is equivalent to

object at myslot

It seems unlikely that you would use slot() during interactive use, but perhaps 
more so in programming.  Even still, I rather infrequently find the need for 
slot() because classes have defined slot names---if you're going to access a 
slot, just use the name that you gave it in the class definition since that 
doesn't change from instance to instance.

-roger

Hi,

I'm usually confused about when to use 'slot' or '@'.  I've frequently
read that it's always preferable to use accessor functions, so I would
think the '@' operator should be avoided.  However, ?slot contains the
following advise:


"Generally, the only reason to use the functional form rather than the
simpler operator is _because_ the slot name has to be computed."


How do we decide whether to use the function or the operator?


Cheers,

Roger D. Peng  |  http://www.biostat.jhsph.edu/~rpeng/