On Mon, Apr 04, 2022 at 06:16:49AM -0000, Brian McCall wrote:
So a comprehensive implementation of units would not require more than 160 units, and in reality, a "sufficient" implementation would need only 7.
The idea that a system which only supported the seven SI base quantities, and so couldn't even convert from imperial to metric, would be "sufficient" boggles my mind. Sufficient for what?
An exceptionally good implementation could probably be done with right around 100.
You must be easily pleased if you consider 100 units "exceptionally good". In 1986 the HP-28C calculator supported 120 units, plus user-defined units. If you don't at least reach the standard available in 1986, I'm not even sure if you reach "good", let alone exceptional. (And yes, the HP-28C included teaspoon and tablespoon, but not hogshead, Roman mile or furlong.) I would consider the Unix program "units", and Frink (which inherits its unit database from units), to be comprehensive. 160 units is about 7% of comprehensive. -- Steve