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6.18 Modules

   When programs become large, naming conflicts can occur when a function or global
   variable defined in one file has the same name as a function or global variable
   in another file. Even just a similarity between function names can cause
   hard-to-find bugs, since a programmer might type the wrong function name.

   The approach used to tackle this problem is called information encapsulation,
   which consists of packaging functional units into a given name space that is
   clearly separated from other name spaces.

   The language features that allow this are usually called the module system
   because programs are broken up into modules that are compiled separately (or
   loaded separately in an interpreter).

   Older languages, like C, have limited support for name space manipulation and
   protection. In C a variable or function is public by default, and can be made
   local to a module with the static keyword. But you cannot reference public
   variables and functions from another module with different names.

   More advanced module systems have become a common feature in recently designed
   languages: ML, Python, Perl, and Modula 3 all allow the renaming of objects from
   a foreign module, so they will not clutter the global name space.

   In addition, Guile offers variables as first-class objects. They can be used for
   interacting with the module system.
     * [12]General Information about Modules
     * [13]Using Guile Modules
     * [14]Creating Guile Modules
     * [15]Modules and the File System
     * [16]R6RS Version References
     * [17]R6RS Libraries
     * [18]Variables
     * [19]Module System Reflection
     * [20]Declarative Modules
     * [21]Accessing Modules from C
     * [22]provide and require
     * [23]Environments
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References

   1. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/index.html
   2. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Concept-Index.html
   3. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/index.html#SEC_Contents
   4. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/API-Reference.html
   5. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Foreign-Function-Interface.html
   6. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Memory-Management.html
   7. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Foreign-Function-Interface.html
   8. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Memory-Management.html
   9. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/API-Reference.html
  10. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/index.html#SEC_Contents
  11. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Concept-Index.html
  12. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/General-Information-about-Modules.html
  13. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Using-Guile-Modules.html
  14. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Creating-Guile-Modules.html
  15. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Modules-and-the-File-System.html
  16. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/R6RS-Version-References.html
  17. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/R6RS-Libraries.html
  18. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Variables.html
  19. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Module-System-Reflection.html
  20. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Declarative-Modules.html
  21. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Accessing-Modules-from-C.html
  22. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/provide-and-require.html
  23. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Environments.html
  24. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Foreign-Function-Interface.html
  25. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Memory-Management.html
  26. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/API-Reference.html
  27. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/index.html#SEC_Contents
  28. http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Concept-Index.html