tantalor
5 hours ago
> Notice how the decoded values give relative positions, each value represents the difference from the previous position, not absolute coordinates. This is crucial: instead of encoding large column numbers like 27698 in minified files, source maps only store small deltas like +7 or +15, making the encoded strings much more compact.
Wouldn't "offset" be a more apt term?
accrual
27 minutes ago
In this case I feel it's like six of one and a half-dozen of the other.
Delta definition 4: (mathematics, physics, engineering) The symbol Δ; A change in a quantity, likely from "d" for "difference"
Offset definition 7: The distance by which one thing is out of alignment with another.
Got these from Wiktionary:
hanikesn
2 hours ago
Delta Encoding is the common term
manojvivek
5 hours ago
To me, “offset” sounds more like the distance from the start, whereas here the values are relative to the previous segment. Not a native english speaker, so I could be wrong.
tantalor
5 hours ago
Offset is difference from a starting point or a previous position
jagged-chisel
3 hours ago
“Offset” is not enough on its own. Offset from what? Start of file? Absolute offset. Previous offset? Relative offset.
willrshansen
27 minutes ago
2nd order offset. The offset from the <offset from the start of the file>
paulddraper
19 minutes ago
Delta and offset mean the same thing — the difference between two amounts.
Delta is perhaps slightly more obscure outside of a math setting. Perhaps.
recursive
4 hours ago
It sounds equally apt to my ear. I've used both words for this concept in the past.