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Here is a typical issue: Simplify[x + y, x = y] produces 2 True.

Is there a way to detect operator Set in assumptions and issue a warning?

Update: As Mr.Wizard suggested it is possible to write a wrapper for Simplify that will check the second argument. But since there are many built-in functions which use assumptions it will be cumbersome to overload them all. Maybe there is a more simple way?

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    $\begingroup$ Look up $Pre and $PreRead $\endgroup$
    – rm -rf ♦
    Commented Jan 24, 2013 at 23:32
  • $\begingroup$ rm-rf gave you the best advice I think. Consider putting some function in $Pre which checks for whatever list of patterns you create of stuff you want to be warned about. $\endgroup$
    – Rojo
    Commented Jan 25, 2013 at 2:17

2 Answers 2

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I'm not sure I understand the spirit of your question. My apologies of this answer is obvious to you and you intended something else.

Simplify::badSet = "Function Set used in assumptions where is likely in error.";

SetAttributes[mySimplify, HoldAll];

mySimplify[expr_, assum_] :=
  Message[Simplify::badSet] /; ! FreeQ[Unevaluated@assum, Set]

mySimplify[else__] := Simplify[else]

Now:

mySimplify[x + y, x = a]

Simplify::badSet: Set used in assumptions where is likely in error. >>

You could overload Simplify itself if you are comfortable with such things. You'll want to be familiar with the Villegas-Gayley method of you choose that path.

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    $\begingroup$ This made me think about SyntaxInformation's "ColorEqualSigns" option, only to find that it isn't working (on my system, v8 or v9) other than for the first argument $\endgroup$
    – Rojo
    Commented Jan 25, 2013 at 0:02
  • $\begingroup$ Try "ColorEqualSigns" /. SyntaxInformation /@ {And, For, Implies, Nand, Nor, Not, Or, Which, Xor}. +1 btw. In >v8 that gives {All, {2, 2}, All, All, All, All, All, Odd, All}. Try it with a custom function, it doesn't work either $\endgroup$
    – Rojo
    Commented Jan 25, 2013 at 0:03
  • $\begingroup$ @Rojo same result in v7: {All, {2, 2}, All, All, All, All, All, Odd, All} $\endgroup$
    – Mr.Wizard
    Commented Jan 25, 2013 at 0:09
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    $\begingroup$ And it also doesn't work? And[x=4, y=6] only colours red the first =? $\endgroup$
    – Rojo
    Commented Jan 25, 2013 at 0:23
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    $\begingroup$ @Rojo sorry; that's the same too. $\endgroup$
    – Mr.Wizard
    Commented Jan 25, 2013 at 0:25
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@rm-rf suggested somtething along these lines I believe

$cancelOnSyntaxError = False;

syntaxCheckingRules = {i : HoldPattern[Simplify[_, _ = _]] :> 
    "Equal in " <> ToString@HoldForm@i};

fixRules[lhs_ :> rhs_] := 
  lhs :> Block[{}, (Print@rhs; dontEval = True) /; True];

$Pre = Function[code,
       Block[{dontEval = False},
        Unevaluated[code] /. fixRules /@ syntaxCheckingRules;
        If[! dontEval || ! $cancelOnSyntaxError, code, $Canceled]
    ], HoldAllComplete];

Too add more checks, append to syntaxCheckingRules the pattern of the syntax error and the string you want to be displayed as output.

With that set

Simplify[2, x = 4]

prints a warning message

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