bug#7756: 24.0.50; enhancements to package.el

[Stefan Monnier]

>>> @@ -338,9 +338,14 @@
>>> (pkg-file (expand-file-name
>>> (concat (package-strip-version package) "-pkg")
>>> pkg-dir)))
>>> -    (when (and (file-directory-p pkg-dir)
>>> -          (file-exists-p (concat pkg-file ".el")))
>>> -      (load pkg-file nil t))))
>>> +    ;; When one is creating a package and testing it out, it is easy
>>> +    ;; to forget to add the -pkg.el file.  When that happens, it would
>>> +    ;; be useful to provide feedback to the user rather than silently
>>> +    ;; failing.  That is what (error ...) below is for.
>>> +    (when (file-directory-p pkg-dir)
>>> +      (if (file-exists-p (concat pkg-file ".el"))
>>> +          (load pkg-file nil t)
>>> +        (error "'%s' file is missing!")))))
>> 
>> I agree with the intention, but I wonder: why do we pass the `noerror'
>> parameter to `load' in the first place?

> Thanks for looking into this.
> I was focused in adding the error message and neglected to re-examine
> the arguments to `load', i.e., I just kept the existing code.  I suppose
> it was used before my proposed change to prevent signalling error if the
> file was not found.  With the proposed change, since we check for the
> existence of the file prior to calling `load', I suppose it is
> appropriate to no longer pass `noerror'.  Good catch.  Also I'm sure you
> have noticed that I forgot to add `pkg-file' argument to (error ...)
> expression above.

Right, so a simpler way to make the change is to not add an explicit
check but instead just remove the `noerror' argument.  So your patch is
apparently changing a consciously made decision to ignore errors.
I tend to agree with the change, but I'd first understand why someone
decided to ignore those error.


        Stefan