Re: file-truename, convert-standard-filename

[Eli Zaretskii]

> From: "Drew Adams" <address@hidden>
> Cc: <address@hidden>
> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 15:12:05 -0800
> 
> My summary:
> 
> THEORETICALLY, one _always_ needs c-s-f, unless either (1) you know that the
> file that is named exists or (2) you know _all_ of the following: (2a) the 
> file
> system being used, (2b) the file name being used, and (2c) that the given file
> name is a valid one for the given file system.
> 
> IN PRACTICE, however, the only real use-case is for MS-DOS support, and in
> particular, only when the file name is a literal string in Lisp code.
> 
> Have I got it now?

Yes, pretty much.

> If you want my suggestion about that (the doc), and assuming my understanding 
> is
> correct, then I'd say that what I just wrote above (theoretical vs practical) 
> is
> all anyone needs to find in the doc. In particular: in practice, c-s-f is only
> for MS-DOS support. So unless you develop code for the Emacs distribution, 
> YAGNI
> (use cases are "almost non-existent").

The problem is to say that without ever mentioning the OS name
explicitly ;-)