Re: Proper namespaces in Elisp

[Stefan Monnier]

>> You need not only discover the defining forms but also the "using"
>> forms.  So you need to know that the arguments to `make-local-variable`,
>> `add-hook`, `symbol-value`, `facep`, ... (and all function that pass
>> their arg to one of those) are not just random symbols (that you should
>> leave untouched) but symbols that obey the namespace rules.
> I think these situations are rare enough that we can ask people to pass
> fully-qualified symbols.

Experts would have no trouble dealing with that, indeed, but it would
introduce extra complexity which will negatively affect the average
user, I feel.

> FWIW, I think elisp should just literally copy Common Lisp's approach.

I thought your previous message was saying you don't like this approach
(when you said "I don't like reader magic").  Is it that I misunderstood
or that you don't much like the solution but think that from a pragmatic
point of view it's still the better option?


        Stefan