Re: URL refs in docstrings when bolp

[MON KEY]

Actually, I can't reproduce the behavior described earlier.  Was a
fontlock misinterp.
Sorry for the noise.

On Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 1:47 PM, S+*n_Pe*rm*n <address@hidden> wrote:
> When including URL references in docstrings of the form:
> (URL `http://www.some-site.com')
> It happens quite frequently that the URL is at or near 80 columns in
> length. At the very least a properly formatted web URL will include at
> least 9-13 chars, `http://', and `.com|gov|edu|org|net|fr'. Likewise
> an additional 8 chars are needed to `wrap` the actual url; "`(URL "
> and "')" for hyper-linked inclusion in the docstring.
>
> This amounts to ~20 syntax/formatting chars i.e. 25% of the available
> 80 cols for the most vanilla of web addresses. Because it can be
> difficult to split a URL across lines, I find that when a URL
> reference is needed in a docstring on the current line should point be
> at or beyond column 40 the URL generally winds up on a newline.
> However, when this happens the opening paren will cause evaluation of
> the symbol to throw an error. The solution of course is to escape the
> paren. However, this just adds more length to the existing URL.
>
> I propose the it should be possible to include a URL at BOL without
> needing any additional indentation or escapes. I also propose that in
> the absence of such a convenience Elisp programs are less apt to
> provide hyperlinked URL refs in docstrings. Inclusion of URLs in
> docstrings esp. when the function calls out to an external network
> location uses the URL libraries is a most legitimate need. One should
> not be required to open the elisp simply to examine how a given
> function might invoke external processes which will then ping a remote
> server. Equally, one should not be required to kill/yank a region
> containing a url in a docstring to examine whether the refrenced URL
> does indeed point to a legitimate/live destination.
>
> Example of URL occurrences in docstrings:
>
> (defun get-gnu-or-query (&optional gnu-q)
> "Browse GNU Emacs webpage (URL `http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/').
> When non-nil GNU-Q prompts for term or phrase to query at:
> (URL `http://www.gnu.org/cgi-bin/estseek.cgi?phrase=')."
> (interactive "p")
> (let
>    ((gnurl
>      (if (and gnu-q)
>          (concat "http://www.gnu.org/cgi-bin/estseek.cgi?phrase=";
>                  (replace-regexp-in-string " " "+" (read-string "Term to 
> Query?: ")))
>        "http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/";)))
>  (browse-url gnurl)))
>