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Re: re-loading an elisp file


From: Tim X
Subject: Re: re-loading an elisp file
Date: Sun, 06 Mar 2011 09:25:37 +1100
User-agent: Gnus/5.13 (Gnus v5.13) Emacs/24.0.50 (gnu/linux)

ken <gebser@mousecar.com> writes:

> On 03/05/2011 10:54 AM Drew Adams wrote:
>>> Is there a way, when reloading an elisp file, to have it examine (and
>>> reload new) values of variables?  It's weird that this isn't done with
>>> "eval-current-buffer" or "load ..." and others.
>> 
>> Sounds like you are discovering that `defvar' does not assign a variable a 
>> value
>> if it already has one.  
>
> Actually, I thought my computer had some corrupt memory... but then I
> googled and after a time read about it on a forum on the web.
>
>
>> This is a feature.
>
> Hmm.  I've heard that said before.
>
>
>> 
>> `setq' and `setq-default' do, however.
>> 
>> But in general an Elisp library should not act this way, by design.  A 
>> personal
>> init file is another story - there you might want to use `setq' and
>> `setq-default' in some cases.
>
> The forum said that the simplest way to re-initialize a variable in
> elisp was to reboot emacs.  I thought, "that's knuckle-headed... can't
> be true."  But I guess it is.  Your work-around though-- changing all
> the defvar's to setq's-- is preferable.
>

I would be very cautious regarding any forum that provided advice like
that. I suspect they would also recommend rebooting the computer
whenever there is a problem a la "The IT Crowd"

I help maintain a couple of elisp packages, write a fair amount of
elips for personal use and only reboot emacs if I've upgraded/built a
new version or my computer needs to be rebooted (well, I might also do a
reboot if I've fixed a lot of bugs and want to make sure they work in a
fresh session prior to committing them to vc just as a final test). 

One of the huge advantages of lisp like languages is that you can modify
the running system without having to kill everything and restart. 

Tim
-- 
tcross (at) rapttech dot com dot au


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