Re: Instead of pcase

[Eli Zaretskii]

> From: Emanuel Berg <incal@dataswamp.org>
> Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2023 23:16:26 +0100
> 
> Eli Zaretskii wrote:
> 
> >> There are, according to the below code [last], 13 011 hits
> >> for cl-lib in the Emacs source. For pcase, there are 2168.
> >> So there is no kicking that out either.
> >
> > Nonsense. We already had such large replacements, and did
> > that without any trouble, though gradually. Cases in point:
> > setq-local, defvar-keymap, and others.
> >
> > So if we have an alternative that we like and is easy to
> > use, we can decide to replace pcase with it, and then do it,
> > one case at a time.
> 
> We don't have alternatives that are better than cl-lib and
> pcase, and their widespread use shows it.

First, I was talking about pcase, not the rest.

Second, I said "IF we have an alternatives that we like".  It goes
without saying that we don't have such an alternative for pcase at
this time, and maybe never will.

My point was a simple one: IF we have an alternative that we like,
THEN we can decide to make these replacements, and will have no
problems whatsoever doing so, as we have done in other cases.  IOW, I
was only objecting to your claim that such a replacement is impossible
due to the sheer quantity of pcase uses in the tree, not to any other
arguments in this thread.

> This whole discussion is just disrespectful, polarizing and
> alienating anti-cl-lib and now anti-pcase for no reason and
> with no alternatives.

Nonsense.  There's no disrespect in discussing the various advanced
ELisp facilities and their impact on our coding conventions.

> It is completely unrealistic to think anyone will write
> replacements for cl-lib and pcase

If so, you have nothing to worry about: the above is just an academic
discussion that will never have any practical effect.  So please relax
and cool down.

> But if that is what you are hoping for, why don't we revisit
> this discussion if and when that happens?

The only thing I'm hoping for is for Emacs to get better and continue
its development.  If that is wrong, maybe you want to step up and
replace me as Emacs maintainer?