Subject: Re: bug#14606: 24.2; semantics of `backward-delete-char' changed in 24, breaking programs

From: Glenn Morris <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:48:47 -0400

Taylor R Campbell wrote:

> In GNU Emacs 24, the semantics of `backward-delete-char' changed so
> that it sometimes does far, far more than just deleting a character
> backward.  This needlessly breaks programs that assumed it would do
> just that, such as paredit.

In GNU Emacs 23.3 onwards:

C-h f delete-backward-char

  This is meant for interactive use only; from Lisp, better use
  `delete-char' with a negated argument.

And byte-compiling a file with contents:

  (defun foo ()
    (delete-backward-char 1))

results in:

  foo.el:1:8:Warning: `delete-backward-char' used from Lisp code
  That command is designed for interactive use only

So I think that ship has sailed and it's time to update your code.