GNU bug report logs - #14606
24.2; semantics of `backward-delete-char' changed in 24, breaking programs

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Package: emacs;

Reported by: Taylor R Campbell <campbell+gnu-emacs <at> mumble.net>

Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:33:02 UTC

Severity: normal

Tags: wontfix

Found in version 24.2

Done: Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>

Bug is archived. No further changes may be made.

Full log

Message #8 received at 14606 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Glenn Morris <rgm <at> gnu.org>
To: Taylor R Campbell <campbell+gnu-emacs <at> mumble.net>
Cc: 14606 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#14606: 24.2;
 semantics of `backward-delete-char' changed in 24, breaking programs
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.
This bug report was last modified 11 years and 115 days ago.

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