GNU bug report logs - #29263
26.0.90; Regression in doc-string highlighting

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
To: bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: 26.0.90; Regression in doc-string highlighting
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2017 13:57:33 -0800 (PST)

 (defun foo ()
  "Why does this show highlighting \* \( \) ??"
  nil)

Starting with Emacs 26 this highlights the backslashes differently from
the rest of the doc string (using face `font-lock-warning-face').

This is totally inappropriate.  Emacs is trying to be too clever here.
A backslash before `*' or a paren can mean any number of different
things in a doc string.

Consider this bit of a doc string, for instance:

 When both optional args are non-nil, the `find' command run is this:

   find . -mindepth MIN-DEPTH -maxdepth MAX-DEPTH
          \\( -path \*edir1\* -o -path \*edir2\* ... \\)
          -prune -o \\( ARGS \\) LS-SWITCHES"

It makes zero sense for `\*' here to have its backslash highlighted.
That just spreads confusion.  Any number of other examples can be
imagined.  A doc string is, above all, arbitrary natural-language text.
Trying to impose some clever semantics on backslashes is misguided.

Please revert this regressive behavior.


In GNU Emacs 26.0.90 (build 3, x86_64-w64-mingw32)
 of 2017-10-13 built on LAPHROAIG
Repository revision: 906224eba147bdfc0514090064e8e8f53160f1d4
Windowing system distributor 'Microsoft Corp.', version 6.1.7601
Recent messages:
For information about GNU Emacs and the GNU system, type C-h C-a.
Saving file d:/usr/drew/drews-lisp-20/1111.el...
Wrote d:/usr/drew/drews-lisp-20/1111.el
Type C-x 1 to delete the help window, C-M-v to scroll help.
Char: \ (92, #o134, #x5c) point=142 of 41521 (0%) column=35

Configured using:
 'configure --without-dbus --host=x86_64-w64-mingw32
 --without-compress-install 'CFLAGS=-O2 -static -g3''

Configured features:
XPM JPEG TIFF GIF PNG RSVG SOUND NOTIFY ACL GNUTLS LIBXML2 ZLIB
TOOLKIT_SCROLL_BARS

Message #10 received at 29263 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
To: Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
Cc: 29263 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#29263: 26.0.90; Regression in doc-string highlighting
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2017 07:20:00 +0200

> Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2017 13:57:33 -0800 (PST)
> From: Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
> 
> Starting with Emacs 26 this highlights the backslashes differently from
> the rest of the doc string (using face `font-lock-warning-face').
> 
> This is totally inappropriate.  Emacs is trying to be too clever here.
> A backslash before `*' or a paren can mean any number of different
> things in a doc string.
> 
> Consider this bit of a doc string, for instance:
> 
>  When both optional args are non-nil, the `find' command run is this:
> 
>    find . -mindepth MIN-DEPTH -maxdepth MAX-DEPTH
>           \\( -path \*edir1\* -o -path \*edir2\* ... \\)
>           -prune -o \\( ARGS \\) LS-SWITCHES"
> 
> It makes zero sense for `\*' here to have its backslash highlighted.

The reason will show itself if you move the mouse pointer on those
backslashes.

Message #13 received at 29263 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
To: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>, Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
Cc: 29263 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: RE: bug#29263: 26.0.90; Regression in doc-string highlighting
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2017 21:31:53 -0800 (PST)

> The reason will show itself if you move the mouse pointer on those
> backslashes.

I already closed this, immediately after I opened it.
As you no doubt know.

Message #16 received at 29263 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
To: Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
Cc: 29263 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#29263: 26.0.90; Regression in doc-string highlighting
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2017 08:08:05 +0200

> Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2017 21:31:53 -0800 (PST)
> From: Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
> Cc: 29263 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
> 
> I already closed this, immediately after I opened it.
> As you no doubt know.

If you close without any message sent to the bug address, then no, I
don't get any messages when you close it.

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