GNU bug report logs - #32434
configure option without-xim is non-standard

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Message #3 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Glenn Morris <rgm <at> gnu.org>
To: submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: configure option without-xim is non-standard
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2018 20:28:00 -0400

Package: emacs
Version: 26.1
Severity: minor

I'd always assumed the configure option --without-xim caused Emacs to
be built without XIM support. In fact, all it does is toggle the runtime
default as to whether XIM is *used* or not.

Apparently this is intentional, see thread at
http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2003-07/msg00061.html

I think it's wrong to have a build-time option for a feature that can be
controlled at run-time (by X resources).

Message #6 received at 32434 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Noam Postavsky <npostavs <at> gmail.com>
To: Glenn Morris <rgm <at> gnu.org>
Cc: 32434 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#32434: configure option without-xim is non-standard
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2018 20:38:24 -0400

Glenn Morris <rgm <at> gnu.org> writes:

> I think it's wrong to have a build-time option for a feature that can be
> controlled at run-time (by X resources).

Eli seems okay with the idea for double buffering[1] (though that one is
by frame parameters, not X resources).  I agree it seems a bit
redundant, but is it really worth the trouble of removing?

[1]: https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=32032#77 and followups

Message #9 received at 32434 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Glenn Morris <rgm <at> gnu.org>
To: Noam Postavsky <npostavs <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 32434 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#32434: configure option without-xim is non-standard
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2018 21:08:10 -0400

Noam Postavsky wrote:

>> I think it's wrong to have a build-time option for a feature that can be
>> controlled at run-time (by X resources).
>
> Eli seems okay with the idea for double buffering[1] (though that one is
> by frame parameters, not X resources). 

I don't want to mix two issues, but if you're asking, IMO that would
also be a mistake (eg a run-time command-line option would be better).

> I agree it seems a bit redundant, but is it really worth the trouble
> of removing?

Well if no-one actively objects (... oh right, this is Emacs),
I would consider it worth my trouble to remove it, some day.

Message #12 received at 32434 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Richard Stallman <rms <at> gnu.org>
To: Glenn Morris <rgm <at> gnu.org>
Cc: 32434 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#32434: configure option without-xim is non-standard
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2018 22:41:58 -0400

[[[ To any NSA and FBI agents reading my email: please consider    ]]]
[[[ whether defending the US Constitution against all enemies,     ]]]
[[[ foreign or domestic, requires you to follow Snowden's example. ]]]

  > I'd always assumed the configure option --without-xim caused Emacs to
  > be built without XIM support. In fact, all it does is toggle the runtime
  > default as to whether XIM is *used* or not.

  > Apparently this is intentional, see thread at
  > http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2003-07/msg00061.html

  > I think it's wrong to have a build-time option for a feature that can be
  > controlled at run-time (by X resources).

I agree.  Can it be controlled by a Lisp variable?

-- 
Dr Richard Stallman
President, Free Software Foundation (https://gnu.org, https://fsf.org)
Internet Hall-of-Famer (https://internethalloffame.org)

Message #15 received at 32434 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Glenn Morris <rgm <at> gnu.org>
To: rms <at> gnu.org
Cc: 32434 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#32434: configure option without-xim is non-standard
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2018 21:28:43 -0400

Richard Stallman wrote:

> Can [xim] be controlled by a Lisp variable?

Not trivially, no.

Quoting the previous discussion:

http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2003-07/msg00292.html

  It can't be controlled via Lisp if you want it to apply initially,
  like for toolbar and menu.

Also, it can't be toggled in a running Emacs:

  If you know exactly what makes sense as far as turning it on and off,
  you've found better XIM documentation than I have, and I'd be
  interested in a pointer.

It is controlled by X resources when Emacs starts (and these can be
specified as command-line options to Emacs).

Message #18 received at 32434 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Richard Stallman <rms <at> gnu.org>
To: Glenn Morris <rgm <at> gnu.org>
Cc: 32434 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#32434: configure option without-xim is non-standard
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2018 17:26:51 -0400

[[[ To any NSA and FBI agents reading my email: please consider    ]]]
[[[ whether defending the US Constitution against all enemies,     ]]]
[[[ foreign or domestic, requires you to follow Snowden's example. ]]]

  > Also, it can't be toggled in a running Emacs:

  >   If you know exactly what makes sense as far as turning it on and off,
  >   you've found better XIM documentation than I have, and I'd be
  >   interested in a pointer.

That is unfortunate.  Is it a missing feature in Emacs
or is it a real problem?

-- 
Dr Richard Stallman
President, Free Software Foundation (https://gnu.org, https://fsf.org)
Internet Hall-of-Famer (https://internethalloffame.org)

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