From unknown Sat Jun 21 05:16:34 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#38598: 26.3; Document relation between `make-symbol` and `gensym` Resent-From: Drew Adams Original-Sender: "Debbugs-submit" Resent-CC: bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org Resent-Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:38:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: report 38598 X-GNU-PR-Package: emacs X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: 38598@debbugs.gnu.org X-Debbugs-Original-To: bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org Received: via spool by submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B.157626944821324 (code B ref -1); Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:38:02 +0000 Received: (at submit) by debbugs.gnu.org; 13 Dec 2019 20:37:28 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:34697 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1ifrgm-0005Xs-0q for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:37:28 -0500 Received: from lists.gnu.org ([209.51.188.17]:46778) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1ifrgj-0005Xj-Gb for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:37:25 -0500 Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:470:142:3::10]:42322) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.90_1) (envelope-from ) id 1ifrgg-00059E-95 for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:37:24 -0500 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.3.2 (2011-06-06) on eggs.gnu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.5 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_50,RCVD_IN_DNSWL_MED, URIBL_BLOCKED autolearn=disabled version=3.3.2 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1ifrgd-0004ZO-1g for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:37:21 -0500 Received: from aserp2120.oracle.com ([141.146.126.78]:50700) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS1.0:RSA_AES_256_CBC_SHA1:32) (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1ifrgc-0004Tw-Ot for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:37:18 -0500 Received: from pps.filterd (aserp2120.oracle.com [127.0.0.1]) by aserp2120.oracle.com (8.16.0.27/8.16.0.27) with SMTP id xBDKYTYt076507 for ; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:37:16 GMT DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=oracle.com; h=mime-version : message-id : date : from : sender : to : subject : content-type : content-transfer-encoding; s=corp-2019-08-05; bh=hG0m9PCljp/ZLNCBuv8bNWg9kFkV2fgVFlq7OWxhyoU=; b=FztJ6tJbH/21lOn1bhvWtmL++nOzq3c7f2TrnN575KJDIO87xpQfXN5uTIcCWIkhVElX 9rfWE0P5vEQcPPbTq0/HvN+3WyQ3W/So58Wf1R6MaRVkecWnl/TLh97gZ8S5/JIF75Od 1hOpuPU69rycEQQwU7Ulg/eJiHw3znm4XeeyNvQ+O9A+bjsKxTmKHcwBxs4VVMRWJL7y YwCjdoMtVm0pD/Z97waOI/RoaHzp2IcM9YPk2yxQzNe5XZgkloBw0sWmK1ZKWTjf9H/q 5jiO02hUNj/01CODXVYVqZ1fsb8DO8ZIn0xtz5rJzwprvtsCIMHNVytrsZBMyG2YFqYf XA== Received: from userp3030.oracle.com (userp3030.oracle.com [156.151.31.80]) by aserp2120.oracle.com with ESMTP id 2wr41qu7v4-1 (version=TLSv1.2 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 bits=256 verify=OK) for ; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:37:16 +0000 Received: from pps.filterd (userp3030.oracle.com [127.0.0.1]) by userp3030.oracle.com (8.16.0.27/8.16.0.27) with SMTP id xBDKYApV052734 for ; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:35:15 GMT Received: from aserv0122.oracle.com (aserv0122.oracle.com [141.146.126.236]) by userp3030.oracle.com with ESMTP id 2wvb99tn3h-1 (version=TLSv1.2 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 bits=256 verify=OK) for ; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:35:15 +0000 Received: from abhmp0002.oracle.com (abhmp0002.oracle.com [141.146.116.8]) by aserv0122.oracle.com (8.14.4/8.14.4) with ESMTP id xBDKZEAA008073 for ; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:35:14 GMT MIME-Version: 1.0 Message-ID: Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2019 12:35:13 -0800 (PST) From: Drew Adams X-Priority: 3 X-Mailer: Oracle Beehive Extensions for Outlook 2.0.1.9.1 (1003210) [OL 16.0.4939.0 (x86)] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-Proofpoint-Virus-Version: vendor=nai engine=6000 definitions=9470 signatures=668685 X-Proofpoint-Spam-Details: rule=notspam policy=default score=0 suspectscore=0 malwarescore=0 phishscore=0 bulkscore=0 spamscore=0 mlxscore=0 mlxlogscore=804 adultscore=0 classifier=spam adjust=0 reason=mlx scancount=1 engine=8.0.1-1911140001 definitions=main-1912130151 X-Proofpoint-Virus-Version: vendor=nai engine=6000 definitions=9470 signatures=668685 X-Proofpoint-Spam-Details: rule=notspam policy=default score=0 priorityscore=1501 malwarescore=0 suspectscore=0 phishscore=0 bulkscore=0 spamscore=0 clxscore=1015 lowpriorityscore=0 mlxscore=0 impostorscore=0 mlxlogscore=863 adultscore=0 classifier=spam adjust=0 reason=mlx scancount=1 engine=8.0.1-1911140001 definitions=main-1912130151 X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 3.x [generic] [fuzzy] X-Received-From: 141.146.126.78 X-Spam-Score: -1.3 (-) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Sender: "Debbugs-submit" X-Spam-Score: -2.3 (--) (See https://emacs.stackexchange.com/a/54361/105.) The Common-Lisp doc is clear about the similarity and difference between `make-symbol` and `gensym`. The Emacs-Lisp doc says nothing about this. Please consider mentioning this in (elisp) `Creating Symbols'. Such info can help users better understand when they might want to use one or the other of these functions. Yes, this info can be gleaned by carefully reading their individual descriptions (how the symbol-naming is done). But it would help users to state it clearly. The Common-Lisp doc does this simply, with a single parenthetical sentence:=20 (The only difference between gensym and make-symbol is in how the new-symbol's name is determined.) http://clhs.lisp.se/Body/f_gensym.htm In GNU Emacs 26.3 (build 1, x86_64-w64-mingw32) of 2019-08-29 Repository revision: 96dd0196c28bc36779584e47fffcca433c9309cd Windowing system distributor `Microsoft Corp.', version 10.0.17763 Configured using: `configure --without-dbus --host=3Dx86_64-w64-mingw32 --without-compress-install 'CFLAGS=3D-O2 -static -g3'' From unknown Sat Jun 21 05:16:34 2025 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MIME-tools 5.505 (Entity 5.505) X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org From: help-debbugs@gnu.org (GNU bug Tracking System) To: Drew Adams Subject: bug#38598: closed (Re: bug#38598: 26.3; Document relation between `make-symbol` and `gensym`) Message-ID: References: <83blsb6yqv.fsf@gnu.org> X-Gnu-PR-Message: they-closed 38598 X-Gnu-PR-Package: emacs Reply-To: 38598@debbugs.gnu.org Date: Sat, 14 Dec 2019 09:31:02 +0000 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="----------=_1576315862-7983-1" This is a multi-part message in MIME format... ------------=_1576315862-7983-1 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Your bug report #38598: 26.3; Document relation between `make-symbol` and `gensym` which was filed against the emacs package, has been closed. The explanation is attached below, along with your original report. If you require more details, please reply to 38598@debbugs.gnu.org. --=20 38598: http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=3D38598 GNU Bug Tracking System Contact help-debbugs@gnu.org with problems ------------=_1576315862-7983-1 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Received: (at 38598-done) by debbugs.gnu.org; 14 Dec 2019 09:30:25 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:34953 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1ig3km-00023n-Ru for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Sat, 14 Dec 2019 04:30:25 -0500 Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([209.51.188.92]:49360) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1ig3kk-00023X-K4 for 38598-done@debbugs.gnu.org; Sat, 14 Dec 2019 04:30:22 -0500 Received: from fencepost.gnu.org ([2001:470:142:3::e]:58400) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1ig3kf-0001Er-79; Sat, 14 Dec 2019 04:30:17 -0500 Received: from [176.228.60.248] (port=2336 helo=home-c4e4a596f7) by fencepost.gnu.org with esmtpsa (TLS1.2:RSA_AES_256_CBC_SHA1:256) (Exim 4.82) (envelope-from ) id 1ig3ka-0007bS-IA; Sat, 14 Dec 2019 04:30:13 -0500 Date: Sat, 14 Dec 2019 11:30:00 +0200 Message-Id: <83blsb6yqv.fsf@gnu.org> From: Eli Zaretskii To: Drew Adams In-reply-to: (message from Drew Adams on Fri, 13 Dec 2019 12:35:13 -0800 (PST)) Subject: Re: bug#38598: 26.3; Document relation between `make-symbol` and `gensym` References: MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.2.x-3.x [generic] X-Spam-Score: -2.3 (--) X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: 38598-done Cc: 38598-done@debbugs.gnu.org X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Sender: "Debbugs-submit" X-Spam-Score: -3.3 (---) > Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2019 12:35:13 -0800 (PST) > From: Drew Adams > > (See https://emacs.stackexchange.com/a/54361/105.) > > The Common-Lisp doc is clear about the similarity and difference between > `make-symbol` and `gensym`. The Emacs-Lisp doc says nothing about this. > > Please consider mentioning this in (elisp) `Creating Symbols'. Such > info can help users better understand when they might want to use one or > the other of these functions. > > Yes, this info can be gleaned by carefully reading their individual > descriptions (how the symbol-naming is done). But it would help users > to state it clearly. Thanks, but I find the current documentation clear enough: -- Function: make-symbol name This function returns a newly-allocated, uninterned symbol whose name is NAME (which must be a string). Its value and function definition are void, and its property list is ‘nil’. In the example below, the value of ‘sym’ is not ‘eq’ to ‘foo’ because it is a distinct uninterned symbol whose name is also ‘foo’. (setq sym (make-symbol "foo")) ⇒ foo (eq sym 'foo) ⇒ nil -- Function: gensym &optional prefix This function returns a symbol using ‘make-symbol’, whose name is made by appending ‘gensym-counter’ to PREFIX. The prefix defaults to ‘"g"’. I see nothing that could be gained by adding any explicit sentence about the difference, since that would simply be a rewording of what is already said right there. So I'm closing this bug report. ------------=_1576315862-7983-1 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Received: (at submit) by debbugs.gnu.org; 13 Dec 2019 20:37:28 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:34697 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1ifrgm-0005Xs-0q for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:37:28 -0500 Received: from lists.gnu.org ([209.51.188.17]:46778) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1ifrgj-0005Xj-Gb for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:37:25 -0500 Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:470:142:3::10]:42322) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.90_1) (envelope-from ) id 1ifrgg-00059E-95 for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:37:24 -0500 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.3.2 (2011-06-06) on eggs.gnu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.5 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_50,RCVD_IN_DNSWL_MED, URIBL_BLOCKED autolearn=disabled version=3.3.2 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1ifrgd-0004ZO-1g for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:37:21 -0500 Received: from aserp2120.oracle.com ([141.146.126.78]:50700) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS1.0:RSA_AES_256_CBC_SHA1:32) (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1ifrgc-0004Tw-Ot for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:37:18 -0500 Received: from pps.filterd (aserp2120.oracle.com [127.0.0.1]) by aserp2120.oracle.com (8.16.0.27/8.16.0.27) with SMTP id xBDKYTYt076507 for ; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:37:16 GMT DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=oracle.com; h=mime-version : message-id : date : from : sender : to : subject : content-type : content-transfer-encoding; s=corp-2019-08-05; bh=hG0m9PCljp/ZLNCBuv8bNWg9kFkV2fgVFlq7OWxhyoU=; b=FztJ6tJbH/21lOn1bhvWtmL++nOzq3c7f2TrnN575KJDIO87xpQfXN5uTIcCWIkhVElX 9rfWE0P5vEQcPPbTq0/HvN+3WyQ3W/So58Wf1R6MaRVkecWnl/TLh97gZ8S5/JIF75Od 1hOpuPU69rycEQQwU7Ulg/eJiHw3znm4XeeyNvQ+O9A+bjsKxTmKHcwBxs4VVMRWJL7y YwCjdoMtVm0pD/Z97waOI/RoaHzp2IcM9YPk2yxQzNe5XZgkloBw0sWmK1ZKWTjf9H/q 5jiO02hUNj/01CODXVYVqZ1fsb8DO8ZIn0xtz5rJzwprvtsCIMHNVytrsZBMyG2YFqYf XA== Received: from userp3030.oracle.com (userp3030.oracle.com [156.151.31.80]) by aserp2120.oracle.com with ESMTP id 2wr41qu7v4-1 (version=TLSv1.2 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 bits=256 verify=OK) for ; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:37:16 +0000 Received: from pps.filterd (userp3030.oracle.com [127.0.0.1]) by userp3030.oracle.com (8.16.0.27/8.16.0.27) with SMTP id xBDKYApV052734 for ; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:35:15 GMT Received: from aserv0122.oracle.com (aserv0122.oracle.com [141.146.126.236]) by userp3030.oracle.com with ESMTP id 2wvb99tn3h-1 (version=TLSv1.2 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 bits=256 verify=OK) for ; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:35:15 +0000 Received: from abhmp0002.oracle.com (abhmp0002.oracle.com [141.146.116.8]) by aserv0122.oracle.com (8.14.4/8.14.4) with ESMTP id xBDKZEAA008073 for ; Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:35:14 GMT MIME-Version: 1.0 Message-ID: Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2019 12:35:13 -0800 (PST) From: Drew Adams To: bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org Subject: 26.3; Document relation between `make-symbol` and `gensym` X-Priority: 3 X-Mailer: Oracle Beehive Extensions for Outlook 2.0.1.9.1 (1003210) [OL 16.0.4939.0 (x86)] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-Proofpoint-Virus-Version: vendor=nai engine=6000 definitions=9470 signatures=668685 X-Proofpoint-Spam-Details: rule=notspam policy=default score=0 suspectscore=0 malwarescore=0 phishscore=0 bulkscore=0 spamscore=0 mlxscore=0 mlxlogscore=804 adultscore=0 classifier=spam adjust=0 reason=mlx scancount=1 engine=8.0.1-1911140001 definitions=main-1912130151 X-Proofpoint-Virus-Version: vendor=nai engine=6000 definitions=9470 signatures=668685 X-Proofpoint-Spam-Details: rule=notspam policy=default score=0 priorityscore=1501 malwarescore=0 suspectscore=0 phishscore=0 bulkscore=0 spamscore=0 clxscore=1015 lowpriorityscore=0 mlxscore=0 impostorscore=0 mlxlogscore=863 adultscore=0 classifier=spam adjust=0 reason=mlx scancount=1 engine=8.0.1-1911140001 definitions=main-1912130151 X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 3.x [generic] [fuzzy] X-Received-From: 141.146.126.78 X-Spam-Score: -1.3 (-) X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: submit X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Sender: "Debbugs-submit" X-Spam-Score: -2.3 (--) (See https://emacs.stackexchange.com/a/54361/105.) The Common-Lisp doc is clear about the similarity and difference between `make-symbol` and `gensym`. The Emacs-Lisp doc says nothing about this. Please consider mentioning this in (elisp) `Creating Symbols'. Such info can help users better understand when they might want to use one or the other of these functions. Yes, this info can be gleaned by carefully reading their individual descriptions (how the symbol-naming is done). But it would help users to state it clearly. The Common-Lisp doc does this simply, with a single parenthetical sentence:=20 (The only difference between gensym and make-symbol is in how the new-symbol's name is determined.) http://clhs.lisp.se/Body/f_gensym.htm In GNU Emacs 26.3 (build 1, x86_64-w64-mingw32) of 2019-08-29 Repository revision: 96dd0196c28bc36779584e47fffcca433c9309cd Windowing system distributor `Microsoft Corp.', version 10.0.17763 Configured using: `configure --without-dbus --host=3Dx86_64-w64-mingw32 --without-compress-install 'CFLAGS=3D-O2 -static -g3'' ------------=_1576315862-7983-1--