GNU bug report logs - #43100
28.0.50; pcase not binding variables conditionally

Previous Next

Full log

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

From: Pip Cet <pipcet <at> gmail.com>
To: bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org, Stefan Monnier <monnier <at> iro.umontreal.ca>
Subject: 28.0.50; pcase not binding variables conditionally
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2020 09:41:10 +0000

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

I'm having trouble with pcase's behavior.

(pcase "a"
  ((or (pred symbolp) name)
   (let ((foo 'bar)) name)))

throws an error. It shouldn't. (Note that the dummy "let" is necessary
to force the pcase code generation to use a function call).

I believe the culprit is the code around this comment in pcase.el

;; If some of `vars' were not found in `prevvars', that's
;; OK it just means those vars aren't present in all
;; branches, so they can be used within the pattern
;; (e.g. by a `guard/let/pred') but not in the branch.

I believe that's incorrect: using the variable in a condition-case
should work, as should conditional shadowing of an existing binding,
as in this case:

(let ((name "default"))
  (pcase "a"
    ((or (pred symbolp) name)
     name)))

(which works), or this case:

(let ((name "default"))
  (pcase "a"
    ((or (pred symbolp) name)
     (let ((foo 'bar)) name))))

(which doesn't).

I believe the right fix is not to share code for the same branch if it
uses different variables, as in the attached patch. It's possible this
increases codegen complexity in some construed cases, but in practice
that shouldn't be a problem.

[0001-Allow-variable-bindings-to-differ-across-pcase-alter.patch (text/x-patch, attachment)]

Previous Next

GNU bug tracking system
Copyright (C) 1999 Darren O. Benham, 1997,2003 nCipher Corporation Ltd, 1994-97 Ian Jackson.