GNU bug report logs - #66756
30.0.50; [PATCH] Improve discussion of 'let' in Elisp Introduction manual

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Message #35 received at 66756 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Jim Porter <jporterbugs <at> gmail.com>
To: rms <at> gnu.org
Cc: eliz <at> gnu.org, 66756 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#66756: 30.0.50; [PATCH] Improve discussion of 'let' in Elisp
 Introduction manual
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2023 21:25:42 -0800

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

On 11/18/2023 7:39 PM, Richard Stallman wrote:
>    > +parts a ``scope'').  For historical reasons, Emacs Lisp uses a form of
>    > +variable binding called ``dynamic binding'' by default.  However, in
>    > +this manual, we discuss the preferred form of binding, called
>    > +``lexical binding'' (if you have programmed in other languages before,
>    > +you're likely already familiar with how lexical binding behaves).  In
>    > +order to use lexical binding in a program, you should add this to the
>    > +first line of your Emacs Lisp file:
>    > +
>    > +@example
>    > +;;; -*- lexical-binding: t -*-
>    > +@end example
>    > +
>    > +For more information about this, @pxref{Selecting Lisp Dialect, , ,
>    > +elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
> 
> Do we want to change the default some day to lexical binding:?  If so,
> we should say so somewhere in this manual -- perhaps here, perhaps
> elsewhere,

I believe that's the goal, yes. I've added a note that the maintainers 
eventually plan on making lexical binding the default.

>    > +If we instead change @code{lexical-binding} to have a value of
>    > +@code{nil}, we will get a different result here.
> 
> "Get a different result" is vague -- it would be clearer if it said
> concretely what will happen.
> 
> I suggest you show the dynamci situation in the same way you show the lexical
> situation.  That will help people compare the two.

Done. I've also expanded the prose explanation at the end in order to 
re-emphasize the differences between the two.

[0001-Introduce-let-using-lexical-binding-in-the-Lisp-Intr.patch (text/plain, attachment)]

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