GNU bug report logs - #7146
(make-symbol "") issues

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Message #62 received at 7146 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Chong Yidong <cyd <at> stupidchicken.com>
To: Stefan Monnier <monnier <at> iro.umontreal.ca>
Cc: 7146 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, Frank <some.frank <at> gmail.com>,
	Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>,
	Andreas Schwab <schwab <at> linux-m68k.org>
Subject: Re: bug#7146: (make-symbol "") issues
Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:25:32 -0400

Stefan Monnier <monnier <at> iro.umontreal.ca> writes:

>>> CommonLisp has a |....| syntax
>> I don't think it is a good idea to add a new special character, so ##
>> would still be my choice.
>
> Another approach is to follow the same idea as with "#:" ("#: is
> immediately followed by <sym> so if it's followed by something that's
> not appropriate it means <sym> is empty").
> I.e. "#N=" could be used for the empty interned symbol.

This is inconvenient to implement with the current print_object code,
and anyway #N= is not a good conceptual match with empty symbols.

I don't have any objection to using ##.

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