GNU bug report logs - #76055
29.4; Doc of string-empty-p

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Message #90 received at 76055-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Stefan Kangas <stefankangas <at> gmail.com>
To: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
Cc: 76055-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org, Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
Subject: Re: bug#76055: 29.4; Doc of string-empty-p
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2025 18:49:05 -0800

Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org> writes:

>> From: Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
>> CC: "stefankangas <at> gmail.com" <stefankangas <at> gmail.com>,
>>         "76055 <at> debbugs.gnu.org"
>> 	<76055 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
>> Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:49:52 +0000
>>
>> > > > Doesn't sound like a reason good enough to say potentially confusing
>> > > > things in a doc string.
>> > > >
>> > > > So no, still no justification and still no other opinions except
>> > > > yours.
>> > >
>> > > What's "potentially confusing" about the doc
>> > > saying exactly what the doc of `string=' says
>> > > about this oddity (corner case)?
>> >
>> > The fact that the "empty string" notion is
>> > applied to symbols, of course.
>>
>> That's not confusion from the doc.  It's from
>> the function that the doc describes.
>
> A doc string is always supposed to describe its function.
>
>> What's unexpected and possibly confusing is
>> that the function _does_ apply that "notion"
>> to symbols, as well as strings.
>
> Like I said at the very beginning: this is not intentional.  It is
> just a side effect of the implementation.
>
>> Which is why it's important for the function's doc to tell you about
>> this oddity.
>
> No, it's the other way around.  Which I also said at the very
> beginning.
>
> So we have now completed a full circle, which is a clear sign that
> this discussion exhausted itself, and should be discontinued.

Agreed.  I'm therefore closing this bug report.

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