Re: Lift {global,local}-key-binding to Lisp

[Dmitry Gutov <dgutov@yandex.ru>]

On 15.01.2021 14:18, Eli Zaretskii wrote:

>> Consider that, when a piece of code is implemented in Lisp, it's easier
>> for us "mere mortals" to find it, read, understand and debug it. Even
>> more so when it comes to people outside of emacs-devel.
>>
>> So as a result you should end up answering fewer questions about it.
> 
> I invite you to have a look at the C implementation of these two
> functions, and then explain to me how the original code was any harder
> for "mere mortals" to understand, let alone trigger some questions.

It is, though of course the function is short.

As such, the arguments both for and against this change are relatively 
weak. Surely you won't have many troubles because of this move either. 
So both you and others in this thread are really arguing on principle.

Except for Stefan, who already did the work and wrote a couple of tests 
(which, in the unlikely chance of failing, would be easier to debug in 
Lisp), and tested the change manually, I'm sure.

I dig the argument about a certain loss of organization (keymap.c => 
simple.el), but that can be fixed in Lisp too, when/if we get more such 
functions.

Oscars's argument about these two functions having already been written 
in "would-rather-be-doing-this-on-Lisp" mindset is sensible too.

> Once again, we need to address this on a case by case basis; an
> abstract principle will fail to lead to wise, balanced decisions.

We need to have some guidelines, though, in order to avoid arguing about 
every such commit.

Until now, the common thinking has been "we want to have more code in 
Lisp, for its readability, discoverability and debuggability advantages 
except for cases where it would make Emacs slower/less stable/etc".

Also consider that Debian with its packaging makes reading the Lisp 
sources considerably easier than C sources. Same goes for builds on 
other platforms, I imagine, probably to an even larger extent (Debian 
does separate the Lisp sources to a package you have to install 
additionally).