Re: 29.2: (void-function batch-update-autoloads)

[Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>]

> Date: Sun, 25 Aug 2024 18:23:50 +0200
> From:  Uwe Brauer via "Emacs development discussions." <emacs-devel@gnu.org>
> 
> > You can still use that function, if you want, after loading its
> > package from lisp/obsolete.  If you want to migrate to the new
> > facility, the function to use is loaddefs-generate--emacs-batch,
> > defined in the new file lisp/emacs-lisp/loaddefs-gen.el.  
> 
> Thanks, but it still does not work, the relevant line of the Makefile now reads
> ,----
> | 
> | EMACS=/usr/local/bin/emacs
> | EMACSFLAGS=-batch --no-site-file --eval '(setq debug-on-error t)'
> | 
> | autoloads: 
> | 	$(EMACS) $(EMACSFLAGS) $(addprefix -L ,$(LOADPATH)) --eval '(setq generated-autoload-file "$(abspath $(LOADDEFS))")' -f loaddefs-generate--emacs-batch $(abspath $(LOADDIRS))
> `----

I don't know where did you take this from.  In Emacs 29.2,
lisp/Makefile says something very different:

  autoloads: $(lisp)/emacs-lisp/loaddefs-gen.elc gen-lisp
	  $(AM_V_GEN)$(emacs) \
	      -l $(lisp)/emacs-lisp/loaddefs-gen.elc \
	      -f loaddefs-generate--emacs-batch ${SUBDIRS_ALMOST}

> Using 29.2, but I receive still, 
> (void-function loaddefs-generate--emacs-batch)

And what is the textbook solution in Emacs for void-function errors?

> >> [1]  (I know it has a lot of benefits to change function and variable
> >> names, but for those who don't participate in such discussion such
> >> changes cause a bit of inconveniences  to say the least)
> 
> > You are being unfair to us.  We never remove stuff entirely before
> > keeping it deprecated enough years to let everyone adapt. 
> 
> I have to admit, and that might be a very personal defect of mine, I do
> not pay much attention to the question of a function/variable being
> deprecated, since it just works, and I am sure I am not alone with this attitude.

That's not what I meant.  What I meant was that you are not expected
to assume that a function that "disappeared" was summarily removed
from Emacs without any consideration for those who might still need
it.  That function is still available, it was only moved to
lisp/obsolete/, that's all.

> That being said I just wished, that there would be a more centralised
> file or directory, where obsolete functions and variables were listed.

The lisp/obsolete/ directory is home for all such functions and
variables.