Re: Calling a function with undefined symbol

[Emanuel Berg <incal@dataswamp.org>]

Stefan Monnier via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor wrote:

>> This even though the symbol "'go" does not exist. What is
>> happening here?
>
> Nitpick:
>
>     'go
>
> is an *expression*, not a symbol. That expression returns
> a symbol, the symbol:
>
>     go

Can't we have a list with short definitions of everything and
also a diagram with arrows like:

  An expression -> can evaluate into -> a symbol -> which can
  be bound to a value -> and that binding is then known to be
  a variable -> ...

If one is able to go thru the whole labyrinth and understand
everything then at least conceptually one has understood all
of Emacs and Lisp (Elisp).

As for practice ... this will benefit from it (as will
understanding, from practice).

>> The symbol 'seqr is just taking the job of variable
>> name here.
>
> "The symbol 'foo" is like saying "The number '34".
> Better write things like:
>
>     I like the symbol `seqr` and the value `34`, as well as
>     the expression `'34`.

Just sayin'

-- 
underground experts united
https://dataswamp.org/~incal