Re: Emacs ffi

[Joel Reicher <joel.reicher@gmail.com>]

Stefan Kangas <stefankangas@gmail.com> writes:

> Christopher Dimech <dimech@gmx.com> writes:
>
>> Incorporating a mathematical library into Emacs, based on Calc, 
>> is not just feasible but highly beneficial.
>
> I think we all agree that a general purpose mathematical library 
> would be interesting.  The point is that the specifics of how it 
> is implemented matters.

"Interesting" is different to "useful", and I think this is why 
the implementation is unclear, because the requirements of a 
library can only be made clear by a multiplicity of consumers.

What packages, other than Calc, would make use of such a library? 
(That's not rhetorical; I don't pretend to have an overview of all 
such packages.)

> If you think basing it on Calc is the best way forward, then I 
> invite you to get started.

It needs to be based on potential consumers. If Calc is the only 
consumer, then a library does not make sense yet. 

But that's not to say an FFI wouldn't improve Calc's 
implementation. If that's the issue, then it's a discussion that 
differs from one about library.

Regards,

        - Joel