Re: master baf1a7a4a0: Turn gv-synthetic-place into a function

[Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi@gnus.org>]

Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca> writes:

> It has some advantages, tho:
> - I think the vast majority of those who are familiar with generalized
>   variables know the "lvalue" term as well, so there is not much loss.
> - A non-negligible number of people who don't know "place" or
>   "generalized variables" have heard to word "lvalue" in one course
>   or another.
> - "lvalue" is known to Wikipedia, contrary to "generalized variables".
> - "lvalue" is shorter than "generalized variables".
> - "lvalue" is obviously a special term with a technical meaning, contrary
>   to "place".
>
> The downside I can see (beside the obvious churn) is that the
> explanation of lvalue in Wikipedia might prove more confusing
> than helful.

Yeah, I don't think anybody would find the Wikipedia definition of
"l-value" (which is how they spell it) to be helpful when understanding
Lisp.  And I'm not sure I do either -- in C, for instance, an l-value is
something that can be assigned to, but in Lisp, a generalised variable
is way more abstract, and can do most anything.

(When that "anything" is very weird, we discourage them, but still.)

So I'd rather keep "generalized variable", long and unwieldy as it is.
I think we should avoid "place" as much as possible, though.