Re: Undesired interactive call of major mode command

[Stefan Monnier <monnier@IRO.UMontreal.CA>]

> Bug#19112 reports an error resulting from typing `M-x todo-mode RET'.
> The real issue (at least for me, as the maintainer of Todo mode) is not
> the error but that todo-mode, although it is the "major mode command",
> is not intended to be invoked interactively.

There are several such major-modes.  It's OK if doing M-x foo-mode RET
doesn't really "do the right thing" in that case, as long as it doesn't
burp loudly.

> deal with this.  Three alternatives have occurred to me.
> (i) Tell users: "Don't do that."

That's a good first step.

> (ii) Add to todo-mode the condition
> (called-interactively-p 'any) and if it returns t either show a message
> saying how to enter todo mode or simply call the intended (and
> documented) Todo mode entry command (todo-show).

Better just emit a message.

> But this has the problem that, as soon as todo-mode is invoked, the
> current buffer changes to Todo mode;

Why is it a problem that the current buffer changed to todo-mode?


        Stefan