Re: Patch for finding the truename.

On Monday, October 27, 2003, at 11:00 AM, james anderson wrote:

>> (defun load-truename ()
>>   "Returns a pathname that is useful for merging with filenames to 
>> get a
>> complete pathname for a file in the same directory as the one 
>> currently being
>> loaded.  This function is a more portable version of the Common Lisp 
>> variable
>> *load-pathname*, since not all vendors implemented that correctly."
>
> 1. why does one not want to just use *load-truename* for this?

AFAIK, *load-truename* is only valid when a file is being loaded. This 
function attempts to be accurate even in a buffer -- although at this 
point that is only true for Digitool's MCL. To my mind, this is very 
handy when defining systems interactively when the other choice would 
be to continually save and load the system definition file.

> 2. wouldn't digitool be needed for this does open-mcl also define the 
> ccl:*loading-file-source-file* symbol.

I don't know about OpenMCL and ccl:*loading-file-source-file*.

> i recall submitting a 5.0b bug about fred behaviour, as digitool 
> should really be binding *load-truename* rather than in implementation 
> specific variable with parallel semantics, since they do all of the 
> other things - like warning about redefinition, as if they were 
> loading from a file. my memory was they they agreed - in principle, 
> but i've never checked whether it made it into the release. i'm still 
> using a wrapped fred command which does just that.

Digitool does bind *load-truename* while loading. The 
*loading-file-source-file* works in a buffer and while loading.
-- 
Gary Warren King, Lab Manager
EKSL East, University of Massachusetts * 413 577 0176

"no art, however minor, demands less than total dedication if you want 
to excel in it."
   -- Alberti



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