#15284 - wish: make the (name) field optional

Package	Source(s)		Maintainer(s)
guix		PTS Buildd Popcon

Message #8 received at 15284@debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox, reply):

Received: (at 15284) by debbugs.gnu.org; 6 Sep 2013 12:06:56 +0000
From debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Fri Sep 06 08:06:56 2013
Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:43465 helo=debbugs.gnu.org)
	by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.80)
	(envelope-from <debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org>)
	id 1VHuoR-0003WU-Ca
	for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 06 Sep 2013 08:06:55 -0400
Received: from hera.aquilenet.fr ([141.255.128.1]:52164)
 by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.80)
 (envelope-from <ludo@gnu.org>) id 1VHuoO-0003WH-9G
 for 15284@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 06 Sep 2013 08:06:53 -0400
Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1])
 by hera.aquilenet.fr (Postfix) with ESMTP id ADD6C14E5;
 Fri,  6 Sep 2013 14:06:49 +0200 (CEST)
Received: from hera.aquilenet.fr ([127.0.0.1])
 by localhost (hera.aquilenet.fr [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024)
 with ESMTP id yF4FNX9gO6aX; Fri,  6 Sep 2013 14:06:49 +0200 (CEST)
Received: from pluto (unknown [193.50.110.150])
 by hera.aquilenet.fr (Postfix) with ESMTPSA id 748CD11CC;
 Fri,  6 Sep 2013 14:06:49 +0200 (CEST)
From: ludo@gnu.org (Ludovic Courtès)
To: Arne Babenhauserheide <arne_bab@web.de>
Subject: Re: bug#15284: wish: make the (name) field optional
References: <8761ueqq09.wl%arne_bab@web.de>
Date: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 14:06:49 +0200
In-Reply-To: <8761ueqq09.wl%arne_bab@web.de> (Arne Babenhauserheide's message
 of "Fri, 06 Sep 2013 11:05:26 +0200")
Message-ID: <87k3iu2lye.fsf@gnu.org>
User-Agent: Gnus/5.130007 (Ma Gnus v0.7) Emacs/24.3 (gnu/linux)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
X-Spam-Score: 1.0 (+)
X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: 15284
Cc: 15284@debbugs.gnu.org
X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org
X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.15
Precedence: list
List-Id: <debbugs-submit.debbugs.gnu.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi-bin/mailman/options/debbugs-submit>, 
 <mailto:debbugs-submit-request@debbugs.gnu.org?subject=unsubscribe>
List-Archive: <http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi-bin/mailman/private/debbugs-submit/>
List-Post: <mailto:debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org>
List-Help: <mailto:debbugs-submit-request@debbugs.gnu.org?subject=help>
List-Subscribe: <http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/debbugs-submit>, 
 <mailto:debbugs-submit-request@debbugs.gnu.org?subject=subscribe>
Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org
Sender: "Debbugs-submit" <debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org>
X-Spam-Score: 1.0 (+)

Arne Babenhauserheide <arne_bab@web.de> skribis:

> Currently when defining a package, I have to write the name at least
> twice:
>
> (define-public NAME
>   (name "NAME"))
>
> This gives the flexibility to use different names for the visual
> output and the technical name. But for most packages it likely just
> adds useless duplication.
>
> So I think the (name) field should be optional, and if it is not
> present, the packages technical name should be used automatically.

As discussed on IRC, the main issue is that package objects exist
whether or not the exist a variable bound to them; and really there can
be any number of variables whose value is a given package object.  IOW,
there is no direct connection between the variable name and the package
name.

That said, for cases like the above, we could have:

  (define-syntax-rule (define-package package-name fields ...)
    (define-public package-name
      (package
        (name (symbol->string 'package-name))
        fields ...)))

However, I prefer treating packages just like any other Scheme object,
and to avoid introducing “magic” with macros like this.

WDYT?

Ludo’.

Display info messages

Send a report that this bug log contains spam.

debbugs.gnu.org maintainers <help-debbugs@gnu.org>. Last modified: Mon Sep 8 11:16:39 2025; Machine Name: wallace-server

GNU bug tracking system

Debbugs is free software and licensed under the terms of the GNU Public License version 2. The current version can be obtained from https://bugs.debian.org/debbugs-source/.

#15284 wish: make the (name) field optional