issue COMPILE-FILE-PACKAGE

[sandra%defun@cs.utah.edu (Sandra J Loosemore)]

Issue:		COMPILE-FILE-PACKAGE
References:	CLtL p. 182, 183
Category:	CHANGE, CLARIFICATION
Edit History:   1 Sep 1988, Sandra Loosemore (initial version)


Problem Description:

The variable *PACKAGE* is rebound by the function LOAD, so that its
old value will be restored in spite of any calls to IN-PACKAGE
appearing in the file being loaded.  Since COMPILE-FILE must evaluate
any top-level calls to IN-PACKAGE that it sees, it may also alter the
value of *PACKAGE*.  It is inconsistent to have COMPILE-FILE and LOAD
behave differently regarding the rebinding of this variable.


Proposal COMPILE-FILE-PACKAGE:REBIND:

Require COMPILE-FILE to rebind *PACKAGE* before processing the file.


Rationale:

This makes COMPILE-FILE and LOAD more consistent.  It is a more
compatible solution than either requiring LOAD not to rebind
*PACKAGE*, or removing the specialness of IN-PACKAGE and the other
package functions.


Current Practice:

Lucid Common Lisp already implements this proposal.


Cost to implementors:

Trivial.


Cost to users:

I find it hard to believe that users would consider COMPILE-FILE altering
the value of *PACKAGE* as a useful side effect.


Benefits:

The language is made more uniform.


Discussion:
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