Re: add-method when method exists

[Patrick H Dussud <DUSSUD%jenner.csc.ti.com@RELAY.CS.NET>]

     Date: Mon, 28 Dec 87 14:53 EST
     From: "David A. Moon" <Moon@scrc-stony-brook.arpa>
     Subject: Re: add-method when method exists 
     


     3)Should add-method become add-or-replace-method
I agree with the semantics, I would propose to keep the name as simple as possible.
If we qualify the name, people will expect to find other variations like 
add-or-complain-method.... 

     4) Precisely when are errors signaled

Since we allow forward references for classes, we need to allow illegal states
for generic functions temporarily.
The following code should be allowed:

(defgeneric trash (object) 
    (:documentation "destroy the contents of object"))

(defclass foo (bar) ...)
(defmethod trash :after ((object foo)) 
   ...)
(defclass bar () ...)
(defmethod trash ((object bar))
   ...)

At least add-method shouldn't complain if a daemon method is added and there is no 
primary method.

Patrick.