Re: The GH interface. (was: Patch for gh.h)

[Neil Jerram]

>>>>> "Neil" == Neil Jerram <address@hidden> writes:

    Neil> 1) Deprecate the current GH interface and advise developers
    Neil> to use the `exported' part of the SCM interface, where the
    Neil> exported/internal distinction is achieved by

    Neil>    1a) surrounding internal declarations in header files
    Neil> with `#ifdef SCM_INTERNAL'...`#endif'

    Neil>    1b) moving internal declarations into private header
    Neil> files

    Neil>    1c) consistently naming internal definitions with scm_i_
    Neil> and SCM_I_ prefixes.

    Neil> 2) Promote all `exported' SCM definitions into the GH
    Neil> interface by renaming them from scm_ and SCM_ to gh_ and
    Neil> GH_, and advise developers to use only the GH interface.
    Neil> Create a deprecated compatibility interface mapping the old
    Neil> scm_ and SCM_ names onto gh_ and GH_.

My current favourite is (2), since

- it fulfils the long term expectation that GH would mature and become
  the standard

- it creates a clear distinction (gh_ vs. scm_) between exported and
  internal things

- the effort to integrate with the change (within the usual
  deprecation period, of course) falls more on developers using the
  SCM interface than on those using GH, which (by the current
  definition of GH) is as it should be.

        Neil