bug#15602: Compiling several files in the same session [2.0.9]

[Andy Wingo]

Hi :)

On Tue 21 Jun 2016 14:01, address@hidden (Ludovic Courtès) writes:

> Andy Wingo <address@hidden> skribis:
>
>> On Sun 13 Oct 2013 15:51, address@hidden (Ludovic Courtès) writes:
>>> I think the right thing would be to use a separate module hierarchy in
>>> the dynamic extent of ‘compile-file’, somehow, such that all module side
>>> effects are isolated.
>>
>> I don't think this is going to happen, for what that's worth :/
>
> What do you mean?
>
> Global state held in global variables is Bad.  To me, this is clearly an
> area where things can and should be improved.  In a live-hacked,
> long-running system, that ‘compile-file’ modifies the global state in
> arbitrary ways is not just a theoretical problem.
>
> WDYT?

Maybe you are right.  Maybe we need completely new data structures in
the module subsystem to support excursions in which we make private
changes to the module tree, and in which we can "commit" modifications
to the main tree when they are intended to be installed globally.  Very
tricky to get right though.

My "I don't think this is going to happen" expressed a guess as to our
ability to get this done, time- and interest-wise.  How much are you
able to work on this?

Andy