Issue IMPORT-SETF-SYMBOL-PACKAGE Writeup

Issue:        IMPORT-SETF-SYMBOL-PACKAGE

References:   IMPORT (CLtL p. 186)

Category:     CLARIFICATION.

Edit History: Version 2 at committee meeting 15-Mar-87 15:19:23

              Version 3 by Masinter 15-Mar-87 18:42:13

              Version 4 29-May-87 by Masinter, remove confusing

                "to further clarify".

              Version 5 to X3J13


Problem Description:


The action of IMPORT on the home package of a symbol is not described

well; does it affects the "home package" of a symbol.


Proposal (IMPORT-SETF-SYMBOL-PACKAGE:YES):


IMPORT behaves as follows: if any symbol to be imported has no home

package (SYMBOL-PACKAGE returns NIL), then IMPORT sets the home package

of the symbol to the specified package being imported to.


Rationale:


Current practice:


Most Common Lisp implementations work this way. 


Adoption Cost:


small -- it requires a simple rewrite if not done this way.


Benefits:


Without this proposal, there is confusion about how Common Lisp works,

and the risks that some new implementations will not work this way.


Conversion Cost:


None, as this describes current practice.   


Discussion: 


The cleanup committee supports this clarification.