Given this example code (from a Reddit /r/lisp question):
(defun next (pos)
(nth (1+ pos)
'(0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)))
(defvar *next* (function next))
(let ((old-next #'next)
(previous (make-hash-table)))
(format t "~% 1 EQ? ~a" (eq old-next *next*))
(defun next (pos)
(or (gethash pos previous)
(setf (gethash pos previous) (funcall old-next pos))))
(format t "~% 2 EQ? ~a" (eq old-next *next*)))
Above establishes a function NEXT
. Inside the LET
, we keep the old function in OLD-NEXT
. Then we redefine the global function NEXT
inside the LET
.
CCL/CMUCL/GCL/ECL/CLISP/LispWorks/ABCL:
? (load "test.lisp")
1 EQ? T
2 EQ? T
Only SBCL (SBCL 1.3.11) has a different result:
* (load "test.lisp")
1 EQ? T
2 EQ? NIL
The value of the local variable old-next
is no longer eq
to the value of the global variable *next*
.
Why???
The behavior changes whether or not variables are special:
(inspect
(progn
(defun next ())
(let ((old #'next)
(foo #'next))
(declare (special foo))
(defun next () :different)
(list old foo))))
The object is a proper list of length 2.
0. 0: #<FUNCTION NEXT>
1. 1: #<FUNCTION NEXT {10037694EB}>
The first element refers to the most recent definition, while the second one, obtained from the special variable, is the old definition, as expected. When you remove the special declaration, both references are EQ (and point to the new definition).
Looks like SBCL is trying to be smart and optimizes the variable away.
(defun foobar ()
(print :foo))
(let ((old #'foobar))
(funcall old)
(defun foobar ()
(print :bar))
(funcall old))
Prints
:FOO
:BAR
But if you use SETF
on the variable,
(defun foobar ()
(print :foo))
(let ((old #'foobar))
(funcall old)
(setf old #'foobar)
(defun foobar ()
(print :bar))
(funcall old))
it prints
:FOO
:FOO
If you love us? You can donate to us via Paypal or buy me a coffee so we can maintain and grow! Thank you!
Donate Us With