[Axiom-developer] Re: Misc. re: 2.6.7

[Robert Dodier]

Hello Camm, you wrote:

> si::newline is a funtion which currently appears unused in the
> debugging code.

OK, thanks for the info. I resolved the Maxima problem
(I believe) by not calling si::newline (and calling a local
version instead, as with other Lisp implementations).

> The large number segfault issue has also been resolved in 2.6.8pre,
> though the division takes essentially forever.  In 2.7.0, we use gmp's
> gcd for bignums, so your example finishes in seconds.  Given the time
> 2.7.0 is taking, perhaps it is worth migrating this one feature back
> into 2.6.8.  Comments most welcome.

Well, operations with numbers like 255^(2^22) are fairly
rare, so I don't think it is worth the trouble to backport
the patch from 2.7.0.

> Regarding the windows gazonk files issue, as I do not have access to
> such a machine, could one please check the variable
> compiler::*keep-gaz*?  These files are supposed to be deleted
> automatically unless this is set.

In Maxima 5.9.3.99rc2 / GCL 2.6.7 on Linux, I find
compiler::*keep-gaz* is nil. So I guess that's OK.
I don't have a Windows box at hand, maybe someone
else can check that.

I notice the GCL version in the bug report is 2.6.5.
Was *keep-gaz* introduced after that?

> The *read-base* error I've just fixed in 2.6.8pre by
> backporting a function from cvs head.

Terrific!

> Are these all of our issues outstanding?

Well, the one other Maxima-related issue that I can see
(after scanning the GCL bug list) is bug #14367,
dribble file has newlines in wrong places.

Thanks a lot for all your hard work!

Robert Dodier