Re: re-loading an elisp file

[ken]

On 03/05/2011 10:54 AM Drew Adams wrote:
>> Is there a way, when reloading an elisp file, to have it examine (and
>> reload new) values of variables?  It's weird that this isn't done with
>> "eval-current-buffer" or "load ..." and others.
> 
> Sounds like you are discovering that `defvar' does not assign a variable a 
> value
> if it already has one.  

Actually, I thought my computer had some corrupt memory... but then I
googled and after a time read about it on a forum on the web.


> This is a feature.

Hmm.  I've heard that said before.


> 
> `setq' and `setq-default' do, however.
> 
> But in general an Elisp library should not act this way, by design.  A 
> personal
> init file is another story - there you might want to use `setq' and
> `setq-default' in some cases.

The forum said that the simplest way to re-initialize a variable in
elisp was to reboot emacs.  I thought, "that's knuckle-headed... can't
be true."  But I guess it is.  Your work-around though-- changing all
the defvar's to setq's-- is preferable.

Thanks.