Re: buffer-face-set changes the fringe, is it a bug?

[Gregory Heytings]

> > Okay, the meaning is clear now.  But, IMO, it would be better to change 
> > this behavior as follows:
> >
> > "The optional @var{face} names a face whose foreground and background 
> > colors are to be used to display the bitmap; this face is automatically 
> > merged with the @code{fringe} face.  If @var{face} is omitted, that 
> > means to use the *@code{fringe}* face."
> >
> > I at least would expect that the default behavior when displaying 
> > something in the fringe would be to use the fringe face.
>
> IMO, you are looking at this feature from the wrong angle.  This is a 
> "replacing" 'display' property that covers some buffer text or overlay 
> string, and is displayed instead of that buffer text or overlay string. 
> Therefore, the natural source of the face information is the face of the 
> text which is covered by the 'display' property, not the face of the 
> place where the bitmap is drawn.

I don't understand.  The left-fringe and right-fringe display properties 
are there to display something in the fringe, not to change the way the 
text to which they are attached is displayed.  So why would the natural 
source of information be the face of the text?

> In any case, this behavior is very old, so changing it is quite out of 
> the question.  Especially since having the behavior you consider to be a 
> better one is so easy.

Okay, this makes sense.  Thanks for your attention.

Gregory