bug#66554: [PATCH] Add the public API of Compat to the core

[Eli Zaretskii]

> From: Philip Kaludercic <philipk@posteo.net>
> Cc: mail@daniel-mendler.de,  66554@debbugs.gnu.org,
>   monnier@iro.umontreal.ca,  stefankangas@gmail.com
> Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2024 18:17:21 +0000
> 
> Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> writes:
> 
> >> From: Philip Kaludercic <philipk@posteo.net>
> >> Cc: 66554@debbugs.gnu.org,  eliz@gnu.org,  Stefan Monnier
> >>  <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca>,  Stefan Kangas <stefankangas@gmail.com>
> >> Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:29:15 +0000
> >> 
> >> > What happens when we bump Emacs version from NN.x to NN.x.90 or from
> >> > NN.x.90 to NN.x.91?  emacs-major-version and emacs-minor-version stay
> >> > the same, but the Emacs version is bumped, and there could be changes
> >> > in compat.el specific to the next release, NN.x+1 or NN+1.1, no?
> >> 
> >> Generally speaking, Compat only provides support for "proper" releases,
> >> and not for pre-releases.
> >
> > Is that wise?
> >
> > Can't we support pretest versions as well?
> 
> I hope I am not misunderstanding something, but from the perspective of
> Compat and Emacs development as a whole, I think it would be preferable
> to not start propagating additions and changes to functions that might
> change before a proper release, so as to not unnecessarily burden
> development with sticking to decisions that one realises were mistakes
> before the final release is cut.

I guess I'm misunderstanding something.  The scenario that I have in
mind is this:

  . we bump Emacs version to NN.1.90 as part of pretesting version NN.2
  . as part of the pretest, some function changes that requires
    addition or change in compat.el
  . compat.el still claims version NN.1, although it includes changes
    not present in Emacs NN.1

Did I succeed in explaining my worries?