Currently, opening a file that doesn't begin with a #lang line results in a 
window whose language level is inherited from the buffer that was foremost when 
the open-file was issued (IIUC). I think this is a mistake. I think that 
instead, the language level should revert to "Use the language defined in the 
source."

My first argument for this is a bit silly and technical; this behavior is 
inconsistent with the other behavior of the "save" toolbar button show/hide, 
which appears to be that the button is shown when the text that DrR would save 
is different from the last-saved version. This means that changing language 
levels shows the "save" button, and therefore (I claim) so should opening a 
file without #lang info in a non-use-defined-in-source language level.

However, I think an even better fix is just to open such files in the 
use-lang-defined-in-source language level.

Upside of this change: people who edit, say, .html or .txt files in DrRacket 
won't get an ugly surprise when they save them. This is more insidious in the 
case of files such as .html which are intended to be interpreted by a different 
tool (in this case a web browser), which will barf on the inserted #lang line.

Downside of this change: people who *create student-language files outside of 
DrR* will then have to set the language level when opening those files. This 
seems uncommon to me.


John

Attachment: smime.p7s
Description: S/MIME cryptographic signature

_________________________________________________
  For list-related administrative tasks:
  http://lists.racket-lang.org/listinfo/dev

Reply via email to