Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site umcp-cs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!hao!seismo!rlgvax!cvl!umcp-cs!chris From: chris@umcp-cs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.emacs Subject: Re: text-mode in emacs Message-ID: <8113@umcp-cs.UUCP> Date: Tue, 21-Aug-84 01:24:37 EDT Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.8113 Posted: Tue Aug 21 01:24:37 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 18-Aug-84 00:33:49 EDT References: <510@fritz.UUCP> <160@calmasd.UUCP> Organization: U of Maryland, Computer Science Dept., College Park, MD Lines: 22 Not that it's important in that particular example, but if you're setting Emacs variables and the names are fixed it's a lot faster (in versions with .mo files) to use (setq xyzzy 1) than to use (set "xyzzy" 1) The reason is that the compiler generates the name and a null pointer. The first time the code is used, the variable is instantiated (if necessary) and the pointer is modified to point to it. Further invocations of the same code need not look up the name ever again. If you use the string name, however, a table lookup is done every time. (AND, the table is not sorted or hashed in any way! The various tables need to be consolidated somehow and a faster lookup mechanism created.) (Who, me?) -- In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci (301) 454-7690 UUCP: {seismo,allegra,brl-bmd}!umcp-cs!chris CSNet: chris@umcp-cs ARPA: chris@maryland