Differences between Maxima and Macsyma and GPL vs. commercial version

Docstrings might help to remind you of something you
already knew, but strikes me as a bad idea for being
a primary documentation tool.  You need stuff described
in context or else it is all terribly repetitive.

(defun third(a)" See chapter X for complete documentation
on user-level list selection and construction programs.
Third selects the 3rd element from a list.
input: any macsyma general expression
output: third element if there is one
  Possible errors:
Time:
algorithm description:

  "
    body of function...)



Mike Thomas wrote:
> Hi Stavros.
> 
> | Docstrings appear to currently be broken in GCL 2.5.0 on Windows.
> 
> I haven't got 2.5.0 at hand, but on 2.5.2 (Windows) they seem to be working,
> as shown below.  If you can give me more details I'll try and reproduce the
> problem here on 2.5.2.
> 
> For example, was your observation made in Maxima compiled with GCL or just
> plain GCL?  Does the test below work for you?  A transcript of a
> manifestation of the problem would be helpful too, thanks.
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Mike Thomas
> 
> 
> ***************************************************************************
> 
>>(defun test (a b) "add two numbers" (+ a b))
> 
> 
> TEST
> 
> 
>>(describe 'test)
> 
> 
> TEST - internal symbol in USER package
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -
> TEST
> [Function]
> add two numbers
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -
> 
> 
> 
>>(describe '+)
> 
> 
> + - external symbol in LISP package
>  value:
>    (DESCRIBE 'TEST)
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -
> +
> [Function]
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -
> +                                                          [Special
> variable]
> 
> From (+ gcl.info):
> 
> +                                                                [Function]
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>    `+'  &rest numbers =>  sum
> 
> Arguments and Values::
> ......................
> 
> etc etc
> ***************************************************************************
> 
> 
> 
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