functions from add-on packages, was: Newbie question: testing for lvalue



Hi Volker,

> I agree, the autoload mechanism would be an appropriate solution here.
>
> How is autoloading implemented? I found src/max_ext.lisp. For example some functions
> from the simplification package get their autoload property in there. Is this the usual way?

Yes, the declarations in src/max_ext.lisp are typical.
$AUTO_MEXPR declares a Maxima function defined in a *.mac file.
AUTOF declares a Lisp function defined in a *.lisp file.
$AUTO_MEXPR, AUTOF, and some related functions are
defined in src/autol.lisp.

> You mentioned, the functions from linearalgebra and stringproc should
> be added. Do you have some more in mind?

The functions in numericalio, also. If you want to work on this,
maybe you could first post a list of the functions of each package
so everyone knows which functions are under discussion.
I can work on this too, although it might be a while before I get to it.

best,
Robert