debugmode(true) not helpful, was: Error loading stringproc

You say you have encountered (a few?) errors for which debugmode(true) was
helpful.
Why not leave the message there in those cases, if you can.

How about a more useful message advising people to read a blurb on
debugging.
Personally, I find backtraces and trace() to be useful.

RJF
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu 
> [mailto:maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu] On Behalf Of Robert Dodier
> Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2008 9:28 AM
> To: Alasdair McAndrew
> Cc: maxima list
> Subject: debugmode(true) not helpful, was: Error 
> loading stringproc
> 
> On 4/25/08, Alasdair McAndrew <amca01 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > Trying to do some work with strings, in Maxima 5.15.0 
> (clisp), I got:
> >
> > Load failed for
> > /usr/share/maxima/5.15.0/share/contrib/stringproc/stringproc.lisp
> >
> >  When I set debugmode(true) and tried to load stringproc again:
> 
> This is a separate issue, but can we just get rid of the bit of advice
> that is attached to every error message:
> "To debug this try debugmode(true);"
> 
> I have encountered very few errors for which debugmode(true) was
> any help at all. I guess if the functions in question are Maxima
> functions instead of Lisp functions, the debugger can help.
> But all core functions are Lisp functions so debugmode(true) is
> at best a distraction.
> 
> Can we just cut out the "To debug this try debugmode(true);" message?
> 
> best
> 
> Robert Dodier
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