[luatex] macros to invoke lua in LaTeX

[Hans Hagen]

> There are quite some applications in LaTeX, that are based on
> the possibility to redefine a primitive command, e.g.
> \shipout is redefined in various packages (atbegshi, everyshi,
> pdftex.def for background color, ...).
>   Another application is debugging, e.g. \special is a candidate,
> that can be redefined to print its contents to the .log file
> additionally.
>   All these wouldn't be possible, if \(pdf)primitive was used.

i assume that if the core engine uses \primitive\shipout that it doe 
with a purpose; actually the core should provide a proper way to 
overload its behaviour then; i woul dnot be surprised that when packages 
overload primitives, that when users load several in (an arbitrary) 
order, problems show up anyway

> As example, you got lucky with \formatname: LaTeX uses \fmtname,
> quite close already, I would say.

normally when choosing a new name, a scan on the tex live tree is done

> The point is that there is software written at a time with
> a known set of command names from the engines.
> Now the engines evolve further and introduces new command names.
> This can lead to name clashes, because the engine developer
> cannot know all software that is based on the engine to avoid them.
> Prefixing helps to reduce the probability of such name clashes.
> With reserved prefixes they can even be avoided.

as said ... latex can start with a truckload of

\let\reservedlatexprefixsomethingnew=\somethingnew

or even \luatexprimitivesomethingnew=\somethingnew if it wants.

this can be done even for older ones; that keeps the engine clean and 
puts the burden on the macro package (as it should)

Hans

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