browse-url-new-window-p in browse-url.el needs full rethinking

[Matt Swift]

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In GNU Emacs 20.7.2 (i386-debian-linux-gnu, X toolkit)
 of Tue Jul 25 2000 on raven
configured using `configure  i386-debian-linux-gnu --prefix=/usr 
--sharedstatedir=/var/lib --libexecdir=/usr/lib --localstatedir=/var/lib 
--infodir=/usr/share/info --with-pop=yes --with-x=yes --with-x-toolkit=yes'

Please describe exactly what actions triggered the bug
and the precise symptoms of the bug:

I see now why a year ago I defined my own versions of functions in
browse-url.el:  I could never get browse-url-new-window-p to work as
advertised. 

The current situation in 20.7 is that functions calling `browse-url-netscape' 
have to
explicitly pass `browse-url-new-window-p' to it in order for that variable's
value to be taken into account.  This is a foolish design.  When a function
(e.g., in Gnus) calls simply `browse-url', it should be able to do so without
having to pass it `browse-url-new-window-p'.   

There are several ways to resdesign of course.  Here's a few comments.

I don't see why `browse-url' takes "&rest args".  Either it should take no
arguments or the potential arguments should be standardized so each function
that might in turn get called by `browse-url' can be written to accommodate
a specific list of optional arguments.

`browse-url-netscape' (and the parallel browse-url-someotherbrowser functions)
should use a new window based simply on `browse-url-new-window-p'.  Functions
that want to override this setting can do so by binding it with `let'.

I'll send you a rewritten and tested .el file when I get around to doing it.


Recent input:
M-s return t C-s d e b u g C-a return SPC down down 
down down down down down down down down down down down 
down down down down return u M-< M-s c o n d i t i 
o n - c a s e return M-< M-s u n w i n d - p r o t 
e c t return M-s return l M-s return M-s return M-s 
return M-s return M-s return C-a return next prior 
M-x r e p o r t - e m a c s - b u g return

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