What the heck does this backtrace mean?

[David Kastrup]

"Stephen J. Turnbull" <stephen at xemacs.org> writes:

> (when (emacs-version >= 21 5)
>   (setq debug-on-error t)
>
> (defun newfunction () (message "that's not my job mon!"))
>
> Is the defun subject to the when, or not?  How is the poor compiler
> supposed to guess?
>
> To diagnose, go to the beginning of the file, and type
>
> M-: (while t (set-mark) (forward-sexp 1)) RET
>
> When the error occurs you can then use C-x C-x to find the beginning
> of the unterminated sexp.

I'd prefer
M-x check-parens RET

It is less complicated and does not pollute the mark stack.

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum