JuliaPluto/Pluto.jl

`local function` works, but leads to multiple definitions error

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#3545 opened on May 12, 2026

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good first issue

Description

A cell in pluto:

begin
    local function f(x)
        x^3
    end
    f(2)
end

This runs as expected and f is not available outside the begin-block, but if another cell also defines local function f(), I still get a Multiple definitions for f error.

Contributor guide

Tech stack
None
Domain
backenddeveloper experience
Issue type
bug
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
3
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
1-3 hours
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
fresh
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
clear
Prerequisites
Basic Julia knowledge
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
40
Research direction
The issue involves Pluto's scoping mechanism for local functions across cells. Look into the source files related to variable scope analysis, likely in `src/analysis/Scoping.jl` or similar. Understanding how Pluto currently detects multiple definitions and why `local function` avoids the first pass check but still triggers the error is key. Consider exploring the notebook's execution model and cell isolation to propose a fix.