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73804d4b 1@comment -*-texinfo-*-
969fe9b5 2@c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
c79ef4bb 3@c Copyright (C) 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
969fe9b5 4@c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
73804d4b 5
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6@c This file can also be used by an independent Edebug User
7@c Manual in which case the Edebug node below should be used
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8@c with the following links to the Bugs section and to the top level:
9
10@c , Bugs and Todo List, Top, Top
11
1911e6e5 12@node Edebug, Syntax Errors, Debugger, Debugging
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13@section Edebug
14@cindex Edebug mode
15
16@cindex Edebug
17 Edebug is a source-level debugger for Emacs Lisp programs with which
18you can:
19
20@itemize @bullet
21@item
22Step through evaluation, stopping before and after each expression.
23
24@item
25Set conditional or unconditional breakpoints.
26
27@item
28Stop when a specified condition is true (the global break event).
29
30@item
31Trace slow or fast, stopping briefly at each stop point, or
32at each breakpoint.
33
34@item
35Display expression results and evaluate expressions as if outside of
36Edebug.
37
177c0ea7 38@item
a9f0a989 39Automatically re-evaluate a list of expressions and
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40display their results each time Edebug updates the display.
41
42@item
43Output trace info on function enter and exit.
44
45@item
46Stop when an error occurs.
47
48@item
49Display a backtrace, omitting Edebug's own frames.
50
51@item
52Specify argument evaluation for macros and defining forms.
53
54@item
55Obtain rudimentary coverage testing and frequency counts.
56@end itemize
57
58The first three sections below should tell you enough about Edebug to
59enable you to use it.
60
61@menu
62* Using Edebug:: Introduction to use of Edebug.
63* Instrumenting:: You must instrument your code
64 in order to debug it with Edebug.
65* Modes: Edebug Execution Modes. Execution modes, stopping more or less often.
66* Jumping:: Commands to jump to a specified place.
67* Misc: Edebug Misc. Miscellaneous commands.
68* Breakpoints:: Setting breakpoints to make the program stop.
8241495d 69* Trapping Errors:: Trapping errors with Edebug.
73804d4b 70* Views: Edebug Views. Views inside and outside of Edebug.
8241495d 71* Eval: Edebug Eval. Evaluating expressions within Edebug.
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72* Eval List:: Expressions whose values are displayed
73 each time you enter Edebug.
74* Printing in Edebug:: Customization of printing.
75* Trace Buffer:: How to produce trace output in a buffer.
76* Coverage Testing:: How to test evaluation coverage.
77* The Outside Context:: Data that Edebug saves and restores.
78* Instrumenting Macro Calls:: Specifying how to handle macro calls.
79* Options: Edebug Options. Option variables for customizing Edebug.
80@end menu
81
82@node Using Edebug
83@subsection Using Edebug
84
85 To debug a Lisp program with Edebug, you must first @dfn{instrument}
86the Lisp code that you want to debug. A simple way to do this is to
87first move point into the definition of a function or macro and then do
88@kbd{C-u C-M-x} (@code{eval-defun} with a prefix argument). See
89@ref{Instrumenting}, for alternative ways to instrument code.
90
91 Once a function is instrumented, any call to the function activates
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92Edebug. Depending on which Edebug execution mode you have selected,
93activating Edebug may stop execution and let you step through the
94function, or it may update the display and continue execution while
95checking for debugging commands. The default execution mode is step,
96which stops execution. @xref{Edebug Execution Modes}.
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97
98 Within Edebug, you normally view an Emacs buffer showing the source of
99the Lisp code you are debugging. This is referred to as the @dfn{source
2bdedac1 100code buffer}, and it is temporarily read-only.
73804d4b 101
2634c6e4 102 An arrow in the left fringe indicates the line where the function is
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103executing. Point initially shows where within the line the function is
104executing, but this ceases to be true if you move point yourself.
105
106 If you instrument the definition of @code{fac} (shown below) and then
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107execute @code{(fac 3)}, here is what you would normally see. Point is
108at the open-parenthesis before @code{if}.
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109
110@example
111(defun fac (n)
112=>@point{}(if (< 0 n)
113 (* n (fac (1- n)))
114 1))
115@end example
116
117@cindex stop points
118The places within a function where Edebug can stop execution are called
119@dfn{stop points}. These occur both before and after each subexpression
177c0ea7 120that is a list, and also after each variable reference.
8241495d 121Here we use periods to show the stop points in the function
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122@code{fac}:
123
124@example
125(defun fac (n)
126 .(if .(< 0 n.).
b180eac2 127 .(* n. .(fac .(1- n.).).).
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128 1).)
129@end example
130
131The special commands of Edebug are available in the source code buffer
132in addition to the commands of Emacs Lisp mode. For example, you can
133type the Edebug command @key{SPC} to execute until the next stop point.
134If you type @key{SPC} once after entry to @code{fac}, here is the
135display you will see:
136
137@example
138(defun fac (n)
139=>(if @point{}(< 0 n)
140 (* n (fac (1- n)))
141 1))
142@end example
143
144When Edebug stops execution after an expression, it displays the
177c0ea7 145expression's value in the echo area.
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146
147Other frequently used commands are @kbd{b} to set a breakpoint at a stop
148point, @kbd{g} to execute until a breakpoint is reached, and @kbd{q} to
149exit Edebug and return to the top-level command loop. Type @kbd{?} to
150display a list of all Edebug commands.
151
152@node Instrumenting
153@subsection Instrumenting for Edebug
154
155 In order to use Edebug to debug Lisp code, you must first
156@dfn{instrument} the code. Instrumenting code inserts additional code
87b2d5ff 157into it, to invoke Edebug at the proper places.
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158
159@kindex C-M-x
160@findex eval-defun (Edebug)
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161 When you invoke command @kbd{C-M-x} (@code{eval-defun}) with a
162prefix argument on a function definition, it instruments the
163definition before evaluating it. (This does not modify the source
164code itself.) If the variable @code{edebug-all-defs} is
165non-@code{nil}, that inverts the meaning of the prefix argument: in
166this case, @kbd{C-M-x} instruments the definition @emph{unless} it has
167a prefix argument. The default value of @code{edebug-all-defs} is
168@code{nil}. The command @kbd{M-x edebug-all-defs} toggles the value
169of the variable @code{edebug-all-defs}.
73804d4b 170
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171@findex eval-region @r{(Edebug)}
172@findex eval-current-buffer @r{(Edebug)}
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173 If @code{edebug-all-defs} is non-@code{nil}, then the commands
174@code{eval-region}, @code{eval-current-buffer}, and @code{eval-buffer}
175also instrument any definitions they evaluate. Similarly,
176@code{edebug-all-forms} controls whether @code{eval-region} should
177instrument @emph{any} form, even non-defining forms. This doesn't apply
178to loading or evaluations in the minibuffer. The command @kbd{M-x
179edebug-all-forms} toggles this option.
180
181@findex edebug-eval-top-level-form
969fe9b5 182 Another command, @kbd{M-x edebug-eval-top-level-form}, is available to
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183instrument any top-level form regardless of the values of
184@code{edebug-all-defs} and @code{edebug-all-forms}.
73804d4b 185
969fe9b5 186 While Edebug is active, the command @kbd{I}
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187(@code{edebug-instrument-callee}) instruments the definition of the
188function or macro called by the list form after point, if is not already
189instrumented. This is possible only if Edebug knows where to find the
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190source for that function; for this reading, after loading Edebug,
191@code{eval-region} records the position of every definition it
192evaluates, even if not instrumenting it. See also the @kbd{i} command
193(@pxref{Jumping}), which steps into the call after instrumenting the
194function.
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195
196@cindex special forms (Edebug)
197@cindex interactive commands (Edebug)
198@cindex anonymous lambda expressions (Edebug)
199@cindex Common Lisp (Edebug)
969fe9b5 200@pindex cl.el @r{(Edebug)}
73804d4b 201@pindex cl-specs.el
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202 Edebug knows how to instrument all the standard special forms,
203@code{interactive} forms with an expression argument, anonymous lambda
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204expressions, and other defining forms. However, Edebug cannot determine
205on its own what a user-defined macro will do with the arguments of a
206macro call, so you must provide that information; see @ref{Instrumenting
207Macro Calls}, for details.
73804d4b 208
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209 When Edebug is about to instrument code for the first time in a
210session, it runs the hook @code{edebug-setup-hook}, then sets it to
8241495d 211@code{nil}. You can use this to load Edebug specifications
969fe9b5 212(@pxref{Instrumenting Macro Calls}) associated with a package you are
8241495d 213using, but only when you use Edebug.
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214
215@findex eval-expression @r{(Edebug)}
a9f0a989 216 To remove instrumentation from a definition, simply re-evaluate its
73804d4b 217definition in a way that does not instrument. There are two ways of
87b2d5ff 218evaluating forms that never instrument them: from a file with
73804d4b 219@code{load}, and from the minibuffer with @code{eval-expression}
bfe721d1 220(@kbd{M-:}).
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221
222 If Edebug detects a syntax error while instrumenting, it leaves point
223at the erroneous code and signals an @code{invalid-read-syntax} error.
224
225 @xref{Edebug Eval}, for other evaluation functions available
226inside of Edebug.
227
228@node Edebug Execution Modes
229@subsection Edebug Execution Modes
230
231@cindex Edebug execution modes
232Edebug supports several execution modes for running the program you are
233debugging. We call these alternatives @dfn{Edebug execution modes}; do
87b2d5ff 234not confuse them with major or minor modes. The current Edebug execution mode
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235determines how far Edebug continues execution before stopping---whether
236it stops at each stop point, or continues to the next breakpoint, for
237example---and how much Edebug displays the progress of the evaluation
238before it stops.
239
240Normally, you specify the Edebug execution mode by typing a command to
241continue the program in a certain mode. Here is a table of these
8241495d 242commands; all except for @kbd{S} resume execution of the program, at
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243least for a certain distance.
244
245@table @kbd
246@item S
8241495d 247Stop: don't execute any more of the program, but wait for more
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248Edebug commands (@code{edebug-stop}).
249
250@item @key{SPC}
251Step: stop at the next stop point encountered (@code{edebug-step-mode}).
252
253@item n
254Next: stop at the next stop point encountered after an expression
255(@code{edebug-next-mode}). Also see @code{edebug-forward-sexp} in
256@ref{Edebug Misc}.
257
258@item t
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259Trace: pause (normally one second) at each Edebug stop point
260(@code{edebug-trace-mode}).
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261
262@item T
263Rapid trace: update the display at each stop point, but don't actually
264pause (@code{edebug-Trace-fast-mode}).
265
266@item g
267Go: run until the next breakpoint (@code{edebug-go-mode}). @xref{Breakpoints}.
268
269@item c
270Continue: pause one second at each breakpoint, and then continue
271(@code{edebug-continue-mode}).
272
273@item C
274Rapid continue: move point to each breakpoint, but don't pause
275(@code{edebug-Continue-fast-mode}).
276
277@item G
278Go non-stop: ignore breakpoints (@code{edebug-Go-nonstop-mode}). You
279can still stop the program by typing @kbd{S}, or any editing command.
280@end table
281
282In general, the execution modes earlier in the above list run the
87b2d5ff 283program more slowly or stop sooner than the modes later in the list.
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284
285While executing or tracing, you can interrupt the execution by typing
286any Edebug command. Edebug stops the program at the next stop point and
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287then executes the command you typed. For example, typing @kbd{t} during
288execution switches to trace mode at the next stop point. You can use
289@kbd{S} to stop execution without doing anything else.
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290
291If your function happens to read input, a character you type intending
292to interrupt execution may be read by the function instead. You can
293avoid such unintended results by paying attention to when your program
294wants input.
295
296@cindex keyboard macros (Edebug)
297Keyboard macros containing the commands in this section do not
298completely work: exiting from Edebug, to resume the program, loses track
299of the keyboard macro. This is not easy to fix. Also, defining or
300executing a keyboard macro outside of Edebug does not affect commands
8241495d 301inside Edebug. This is usually an advantage. See also the
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302@code{edebug-continue-kbd-macro} option (@pxref{Edebug Options}).
303
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304When you enter a new Edebug level, the initial execution mode comes
305from the value of the variable @code{edebug-initial-mode}.
306(@xref{Edebug Options}.) By default, this specifies step mode. Note
307that you may reenter the same Edebug level several times if, for
308example, an instrumented function is called several times from one
309command.
73804d4b 310
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311@defopt edebug-sit-for-seconds
312This option specifies how many seconds to wait between execution steps
313in trace mode. The default is 1 second.
b52a26fb 314@end defopt
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315
316@node Jumping
317@subsection Jumping
318
319 The commands described in this section execute until they reach a
320specified location. All except @kbd{i} make a temporary breakpoint to
321establish the place to stop, then switch to go mode. Any other
322breakpoint reached before the intended stop point will also stop
323execution. @xref{Breakpoints}, for the details on breakpoints.
324
325 These commands may fail to work as expected in case of nonlocal exit,
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326as that can bypass the temporary breakpoint where you expected the
327program to stop.
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328
329@table @kbd
330@item h
331Proceed to the stop point near where point is (@code{edebug-goto-here}).
332
333@item f
334Run the program forward over one expression
335(@code{edebug-forward-sexp}).
336
337@item o
338Run the program until the end of the containing sexp.
339
340@item i
341Step into the function or macro called by the form after point.
342@end table
343
344The @kbd{h} command proceeds to the stop point near the current location
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345of point, using a temporary breakpoint. See @ref{Breakpoints}, for more
346information about breakpoints.
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347
348The @kbd{f} command runs the program forward over one expression. More
349precisely, it sets a temporary breakpoint at the position that
350@kbd{C-M-f} would reach, then executes in go mode so that the program
351will stop at breakpoints.
352
353With a prefix argument @var{n}, the temporary breakpoint is placed
354@var{n} sexps beyond point. If the containing list ends before @var{n}
355more elements, then the place to stop is after the containing
356expression.
357
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358You must check that the position @kbd{C-M-f} finds is a place that the
359program will really get to. In @code{cond}, for example, this may not
360be true.
73804d4b 361
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362For flexibility, the @kbd{f} command does @code{forward-sexp} starting
363at point, rather than at the stop point. If you want to execute one
364expression @emph{from the current stop point}, first type @kbd{w}, to
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365move point there, and then type @kbd{f}.
366
367The @kbd{o} command continues ``out of'' an expression. It places a
368temporary breakpoint at the end of the sexp containing point. If the
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369containing sexp is a function definition itself, @kbd{o} continues until
370just before the last sexp in the definition. If that is where you are
371now, it returns from the function and then stops. In other words, this
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372command does not exit the currently executing function unless you are
373positioned after the last sexp.
374
375The @kbd{i} command steps into the function or macro called by the list
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376form after point, and stops at its first stop point. Note that the form
377need not be the one about to be evaluated. But if the form is a
378function call about to be evaluated, remember to use this command before
379any of the arguments are evaluated, since otherwise it will be too late.
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380
381The @kbd{i} command instruments the function or macro it's supposed to
382step into, if it isn't instrumented already. This is convenient, but keep
383in mind that the function or macro remains instrumented unless you explicitly
384arrange to deinstrument it.
385
386@node Edebug Misc
387@subsection Miscellaneous Edebug Commands
388
389 Some miscellaneous Edebug commands are described here.
390
391@table @kbd
392@item ?
393Display the help message for Edebug (@code{edebug-help}).
394
395@item C-]
396Abort one level back to the previous command level
397(@code{abort-recursive-edit}).
398
399@item q
400Return to the top level editor command loop (@code{top-level}). This
401exits all recursive editing levels, including all levels of Edebug
402activity. However, instrumented code protected with
403@code{unwind-protect} or @code{condition-case} forms may resume
404debugging.
405
406@item Q
8241495d 407Like @kbd{q}, but don't stop even for protected code
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408(@code{top-level-nonstop}).
409
410@item r
411Redisplay the most recently known expression result in the echo area
412(@code{edebug-previous-result}).
413
414@item d
415Display a backtrace, excluding Edebug's own functions for clarity
416(@code{edebug-backtrace}).
417
418You cannot use debugger commands in the backtrace buffer in Edebug as
419you would in the standard debugger.
420
421The backtrace buffer is killed automatically when you continue
422execution.
423@end table
424
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425You can invoke commands from Edebug that activate Edebug again
426recursively. Whenever Edebug is active, you can quit to the top level
427with @kbd{q} or abort one recursive edit level with @kbd{C-]}. You can
428display a backtrace of all the pending evaluations with @kbd{d}.
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429
430@node Breakpoints
431@subsection Breakpoints
432
433@cindex breakpoints
8241495d 434Edebug's step mode stops execution when the next stop point is reached.
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435There are three other ways to stop Edebug execution once it has started:
436breakpoints, the global break condition, and source breakpoints.
437
438While using Edebug, you can specify @dfn{breakpoints} in the program you
8241495d 439are testing: these are places where execution should stop. You can set a
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440breakpoint at any stop point, as defined in @ref{Using Edebug}. For
441setting and unsetting breakpoints, the stop point that is affected is
442the first one at or after point in the source code buffer. Here are the
443Edebug commands for breakpoints:
444
445@table @kbd
446@item b
447Set a breakpoint at the stop point at or after point
448(@code{edebug-set-breakpoint}). If you use a prefix argument, the
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449breakpoint is temporary---it turns off the first time it stops the
450program.
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451
452@item u
177c0ea7 453Unset the breakpoint (if any) at the stop point at or after
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454point (@code{edebug-unset-breakpoint}).
455
456@item x @var{condition} @key{RET}
457Set a conditional breakpoint which stops the program only if
458@var{condition} evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value
459(@code{edebug-set-conditional-breakpoint}). With a prefix argument, the
460breakpoint is temporary.
461
462@item B
9e2b495b 463Move point to the next breakpoint in the current definition
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464(@code{edebug-next-breakpoint}).
465@end table
466
467While in Edebug, you can set a breakpoint with @kbd{b} and unset one
468with @kbd{u}. First move point to the Edebug stop point of your choice,
469then type @kbd{b} or @kbd{u} to set or unset a breakpoint there.
470Unsetting a breakpoint where none has been set has no effect.
471
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472Re-evaluating or reinstrumenting a definition removes all of its
473previous breakpoints.
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474
475A @dfn{conditional breakpoint} tests a condition each time the program
476gets there. Any errors that occur as a result of evaluating the
477condition are ignored, as if the result were @code{nil}. To set a
478conditional breakpoint, use @kbd{x}, and specify the condition
479expression in the minibuffer. Setting a conditional breakpoint at a
480stop point that has a previously established conditional breakpoint puts
481the previous condition expression in the minibuffer so you can edit it.
482
483You can make a conditional or unconditional breakpoint
969fe9b5 484@dfn{temporary} by using a prefix argument with the command to set the
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485breakpoint. When a temporary breakpoint stops the program, it is
486automatically unset.
487
8241495d 488Edebug always stops or pauses at a breakpoint, except when the Edebug
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489mode is Go-nonstop. In that mode, it ignores breakpoints entirely.
490
491To find out where your breakpoints are, use the @kbd{B} command, which
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492moves point to the next breakpoint following point, within the same
493function, or to the first breakpoint if there are no following
494breakpoints. This command does not continue execution---it just moves
495point in the buffer.
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496
497@menu
177c0ea7 498* Global Break Condition:: Breaking on an event.
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499* Source Breakpoints:: Embedding breakpoints in source code.
500@end menu
501
502
503@node Global Break Condition
504@subsubsection Global Break Condition
505
506@cindex stopping on events
507@cindex global break condition
508 A @dfn{global break condition} stops execution when a specified
509condition is satisfied, no matter where that may occur. Edebug
8241495d 510evaluates the global break condition at every stop point; if it
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511evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value, then execution stops or pauses
512depending on the execution mode, as if a breakpoint had been hit. If
513evaluating the condition gets an error, execution does not stop.
514
515@findex edebug-set-global-break-condition
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516 The condition expression is stored in
517@code{edebug-global-break-condition}. You can specify a new expression
518using the @kbd{X} command (@code{edebug-set-global-break-condition}).
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519
520 The global break condition is the simplest way to find where in your
521code some event occurs, but it makes code run much more slowly. So you
522should reset the condition to @code{nil} when not using it.
523
524@node Source Breakpoints
525@subsubsection Source Breakpoints
526
527@findex edebug
528@cindex source breakpoints
529 All breakpoints in a definition are forgotten each time you
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530reinstrument it. If you wish to make a breakpoint that won't be
531forgotten, you can write a @dfn{source breakpoint}, which is simply a
532call to the function @code{edebug} in your source code. You can, of
533course, make such a call conditional. For example, in the @code{fac}
534function, you can insert the first line as shown below, to stop when the
535argument reaches zero:
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536
537@example
538(defun fac (n)
539 (if (= n 0) (edebug))
540 (if (< 0 n)
541 (* n (fac (1- n)))
542 1))
543@end example
544
969fe9b5 545 When the @code{fac} definition is instrumented and the function is
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546called, the call to @code{edebug} acts as a breakpoint. Depending on
547the execution mode, Edebug stops or pauses there.
548
969fe9b5 549 If no instrumented code is being executed when @code{edebug} is called,
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550that function calls @code{debug}.
551@c This may not be a good idea anymore.
552
553@node Trapping Errors
554@subsection Trapping Errors
555
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556 Emacs normally displays an error message when an error is signaled and
557not handled with @code{condition-case}. While Edebug is active and
558executing instrumented code, it normally responds to all unhandled
559errors. You can customize this with the options @code{edebug-on-error}
560and @code{edebug-on-quit}; see @ref{Edebug Options}.
73804d4b 561
969fe9b5 562 When Edebug responds to an error, it shows the last stop point
73804d4b 563encountered before the error. This may be the location of a call to a
8241495d 564function which was not instrumented, and within which the error actually
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565occurred. For an unbound variable error, the last known stop point
566might be quite distant from the offending variable reference. In that
8241495d 567case, you might want to display a full backtrace (@pxref{Edebug Misc}).
73804d4b 568
87b2d5ff 569@c Edebug should be changed for the following: -- dan
969fe9b5 570 If you change @code{debug-on-error} or @code{debug-on-quit} while
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571Edebug is active, these changes will be forgotten when Edebug becomes
572inactive. Furthermore, during Edebug's recursive edit, these variables
573are bound to the values they had outside of Edebug.
574
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575@node Edebug Views
576@subsection Edebug Views
577
969fe9b5 578 These Edebug commands let you view aspects of the buffer and window
a9f0a989 579status as they were before entry to Edebug. The outside window
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580configuration is the collection of windows and contents that were in
581effect outside of Edebug.
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582
583@table @kbd
584@item v
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585Temporarily view the outside window configuration
586(@code{edebug-view-outside}).
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587
588@item p
589Temporarily display the outside current buffer with point at its outside
590position (@code{edebug-bounce-point}). With a prefix argument @var{n},
591pause for @var{n} seconds instead.
592
593@item w
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594Move point back to the current stop point in the source code buffer
595(@code{edebug-where}).
596
597If you use this command in a different window displaying the same
598buffer, that window will be used instead to display the current
599definition in the future.
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600
601@item W
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602@c Its function is not simply to forget the saved configuration -- dan
603Toggle whether Edebug saves and restores the outside window
604configuration (@code{edebug-toggle-save-windows}).
605
606With a prefix argument, @code{W} only toggles saving and restoring of
607the selected window. To specify a window that is not displaying the
608source code buffer, you must use @kbd{C-x X W} from the global keymap.
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609@end table
610
969fe9b5 611 You can view the outside window configuration with @kbd{v} or just
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612bounce to the point in the current buffer with @kbd{p}, even if
613it is not normally displayed. After moving point, you may wish to jump
614back to the stop point with @kbd{w} from a source code buffer.
615
969fe9b5 616 Each time you use @kbd{W} to turn saving @emph{off}, Edebug forgets the
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617saved outside window configuration---so that even if you turn saving
618back @emph{on}, the current window configuration remains unchanged when
619you next exit Edebug (by continuing the program). However, the
620automatic redisplay of @samp{*edebug*} and @samp{*edebug-trace*} may
621conflict with the buffers you wish to see unless you have enough windows
622open.
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623
624@node Edebug Eval
625@subsection Evaluation
626
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627 While within Edebug, you can evaluate expressions ``as if'' Edebug
628were not running. Edebug tries to be invisible to the expression's
73804d4b 629evaluation and printing. Evaluation of expressions that cause side
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630effects will work as expected, except for changes to data that Edebug
631explicitly saves and restores. @xref{The Outside Context}, for details
632on this process.
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633
634@table @kbd
635@item e @var{exp} @key{RET}
636Evaluate expression @var{exp} in the context outside of Edebug
637(@code{edebug-eval-expression}). That is, Edebug tries to minimize its
638interference with the evaluation.
639
bfe721d1 640@item M-: @var{exp} @key{RET}
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641Evaluate expression @var{exp} in the context of Edebug itself.
642
643@item C-x C-e
644Evaluate the expression before point, in the context outside of Edebug
645(@code{edebug-eval-last-sexp}).
646@end table
647
648@cindex lexical binding (Edebug)
969fe9b5 649 Edebug supports evaluation of expressions containing references to
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650lexically bound symbols created by the following constructs in
651@file{cl.el} (version 2.03 or later): @code{lexical-let},
652@code{macrolet}, and @code{symbol-macrolet}.
653
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654@node Eval List
655@subsection Evaluation List Buffer
656
969fe9b5 657 You can use the @dfn{evaluation list buffer}, called @samp{*edebug*}, to
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658evaluate expressions interactively. You can also set up the
659@dfn{evaluation list} of expressions to be evaluated automatically each
660time Edebug updates the display.
661
662@table @kbd
663@item E
664Switch to the evaluation list buffer @samp{*edebug*}
665(@code{edebug-visit-eval-list}).
666@end table
667
969fe9b5 668 In the @samp{*edebug*} buffer you can use the commands of Lisp
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669Interaction mode (@pxref{Lisp Interaction,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs
670Manual}) as well as these special commands:
671
672@table @kbd
969fe9b5 673@item C-j
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674Evaluate the expression before point, in the outside context, and insert
675the value in the buffer (@code{edebug-eval-print-last-sexp}).
676
677@item C-x C-e
678Evaluate the expression before point, in the context outside of Edebug
679(@code{edebug-eval-last-sexp}).
680
681@item C-c C-u
87b2d5ff 682Build a new evaluation list from the contents of the buffer
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683(@code{edebug-update-eval-list}).
684
685@item C-c C-d
686Delete the evaluation list group that point is in
687(@code{edebug-delete-eval-item}).
688
689@item C-c C-w
690Switch back to the source code buffer at the current stop point
691(@code{edebug-where}).
692@end table
693
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694 You can evaluate expressions in the evaluation list window with
695@kbd{C-j} or @kbd{C-x C-e}, just as you would in @samp{*scratch*};
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696but they are evaluated in the context outside of Edebug.
697
969fe9b5 698 The expressions you enter interactively (and their results) are lost
73804d4b 699when you continue execution; but you can set up an @dfn{evaluation list}
177c0ea7 700consisting of expressions to be evaluated each time execution stops.
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701
702@cindex evaluation list group
969fe9b5 703 To do this, write one or more @dfn{evaluation list groups} in the
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704evaluation list buffer. An evaluation list group consists of one or
705more Lisp expressions. Groups are separated by comment lines.
706
969fe9b5 707 The command @kbd{C-c C-u} (@code{edebug-update-eval-list}) rebuilds the
73804d4b 708evaluation list, scanning the buffer and using the first expression of
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709each group. (The idea is that the second expression of the group is the
710value previously computed and displayed.)
73804d4b 711
969fe9b5 712 Each entry to Edebug redisplays the evaluation list by inserting each
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713expression in the buffer, followed by its current value. It also
714inserts comment lines so that each expression becomes its own group.
715Thus, if you type @kbd{C-c C-u} again without changing the buffer text,
716the evaluation list is effectively unchanged.
73804d4b 717
969fe9b5 718 If an error occurs during an evaluation from the evaluation list, the
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719error message is displayed in a string as if it were the result.
720Therefore, expressions that use variables not currently valid do not
721interrupt your debugging.
722
969fe9b5 723 Here is an example of what the evaluation list window looks like after
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724several expressions have been added to it:
725
726@smallexample
727(current-buffer)
728#<buffer *scratch*>
729;---------------------------------------------------------------
730(selected-window)
731#<window 16 on *scratch*>
732;---------------------------------------------------------------
733(point)
734196
735;---------------------------------------------------------------
736bad-var
737"Symbol's value as variable is void: bad-var"
738;---------------------------------------------------------------
739(recursion-depth)
7400
741;---------------------------------------------------------------
742this-command
743eval-last-sexp
744;---------------------------------------------------------------
745@end smallexample
746
747To delete a group, move point into it and type @kbd{C-c C-d}, or simply
748delete the text for the group and update the evaluation list with
749@kbd{C-c C-u}. To add a new expression to the evaluation list, insert
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750the expression at a suitable place, insert a new comment line, then type
751@kbd{C-c C-u}. You need not insert dashes in the comment line---its
752contents don't matter.
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753
754After selecting @samp{*edebug*}, you can return to the source code
755buffer with @kbd{C-c C-w}. The @samp{*edebug*} buffer is killed when
756you continue execution, and recreated next time it is needed.
757
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758@node Printing in Edebug
759@subsection Printing in Edebug
760
761@cindex printing (Edebug)
762@cindex printing circular structures
763@pindex cust-print
764 If an expression in your program produces a value containing circular
765list structure, you may get an error when Edebug attempts to print it.
766
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767 One way to cope with circular structure is to set @code{print-length}
768or @code{print-level} to truncate the printing. Edebug does this for
769you; it binds @code{print-length} and @code{print-level} to 50 if they
770were @code{nil}. (Actually, the variables @code{edebug-print-length}
771and @code{edebug-print-level} specify the values to use within Edebug.)
772@xref{Output Variables}.
773
969fe9b5 774@defopt edebug-print-length
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775If non-@code{nil}, Edebug binds @code{print-length} to this value while
776printing results. The default value is @code{50}.
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777@end defopt
778
177c0ea7 779@defopt edebug-print-level
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780If non-@code{nil}, Edebug binds @code{print-level} to this value while
781printing results. The default value is @code{50}.
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782@end defopt
783
73804d4b 784 You can also print circular structures and structures that share
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785elements more informatively by binding @code{print-circle}
786to a non-@code{nil} value.
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787
788 Here is an example of code that creates a circular structure:
789
790@example
791(setq a '(x y))
a9f0a989 792(setcar a a)
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793@end example
794
795@noindent
796Custom printing prints this as @samp{Result: #1=(#1# y)}. The
797@samp{#1=} notation labels the structure that follows it with the label
a9f0a989 798@samp{1}, and the @samp{#1#} notation references the previously labeled
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799structure. This notation is used for any shared elements of lists or
800vectors.
801
177c0ea7 802@defopt edebug-print-circle
8241495d 803If non-@code{nil}, Edebug binds @code{print-circle} to this value while
011caae1 804printing results. The default value is @code{t}.
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805@end defopt
806
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807 Other programs can also use custom printing; see @file{cust-print.el}
808for details.
809
810@node Trace Buffer
811@subsection Trace Buffer
812@cindex trace buffer
813
87b2d5ff 814 Edebug can record an execution trace, storing it in a buffer named
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815@samp{*edebug-trace*}. This is a log of function calls and returns,
816showing the function names and their arguments and values. To enable
817trace recording, set @code{edebug-trace} to a non-@code{nil} value.
818
819 Making a trace buffer is not the same thing as using trace execution
820mode (@pxref{Edebug Execution Modes}).
821
822 When trace recording is enabled, each function entry and exit adds
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823lines to the trace buffer. A function entry record consists of
824@samp{::::@{}, followed by the function name and argument values. A
825function exit record consists of @samp{::::@}}, followed by the function
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826name and result of the function.
827
828 The number of @samp{:}s in an entry shows its recursion depth. You
829can use the braces in the trace buffer to find the matching beginning or
830end of function calls.
831
832@findex edebug-print-trace-before
833@findex edebug-print-trace-after
834 You can customize trace recording for function entry and exit by
835redefining the functions @code{edebug-print-trace-before} and
836@code{edebug-print-trace-after}.
837
838@defmac edebug-tracing string body@dots{}
839This macro requests additional trace information around the execution
840of the @var{body} forms. The argument @var{string} specifies text
8241495d 841to put in the trace buffer. All the arguments are evaluated, and
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842@code{edebug-tracing} returns the value of the last form in @var{body}.
843@end defmac
844
845@defun edebug-trace format-string &rest format-args
846This function inserts text in the trace buffer. It computes the text
847with @code{(apply 'format @var{format-string} @var{format-args})}.
87b2d5ff 848It also appends a newline to separate entries.
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849@end defun
850
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851 @code{edebug-tracing} and @code{edebug-trace} insert lines in the
852trace buffer whenever they are called, even if Edebug is not active.
853Adding text to the trace buffer also scrolls its window to show the last
854lines inserted.
73804d4b 855
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856@node Coverage Testing
857@subsection Coverage Testing
858
859@cindex coverage testing
860@cindex frequency counts
861@cindex performance analysis
862Edebug provides rudimentary coverage testing and display of execution
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863frequency.
864
865 Coverage testing works by comparing the result of each expression with
866the previous result; each form in the program is considered ``covered''
867if it has returned two different values since you began testing coverage
868in the current Emacs session. Thus, to do coverage testing on your
869program, execute it under various conditions and note whether it behaves
870correctly; Edebug will tell you when you have tried enough different
871conditions that each form has returned two different values.
872
873 Coverage testing makes execution slower, so it is only done if
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874@code{edebug-test-coverage} is non-@code{nil}. Frequency counting is
875performed for all execution of an instrumented function, even if the
876execution mode is Go-nonstop, and regardless of whether coverage testing
877is enabled.
1911e6e5 878
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879@kindex C-x X =
880@findex edebug-temp-display-freq-count
881 Use @kbd{C-x X =} (@code{edebug-display-freq-count}) to display both
882the coverage information and the frequency counts for a definition.
883Just @kbd{=} (@code{edebug-temp-display-freq-count}) displays the same
884information temporarily, only until you type another key.
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885
886@deffn Command edebug-display-freq-count
887This command displays the frequency count data for each line of the
888current definition.
889
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890The frequency counts appear as comment lines after each line of code,
891and you can undo all insertions with one @code{undo} command. The
892counts appear under the @samp{(} before an expression or the @samp{)}
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893after an expression, or on the last character of a variable. To
894simplify the display, a count is not shown if it is equal to the
895count of an earlier expression on the same line.
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896
897The character @samp{=} following the count for an expression says that
a9f0a989 898the expression has returned the same value each time it was evaluated.
1911e6e5 899In other words, it is not yet ``covered'' for coverage testing purposes.
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900
901To clear the frequency count and coverage data for a definition,
a9f0a989 902simply reinstrument it with @code{eval-defun}.
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903@end deffn
904
905For example, after evaluating @code{(fac 5)} with a source
906breakpoint, and setting @code{edebug-test-coverage} to @code{t}, when
907the breakpoint is reached, the frequency data looks like this:
908
909@example
910(defun fac (n)
911 (if (= n 0) (edebug))
011caae1 912;#6 1 = =5
73804d4b 913 (if (< 0 n)
177c0ea7 914;#5 =
73804d4b 915 (* n (fac (1- n)))
177c0ea7 916;# 5 0
73804d4b 917 1))
177c0ea7 918;# 0
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919@end example
920
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921The comment lines show that @code{fac} was called 6 times. The
922first @code{if} statement returned 5 times with the same result each
73804d4b 923time; the same is true of the condition on the second @code{if}.
87b2d5ff 924The recursive call of @code{fac} did not return at all.
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925
926
927@node The Outside Context
928@subsection The Outside Context
929
930Edebug tries to be transparent to the program you are debugging, but it
931does not succeed completely. Edebug also tries to be transparent when
932you evaluate expressions with @kbd{e} or with the evaluation list
933buffer, by temporarily restoring the outside context. This section
934explains precisely what context Edebug restores, and how Edebug fails to
935be completely transparent.
936
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937@menu
938* Checking Whether to Stop:: When Edebug decides what to do.
939* Edebug Display Update:: When Edebug updates the display.
940* Edebug Recursive Edit:: When Edebug stops execution.
941@end menu
942
943@node Checking Whether to Stop
944@subsubsection Checking Whether to Stop
945
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946Whenever Edebug is entered, it needs to save and restore certain data
947before even deciding whether to make trace information or stop the
948program.
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949
950@itemize @bullet
177c0ea7 951@item
73804d4b 952@code{max-lisp-eval-depth} and @code{max-specpdl-size} are both
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953incremented once to reduce Edebug's impact on the stack. You could,
954however, still run out of stack space when using Edebug.
73804d4b 955
177c0ea7 956@item
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957The state of keyboard macro execution is saved and restored. While
958Edebug is active, @code{executing-macro} is bound to
959@code{edebug-continue-kbd-macro}.
960
961@end itemize
962
963
964@node Edebug Display Update
965@subsubsection Edebug Display Update
966
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967@c This paragraph is not filled, because LaLiberte's conversion script
968@c needs an xref to be on just one line.
73804d4b 969When Edebug needs to display something (e.g., in trace mode), it saves
177c0ea7 970the current window configuration from ``outside'' Edebug
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971(@pxref{Window Configurations}). When you exit Edebug (by continuing
972the program), it restores the previous window configuration.
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973
974Emacs redisplays only when it pauses. Usually, when you continue
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975execution, the program re-enters Edebug at a breakpoint or after
976stepping, without pausing or reading input in between. In such cases,
73804d4b 977Emacs never gets a chance to redisplay the ``outside'' configuration.
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978Consequently, what you see is the same window configuration as the last
979time Edebug was active, with no interruption.
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980
981Entry to Edebug for displaying something also saves and restores the
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982following data (though some of them are deliberately not restored if an
983error or quit signal occurs).
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984
985@itemize @bullet
177c0ea7 986@item
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987@cindex current buffer point and mark (Edebug)
988Which buffer is current, and the positions of point and the mark in the
989current buffer, are saved and restored.
990
177c0ea7 991@item
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992@cindex window configuration (Edebug)
993The outside window configuration is saved and restored if
994@code{edebug-save-windows} is non-@code{nil} (@pxref{Edebug Display Update}).
995
996The window configuration is not restored on error or quit, but the
997outside selected window @emph{is} reselected even on error or quit in
998case a @code{save-excursion} is active. If the value of
999@code{edebug-save-windows} is a list, only the listed windows are saved
1000and restored.
1001
1002The window start and horizontal scrolling of the source code buffer are
1003not restored, however, so that the display remains coherent within Edebug.
1004
1005@item
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1006The value of point in each displayed buffer is saved and restored if
1007@code{edebug-save-displayed-buffer-points} is non-@code{nil}.
1008
1009@item
1010The variables @code{overlay-arrow-position} and
1011@code{overlay-arrow-string} are saved and restored. So you can safely
1012invoke Edebug from the recursive edit elsewhere in the same buffer.
1013
177c0ea7 1014@item
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1015@code{cursor-in-echo-area} is locally bound to @code{nil} so that
1016the cursor shows up in the window.
1017@end itemize
1018
1019@node Edebug Recursive Edit
1020@subsubsection Edebug Recursive Edit
1021
1022When Edebug is entered and actually reads commands from the user, it
1023saves (and later restores) these additional data:
1024
1025@itemize @bullet
1026@item
1027The current match data. @xref{Match Data}.
1028
1029@item
1030@code{last-command}, @code{this-command}, @code{last-command-char},
1031@code{last-input-char}, @code{last-input-event},
1032@code{last-command-event}, @code{last-event-frame},
1033@code{last-nonmenu-event}, and @code{track-mouse}. Commands used within
1034Edebug do not affect these variables outside of Edebug.
1035
1036The key sequence returned by @code{this-command-keys} is changed by
1037executing commands within Edebug and there is no way to reset
1038the key sequence from Lisp.
1039
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1040Edebug cannot save and restore the value of
1041@code{unread-command-events}. Entering Edebug while this variable has a
1042nontrivial value can interfere with execution of the program you are
1043debugging.
1044
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1045@item
1046Complex commands executed while in Edebug are added to the variable
1047@code{command-history}. In rare cases this can alter execution.
1048
1049@item
1050Within Edebug, the recursion depth appears one deeper than the recursion
1051depth outside Edebug. This is not true of the automatically updated
1052evaluation list window.
1053
1054@item
1055@code{standard-output} and @code{standard-input} are bound to @code{nil}
1056by the @code{recursive-edit}, but Edebug temporarily restores them during
1057evaluations.
1058
177c0ea7 1059@item
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1060The state of keyboard macro definition is saved and restored. While
1061Edebug is active, @code{defining-kbd-macro} is bound to
1062@code{edebug-continue-kbd-macro}.
1063@end itemize
1064
1065@node Instrumenting Macro Calls
1066@subsection Instrumenting Macro Calls
1067
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1068 When Edebug instruments an expression that calls a Lisp macro, it needs
1069additional information about the macro to do the job properly. This is
1070because there is no a-priori way to tell which subexpressions of the
1071macro call are forms to be evaluated. (Evaluation may occur explicitly
1072in the macro body, or when the resulting expansion is evaluated, or any
1073time later.)
1074
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1075 Therefore, you must define an Edebug specification for each macro
1076that Edebug will encounter, to explain the format of calls to that
a7679889 1077macro. To do this, add a @code{debug} declaration to the macro
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1078definition. Here is a simple example that shows the specification for
1079the @code{for} example macro (@pxref{Argument Evaluation}).
1080
1081@example
1082(defmacro for (var from init to final do &rest body)
1083 "Execute a simple \"for\" loop.
1084For example, (for i from 1 to 10 do (print i))."
af5a6df7 1085 (declare (debug (symbolp "from" form "to" form "do" &rest form)))
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1086 ...)
1087@end example
1088
89f6de49 1089 The Edebug specification says which parts of a call to the macro are
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1090forms to be evaluated. For simple macros, the @var{specification}
1091often looks very similar to the formal argument list of the macro
1092definition, but specifications are much more general than macro
1093arguments. @xref{Defining Macros}, for more explanation of
40d2bb40 1094the @code{declare} form.
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1095
1096 You can also define an edebug specification for a macro separately
f9350c5c 1097from the macro definition with @code{def-edebug-spec}. Adding
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1098@code{debug} declarations is preferred, and more convenient, for macro
1099definitions in Lisp, but @code{def-edebug-spec} makes it possible to
1100define Edebug specifications for special forms implemented in C.
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1101
1102@deffn Macro def-edebug-spec macro specification
1103Specify which expressions of a call to macro @var{macro} are forms to be
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1104evaluated. @var{specification} should be the edebug specification.
1105It is not evaluated.
73804d4b 1106
969fe9b5 1107The @var{macro} argument can actually be any symbol, not just a macro
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1108name.
1109@end deffn
1110
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1111Here is a table of the possibilities for @var{specification} and how each
1112directs processing of arguments.
1113
ec221d13 1114@table @asis
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1115@item @code{t}
1116All arguments are instrumented for evaluation.
1117
1118@item @code{0}
1119None of the arguments is instrumented.
1120
1121@item a symbol
1122The symbol must have an Edebug specification which is used instead.
1123This indirection is repeated until another kind of specification is
a9f0a989 1124found. This allows you to inherit the specification from another macro.
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1125
1126@item a list
1127The elements of the list describe the types of the arguments of a
1128calling form. The possible elements of a specification list are
1129described in the following sections.
1130@end table
1131
1132@menu
1133* Specification List:: How to specify complex patterns of evaluation.
1134* Backtracking:: What Edebug does when matching fails.
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1135* Specification Examples:: To help understand specifications.
1136@end menu
1137
1138
1139@node Specification List
1140@subsubsection Specification List
1141
1142@cindex Edebug specification list
1143A @dfn{specification list} is required for an Edebug specification if
1144some arguments of a macro call are evaluated while others are not. Some
1145elements in a specification list match one or more arguments, but others
1146modify the processing of all following elements. The latter, called
1147@dfn{specification keywords}, are symbols beginning with @samp{&} (such
1148as @code{&optional}).
1149
1150A specification list may contain sublists which match arguments that are
1151themselves lists, or it may contain vectors used for grouping. Sublists
1152and groups thus subdivide the specification list into a hierarchy of
969fe9b5 1153levels. Specification keywords apply only to the remainder of the
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1154sublist or group they are contained in.
1155
1156When a specification list involves alternatives or repetition, matching
1157it against an actual macro call may require backtracking.
1158@xref{Backtracking}, for more details.
1159
1160Edebug specifications provide the power of regular expression matching,
1161plus some context-free grammar constructs: the matching of sublists with
1162balanced parentheses, recursive processing of forms, and recursion via
1163indirect specifications.
1164
1165Here's a table of the possible elements of a specification list, with
1166their meanings:
1167
1168@table @code
1169@item sexp
1911e6e5 1170A single unevaluated Lisp object, which is not instrumented.
a9f0a989 1171@c an "expression" is not necessarily intended for evaluation.
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1172
1173@item form
1174A single evaluated expression, which is instrumented.
1175
1176@item place
1177@findex edebug-unwrap
1178A place to store a value, as in the Common Lisp @code{setf} construct.
1179
1180@item body
1181Short for @code{&rest form}. See @code{&rest} below.
1182
1183@item function-form
1184A function form: either a quoted function symbol, a quoted lambda
1185expression, or a form (that should evaluate to a function symbol or
1186lambda expression). This is useful when an argument that's a lambda
1187expression might be quoted with @code{quote} rather than
1188@code{function}, since it instruments the body of the lambda expression
1189either way.
1190
1191@item lambda-expr
1192A lambda expression with no quoting.
1193
1194@item &optional
89f6de49 1195@c @kindex &optional @r{(Edebug)}
73804d4b 1196All following elements in the specification list are optional; as soon
177c0ea7 1197as one does not match, Edebug stops matching at this level.
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1198
1199To make just a few elements optional followed by non-optional elements,
1200use @code{[&optional @var{specs}@dots{}]}. To specify that several
1201elements must all match or none, use @code{&optional
1202[@var{specs}@dots{}]}. See the @code{defun} example below.
1203
1204@item &rest
89f6de49 1205@c @kindex &rest @r{(Edebug)}
73804d4b 1206All following elements in the specification list are repeated zero or
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1207more times. In the last repetition, however, it is not a problem if the
1208expression runs out before matching all of the elements of the
1209specification list.
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1210
1211To repeat only a few elements, use @code{[&rest @var{specs}@dots{}]}.
1212To specify several elements that must all match on every repetition, use
1213@code{&rest [@var{specs}@dots{}]}.
1214
1215@item &or
89f6de49 1216@c @kindex &or @r{(Edebug)}
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1217Each of the following elements in the specification list is an
1218alternative. One of the alternatives must match, or the @code{&or}
1219specification fails.
1220
1221Each list element following @code{&or} is a single alternative. To
1222group two or more list elements as a single alternative, enclose them in
1223@code{[@dots{}]}.
1224
1225@item &not
89f6de49 1226@c @kindex &not @r{(Edebug)}
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1227Each of the following elements is matched as alternatives as if by using
1228@code{&or}, but if any of them match, the specification fails. If none
1229of them match, nothing is matched, but the @code{&not} specification
1230succeeds.
1231
177c0ea7 1232@item &define
89f6de49 1233@c @kindex &define @r{(Edebug)}
73804d4b 1234Indicates that the specification is for a defining form. The defining
a9f0a989 1235form itself is not instrumented (that is, Edebug does not stop before and
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1236after the defining form), but forms inside it typically will be
1237instrumented. The @code{&define} keyword should be the first element in
1238a list specification.
1239
1240@item nil
1241This is successful when there are no more arguments to match at the
1242current argument list level; otherwise it fails. See sublist
1243specifications and the backquote example below.
1244
1245@item gate
1246@cindex preventing backtracking
1247No argument is matched but backtracking through the gate is disabled
1248while matching the remainder of the specifications at this level. This
1249is primarily used to generate more specific syntax error messages. See
1250@ref{Backtracking}, for more details. Also see the @code{let} example
1251below.
1252
1253@item @var{other-symbol}
1254@cindex indirect specifications
1255Any other symbol in a specification list may be a predicate or an
1256indirect specification.
1257
1258If the symbol has an Edebug specification, this @dfn{indirect
1259specification} should be either a list specification that is used in
1260place of the symbol, or a function that is called to process the
1261arguments. The specification may be defined with @code{def-edebug-spec}
1262just as for macros. See the @code{defun} example below.
1263
1264Otherwise, the symbol should be a predicate. The predicate is called
1265with the argument and the specification fails if the predicate returns
1266@code{nil}. In either case, that argument is not instrumented.
1267
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1268Some suitable predicates include @code{symbolp}, @code{integerp},
1269@code{stringp}, @code{vectorp}, and @code{atom}.
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1270
1271@item [@var{elements}@dots{}]
1272@cindex [@dots{}] (Edebug)
1273A vector of elements groups the elements into a single @dfn{group
1274specification}. Its meaning has nothing to do with vectors.
1275
1276@item "@var{string}"
1277The argument should be a symbol named @var{string}. This specification
1278is equivalent to the quoted symbol, @code{'@var{symbol}}, where the name
1279of @var{symbol} is the @var{string}, but the string form is preferred.
1280
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1281@item (vector @var{elements}@dots{})
1282The argument should be a vector whose elements must match the
1283@var{elements} in the specification. See the backquote example below.
1284
1285@item (@var{elements}@dots{})
1286Any other list is a @dfn{sublist specification} and the argument must be
1287a list whose elements match the specification @var{elements}.
1288
1289@cindex dotted lists (Edebug)
1290A sublist specification may be a dotted list and the corresponding list
1291argument may then be a dotted list. Alternatively, the last @sc{cdr} of a
1292dotted list specification may be another sublist specification (via a
a9f0a989 1293grouping or an indirect specification, e.g., @code{(spec . [(more
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1294specs@dots{})])}) whose elements match the non-dotted list arguments.
1295This is useful in recursive specifications such as in the backquote
1296example below. Also see the description of a @code{nil} specification
1297above for terminating such recursion.
1298
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1299Note that a sublist specification written as @code{(specs . nil)}
1300is equivalent to @code{(specs)}, and @code{(specs .
1301(sublist-elements@dots{}))} is equivalent to @code{(specs
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1302sublist-elements@dots{})}.
1303@end table
1304
1305@c Need to document extensions with &symbol and :symbol
1306
969fe9b5 1307Here is a list of additional specifications that may appear only after
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1308@code{&define}. See the @code{defun} example below.
1309
1310@table @code
1311@item name
177c0ea7 1312The argument, a symbol, is the name of the defining form.
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1313
1314A defining form is not required to have a name field; and it may have
1315multiple name fields.
1316
1317@item :name
1318This construct does not actually match an argument. The element
1319following @code{:name} should be a symbol; it is used as an additional
1320name component for the definition. You can use this to add a unique,
1321static component to the name of the definition. It may be used more
1322than once.
1323
1324@item arg
1325The argument, a symbol, is the name of an argument of the defining form.
a9f0a989 1326However, lambda-list keywords (symbols starting with @samp{&})
87b2d5ff 1327are not allowed.
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1328
1329@item lambda-list
1330@cindex lambda-list (Edebug)
1331This matches a lambda list---the argument list of a lambda expression.
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1332
1333@item def-body
1334The argument is the body of code in a definition. This is like
1335@code{body}, described above, but a definition body must be instrumented
1336with a different Edebug call that looks up information associated with
1337the definition. Use @code{def-body} for the highest level list of forms
1338within the definition.
1339
1340@item def-form
1341The argument is a single, highest-level form in a definition. This is
1342like @code{def-body}, except use this to match a single form rather than
1343a list of forms. As a special case, @code{def-form} also means that
1344tracing information is not output when the form is executed. See the
1345@code{interactive} example below.
1346@end table
1347
1348@node Backtracking
969fe9b5 1349@subsubsection Backtracking in Specifications
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1350
1351@cindex backtracking
1352@cindex syntax error (Edebug)
1353If a specification fails to match at some point, this does not
1354necessarily mean a syntax error will be signaled; instead,
1355@dfn{backtracking} will take place until all alternatives have been
1356exhausted. Eventually every element of the argument list must be
1357matched by some element in the specification, and every required element
1358in the specification must match some argument.
177c0ea7 1359
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1360When a syntax error is detected, it might not be reported until much
1361later after higher-level alternatives have been exhausted, and with the
1362point positioned further from the real error. But if backtracking is
1363disabled when an error occurs, it can be reported immediately. Note
1364that backtracking is also reenabled automatically in several situations;
1365it is reenabled when a new alternative is established by
1366@code{&optional}, @code{&rest}, or @code{&or}, or at the start of
1367processing a sublist, group, or indirect specification. The effect of
1368enabling or disabling backtracking is limited to the remainder of the
1369level currently being processed and lower levels.
1370
1371Backtracking is disabled while matching any of the
1372form specifications (that is, @code{form}, @code{body}, @code{def-form}, and
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1373@code{def-body}). These specifications will match any form so any error
1374must be in the form itself rather than at a higher level.
1375
a9f0a989 1376Backtracking is also disabled after successfully matching a quoted
73804d4b 1377symbol or string specification, since this usually indicates a
a9f0a989 1378recognized construct. But if you have a set of alternative constructs that
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1379all begin with the same symbol, you can usually work around this
1380constraint by factoring the symbol out of the alternatives, e.g.,
1381@code{["foo" &or [first case] [second case] ...]}.
1382
3e7274ae 1383Most needs are satisfied by these two ways that backtracking is
a9f0a989
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1384automatically disabled, but occasionally it is useful to explicitly
1385disable backtracking by using the @code{gate} specification. This is
1386useful when you know that no higher alternatives could apply. See the
1387example of the @code{let} specification.
73804d4b 1388
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1389@node Specification Examples
1390@subsubsection Specification Examples
1391
1392It may be easier to understand Edebug specifications by studying
1393the examples provided here.
1394
1395A @code{let} special form has a sequence of bindings and a body. Each
1396of the bindings is either a symbol or a sublist with a symbol and
a9f0a989 1397optional expression. In the specification below, notice the @code{gate}
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1398inside of the sublist to prevent backtracking once a sublist is found.
1399
1400@example
1401(def-edebug-spec let
1402 ((&rest
1403 &or symbolp (gate symbolp &optional form))
1404 body))
1405@end example
1406
1407Edebug uses the following specifications for @code{defun} and
1408@code{defmacro} and the associated argument list and @code{interactive}
1409specifications. It is necessary to handle interactive forms specially
1410since an expression argument it is actually evaluated outside of the
1411function body.
1412
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1413@smallexample
1414(def-edebug-spec defmacro defun) ; @r{Indirect ref to @code{defun} spec.}
177c0ea7
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1415(def-edebug-spec defun
1416 (&define name lambda-list
87b2d5ff 1417 [&optional stringp] ; @r{Match the doc string, if present.}
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1418 [&optional ("interactive" interactive)]
1419 def-body))
1420
1421(def-edebug-spec lambda-list
1422 (([&rest arg]
1423 [&optional ["&optional" arg &rest arg]]
1424 &optional ["&rest" arg]
1425 )))
1426
1427(def-edebug-spec interactive
1428 (&optional &or stringp def-form)) ; @r{Notice: @code{def-form}}
87b2d5ff 1429@end smallexample
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1430
1431The specification for backquote below illustrates how to match
1432dotted lists and use @code{nil} to terminate recursion. It also
1433illustrates how components of a vector may be matched. (The actual
1434specification defined by Edebug does not support dotted lists because
1435doing so causes very deep recursion that could fail.)
1436
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1437@smallexample
1438(def-edebug-spec ` (backquote-form)) ; @r{Alias just for clarity.}
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1439
1440(def-edebug-spec backquote-form
1441 (&or ([&or "," ",@@"] &or ("quote" backquote-form) form)
1442 (backquote-form . [&or nil backquote-form])
1443 (vector &rest backquote-form)
1444 sexp))
87b2d5ff 1445@end smallexample
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1446
1447
1448@node Edebug Options
1449@subsection Edebug Options
1450
1451 These options affect the behavior of Edebug:
1452
1453@defopt edebug-setup-hook
1454Functions to call before Edebug is used. Each time it is set to a new
1455value, Edebug will call those functions once and then
1456@code{edebug-setup-hook} is reset to @code{nil}. You could use this to
1457load up Edebug specifications associated with a package you are using
1458but only when you also use Edebug.
1459@xref{Instrumenting}.
1460@end defopt
1461
1462@defopt edebug-all-defs
1463If this is non-@code{nil}, normal evaluation of defining forms such as
1464@code{defun} and @code{defmacro} instruments them for Edebug. This
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1465applies to @code{eval-defun}, @code{eval-region}, @code{eval-buffer},
1466and @code{eval-current-buffer}.
1467
1468Use the command @kbd{M-x edebug-all-defs} to toggle the value of this
1469option. @xref{Instrumenting}.
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1470@end defopt
1471
1472@defopt edebug-all-forms
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1473If this is non-@code{nil}, the commands @code{eval-defun},
1474@code{eval-region}, @code{eval-buffer}, and @code{eval-current-buffer}
1475instrument all forms, even those that don't define anything.
1476This doesn't apply to loading or evaluations in the minibuffer.
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1477
1478Use the command @kbd{M-x edebug-all-forms} to toggle the value of this
87b2d5ff 1479option. @xref{Instrumenting}.
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1480@end defopt
1481
1482@defopt edebug-save-windows
1483If this is non-@code{nil}, Edebug saves and restores the window
1484configuration. That takes some time, so if your program does not care
1485what happens to the window configurations, it is better to set this
1486variable to @code{nil}.
1487
1488If the value is a list, only the listed windows are saved and
177c0ea7 1489restored.
73804d4b
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1490
1491You can use the @kbd{W} command in Edebug to change this variable
1492interactively. @xref{Edebug Display Update}.
1493@end defopt
1494
1495@defopt edebug-save-displayed-buffer-points
87b2d5ff
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1496If this is non-@code{nil}, Edebug saves and restores point in all
1497displayed buffers.
73804d4b
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1498
1499Saving and restoring point in other buffers is necessary if you are
1500debugging code that changes the point of a buffer which is displayed in
1501a non-selected window. If Edebug or the user then selects the window,
87b2d5ff 1502point in that buffer will move to the window's value of point.
73804d4b
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1503
1504Saving and restoring point in all buffers is expensive, since it
1505requires selecting each window twice, so enable this only if you need
1506it. @xref{Edebug Display Update}.
1507@end defopt
1508
1509@defopt edebug-initial-mode
1510If this variable is non-@code{nil}, it specifies the initial execution
1511mode for Edebug when it is first activated. Possible values are
1512@code{step}, @code{next}, @code{go}, @code{Go-nonstop}, @code{trace},
1513@code{Trace-fast}, @code{continue}, and @code{Continue-fast}.
1514
177c0ea7 1515The default value is @code{step}.
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1516@xref{Edebug Execution Modes}.
1517@end defopt
1518
1519@defopt edebug-trace
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1520Non-@code{nil} means display a trace of function entry and exit.
1521Tracing output is displayed in a buffer named @samp{*edebug-trace*}, one
177c0ea7 1522function entry or exit per line, indented by the recursion level.
73804d4b 1523
177c0ea7 1524The default value is @code{nil}.
73804d4b 1525
a9f0a989 1526Also see @code{edebug-tracing}, in @ref{Trace Buffer}.
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1527@end defopt
1528
177c0ea7 1529@defopt edebug-test-coverage
73804d4b 1530If non-@code{nil}, Edebug tests coverage of all expressions debugged.
73804d4b
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1531@xref{Coverage Testing}.
1532@end defopt
1533
177c0ea7 1534@defopt edebug-continue-kbd-macro
73804d4b
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1535If non-@code{nil}, continue defining or executing any keyboard macro
1536that is executing outside of Edebug. Use this with caution since it is not
1537debugged.
1538@xref{Edebug Execution Modes}.
1539@end defopt
1540
73804d4b
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1541@defopt edebug-on-error
1542Edebug binds @code{debug-on-error} to this value, if
1543@code{debug-on-error} was previously @code{nil}. @xref{Trapping
1544Errors}.
1545@end defopt
1546
1547@defopt edebug-on-quit
1548Edebug binds @code{debug-on-quit} to this value, if
1549@code{debug-on-quit} was previously @code{nil}. @xref{Trapping
1550Errors}.
1551@end defopt
1552
1553 If you change the values of @code{edebug-on-error} or
1554@code{edebug-on-quit} while Edebug is active, their values won't be used
87b2d5ff
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1555until the @emph{next} time Edebug is invoked via a new command.
1556@c Not necessarily a deeper command level.
1557@c A new command is not precisely true, but that is close enough -- dan
73804d4b
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1558
1559@defopt edebug-global-break-condition
9a8dc0d3
RS
1560If non-@code{nil}, an expression to test for at every stop point. If
1561the result is non-@code{nil}, then break. Errors are ignored.
73804d4b
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1562@xref{Global Break Condition}.
1563@end defopt
ab5796a9
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1564
1565@ignore
1566 arch-tag: 74842db8-019f-4818-b5a4-b2de878e57fd
1567@end ignore