5b63467de153433ec0f4e4d54bff3722c58dee47
[bpt/emacs.git] / man / building.texi
1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001,
3 @c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
4 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
5 @node Building, Maintaining, Programs, Top
6 @chapter Compiling and Testing Programs
7 @cindex building programs
8 @cindex program building
9 @cindex running Lisp functions
10
11 The previous chapter discusses the Emacs commands that are useful for
12 making changes in programs. This chapter deals with commands that assist
13 in the larger process of developing and maintaining programs.
14
15 @menu
16 * Compilation:: Compiling programs in languages other
17 than Lisp (C, Pascal, etc.).
18 * Compilation Mode:: The mode for visiting compiler errors.
19 * Compilation Shell:: Customizing your shell properly
20 for use in the compilation buffer.
21 * Grep Searching:: Searching with grep.
22 * Flymake:: Finding syntax errors on the fly.
23 * Debuggers:: Running symbolic debuggers for non-Lisp programs.
24 * Executing Lisp:: Various modes for editing Lisp programs,
25 with different facilities for running
26 the Lisp programs.
27 * Libraries: Lisp Libraries. Creating Lisp programs to run in Emacs.
28 * Eval: Lisp Eval. Executing a single Lisp expression in Emacs.
29 * Interaction: Lisp Interaction. Executing Lisp in an Emacs buffer.
30 * External Lisp:: Communicating through Emacs with a separate Lisp.
31 @end menu
32
33 @node Compilation
34 @section Running Compilations under Emacs
35 @cindex inferior process
36 @cindex make
37 @cindex compilation errors
38 @cindex error log
39
40 Emacs can run compilers for noninteractive languages such as C and
41 Fortran as inferior processes, feeding the error log into an Emacs buffer.
42 It can also parse the error messages and show you the source lines where
43 compilation errors occurred.
44
45 @table @kbd
46 @item M-x compile
47 Run a compiler asynchronously under Emacs, with error messages going to
48 the @samp{*compilation*} buffer.
49 @item M-x recompile
50 Invoke a compiler with the same command as in the last invocation of
51 @kbd{M-x compile}.
52 @item M-x kill-compilation
53 Kill the running compilation subprocess.
54 @end table
55
56 @findex compile
57 To run @code{make} or another compilation command, do @kbd{M-x
58 compile}. This command reads a shell command line using the minibuffer,
59 and then executes the command in an inferior shell, putting output in
60 the buffer named @samp{*compilation*}. The current buffer's default
61 directory is used as the working directory for the execution of the
62 command; normally, therefore, the compilation happens in this
63 directory.
64
65 @vindex compile-command
66 The default for the compilation command is normally @samp{make -k},
67 which is correct most of the time for nontrivial programs.
68 (@xref{Top,, Make, make, GNU Make Manual}.) If you have done @kbd{M-x
69 compile} before, the default each time is the command you used the
70 previous time. @code{compile} stores this command in the variable
71 @code{compile-command}, so setting that variable specifies the default
72 for the next use of @kbd{M-x compile}. If a file specifies a file
73 local value for @code{compile-command}, that provides the default when
74 you type @kbd{M-x compile} in that file's buffer. @xref{File
75 Variables}.
76
77 Starting a compilation displays the buffer @samp{*compilation*} in
78 another window but does not select it. The buffer's mode line tells
79 you whether compilation is finished, with the word @samp{run},
80 @samp{signal} or @samp{exit} inside the parentheses. You do not have
81 to keep this buffer visible; compilation continues in any case. While
82 a compilation is going on, the string @samp{Compiling} appears in the
83 mode lines of all windows. When this string disappears, the
84 compilation is finished.
85
86 If you want to watch the compilation transcript as it appears, switch
87 to the @samp{*compilation*} buffer and move point to the end of the
88 buffer. When point is at the end, new compilation output is inserted
89 above point, which remains at the end. If point is not at the end of
90 the buffer, it remains fixed while more compilation output is added at
91 the end of the buffer.
92
93 @cindex compilation buffer, keeping current position at the end
94 @vindex compilation-scroll-output
95 If you set the variable @code{compilation-scroll-output} to a
96 non-@code{nil} value, then the compilation buffer always scrolls to
97 follow output as it comes in.
98
99 @findex kill-compilation
100 When the compiler process terminates, for whatever reason, the mode
101 line of the @samp{*compilation*} buffer changes to say @samp{exit}
102 (followed by the exit code, @samp{[0]} for a normal exit), or
103 @samp{signal} (if a signal terminated the process), instead of
104 @samp{run}. Starting a new compilation also kills any running
105 compilation, as only one can exist at any time. However, @kbd{M-x
106 compile} asks for confirmation before actually killing a compilation
107 that is running. You can also kill the compilation process with
108 @kbd{M-x kill-compilation}.
109
110 @findex recompile
111 To rerun the last compilation with the same command, type @kbd{M-x
112 recompile}. This automatically reuses the compilation command from
113 the last invocation of @kbd{M-x compile}. It also reuses the
114 @samp{*compilation*} buffer and starts the compilation in its default
115 directory, which is the directory in which the previous compilation
116 was started.
117
118 Emacs does not expect a compiler process to launch asynchronous
119 subprocesses; if it does, and they keep running after the main
120 compiler process has terminated, Emacs may kill them or their output
121 may not arrive in Emacs. To avoid this problem, make the main process
122 wait for its subprocesses to finish. In a shell script, you can do this
123 using @samp{$!} and @samp{wait}, like this:
124
125 @example
126 (sleep 10; echo 2nd)& pid=$! # @r{Record pid of subprocess}
127 echo first message
128 wait $pid # @r{Wait for subprocess}
129 @end example
130
131 If the background process does not output to the compilation buffer,
132 so you only need to prevent it from being killed when the main
133 compilation process terminates, this is sufficient:
134
135 @example
136 nohup @var{command}; sleep 1
137 @end example
138
139 @vindex compilation-environment
140 You can control the environment passed to the compilation command
141 with the variable @code{compilation-environment}. Its value is a list
142 of environment variable settings; each element should be a string of
143 the form @code{"@var{envvarname}=@var{value}"}. These environment
144 variable settings override the usual ones.
145
146 @node Compilation Mode
147 @section Compilation Mode
148
149 @findex compile-goto-error
150 @cindex Compilation mode
151 @cindex mode, Compilation
152 The @samp{*compilation*} buffer uses a special major mode, Compilation
153 mode, whose main feature is to provide a convenient way to look at the
154 source line where the error happened.
155
156 @table @kbd
157 @item M-g M-n
158 @itemx M-g n
159 @itemx C-x `
160 Visit the locus of the next compiler error message or @code{grep} match.
161 @item M-g M-p
162 @itemx M-g p
163 Visit the locus of the previous compiler error message or @code{grep} match.
164 @item @key{RET}
165 Visit the locus of the error message that point is on.
166 This command is used in the compilation buffer.
167 @item Mouse-2
168 Visit the locus of the error message that you click on.
169 @item M-n
170 Find and highlight the locus of the next error message, without
171 selecting the source buffer.
172 @item M-p
173 Find and highlight the locus of the previous error message, without
174 selecting the source buffer.
175 @item M-@}
176 Move point to the next error for a different file than the current
177 one.
178 @item M-@{
179 Move point to the previous error for a different file than the current
180 one.
181 @item C-c C-f
182 Toggle Next Error Follow minor mode, which makes cursor motion in the
183 compilation buffer produce automatic source display.
184 @end table
185
186 @kindex M-g M-n
187 @kindex M-g n
188 @kindex C-x `
189 @findex next-error
190 You can visit the source for any particular error message by moving
191 point in the @samp{*compilation*} buffer to that error message and
192 typing @key{RET} (@code{compile-goto-error}). Alternatively, you can
193 click @kbd{Mouse-2} on the error message; you need not switch to the
194 @samp{*compilation*} buffer first.
195
196 @vindex next-error-highlight
197 To parse the compiler error messages sequentially, type @kbd{C-x `}
198 (@code{next-error}). The character following the @kbd{C-x} is the
199 backquote or ``grave accent,'' not the single-quote. This command is
200 available in all buffers, not just in @samp{*compilation*}; it
201 displays the next error message at the top of one window and source
202 location of the error in another window. It also momentarily
203 highlights the relevant source line. You can change the behavior of
204 this highlighting with the variable @code{next-error-highlight}.
205
206 The first time @kbd{C-x `} is used after the start of a compilation,
207 it moves to the first error's location. Subsequent uses of @kbd{C-x `}
208 advance down to subsequent errors. If you visit a specific error
209 message with @key{RET} or @kbd{Mouse-2}, subsequent @kbd{C-x `}
210 commands advance from there. When @kbd{C-x `} gets to the end of the
211 buffer and finds no more error messages to visit, it fails and signals
212 an Emacs error.
213
214 @vindex compilation-skip-threshold
215 By default, @kbd{C-x `} skips less important messages. The variable
216 @code{compilation-skip-threshold} controls this. If its value is 2,
217 @kbd{C-x `} skips anything less than error, 1 skips anything less
218 than warning, and 0 doesn't skip any messages.
219
220 When the left fringe is displayed, an arrow points to the
221 current message in the compilation buffer. The variable
222 @code{compilation-context-lines} controls the number of lines of
223 leading context in the window before the current message. If it is
224 @code{nil} and the left fringe is displayed, the window doesn't
225 scroll. If there is no left fringe, no arrow is displayed and a value
226 of @code{nil} means display the message at the top of the window.
227
228 If you're not in the compilation buffer when you run
229 @code{next-error}, Emacs will look for a buffer that contains error
230 messages. First, it looks for one displayed in the selected frame,
231 then for one that previously had @code{next-error} called on it, and
232 then at the current buffer. Finally, Emacs looks at all the remaining
233 buffers. @code{next-error} signals an error if it can't find any such
234 buffer.
235
236 @kbd{C-u C-x `} starts scanning from the beginning of the compilation
237 buffer. This is one way to process the same set of errors again.
238
239 @vindex compilation-error-regexp-alist
240 @vindex grep-regexp-alist
241 To parse messages from the compiler, Compilation mode uses the
242 variable @code{compilation-error-regexp-alist} which lists various
243 formats of error messages and tells Emacs how to extract the source file
244 and the line number from the text of a message. If your compiler isn't
245 supported, you can tailor Compilation mode to it by adding elements to
246 that list. A similar variable @code{grep-regexp-alist} tells Emacs how
247 to parse output of a @code{grep} command.
248
249 @findex compilation-next-error
250 @findex compilation-previous-error
251 @findex compilation-next-file
252 @findex compilation-previous-file
253 Compilation mode also redefines the keys @key{SPC} and @key{DEL} to
254 scroll by screenfuls, and @kbd{M-n} (@code{compilation-next-error})
255 and @kbd{M-p} (@code{compilation-previous-error}) to move to the next
256 or previous error message. You can also use @kbd{M-@{}
257 (@code{compilation-next-file} and @kbd{M-@}}
258 (@code{compilation-previous-file}) to move up or down to an error
259 message for a different source file.
260
261 @cindex Next Error Follow mode
262 @findex next-error-follow-minor-mode
263 You can type @kbd{C-c C-f} to toggle Next Error Follow mode. In
264 this minor mode, ordinary cursor motion in the compilation buffer
265 automatically updates the source buffer. For instance, moving the
266 cursor to the next error message causes the location of that error to
267 be displayed immediately.
268
269 The features of Compilation mode are also available in a minor mode
270 called Compilation Minor mode. This lets you parse error messages in
271 any buffer, not just a normal compilation output buffer. Type @kbd{M-x
272 compilation-minor-mode} to enable the minor mode. This defines the keys
273 @key{RET} and @kbd{Mouse-2}, as in the Compilation major mode.
274
275 Compilation minor mode works in any buffer, as long as the contents
276 are in a format that it understands. In an Rlogin buffer (@pxref{Remote
277 Host}), Compilation minor mode automatically accesses remote source
278 files by FTP (@pxref{File Names}).
279
280 @node Compilation Shell
281 @section Subshells for Compilation
282
283 Emacs uses a shell to run the compilation command, but specifies
284 the option for a noninteractive shell. This means, in particular, that
285 the shell should start with no prompt. If you find your usual shell
286 prompt making an unsightly appearance in the @samp{*compilation*}
287 buffer, it means you have made a mistake in your shell's init file by
288 setting the prompt unconditionally. (This init file's name may be
289 @file{.bashrc}, @file{.profile}, @file{.cshrc}, @file{.shrc}, or various
290 other things, depending on the shell you use.) The shell init file
291 should set the prompt only if there already is a prompt. In csh, here
292 is how to do it:
293
294 @example
295 if ($?prompt) set prompt = @dots{}
296 @end example
297
298 @noindent
299 And here's how to do it in bash:
300
301 @example
302 if [ "$@{PS1+set@}" = set ]
303 then PS1=@dots{}
304 fi
305 @end example
306
307 There may well be other things that your shell's init file
308 ought to do only for an interactive shell. You can use the same
309 method to conditionalize them.
310
311 The MS-DOS ``operating system'' does not support asynchronous
312 subprocesses; to work around this lack, @kbd{M-x compile} runs the
313 compilation command synchronously on MS-DOS. As a consequence, you must
314 wait until the command finishes before you can do anything else in
315 Emacs. @xref{MS-DOS}.
316
317 @node Grep Searching
318 @section Searching with Grep under Emacs
319
320 Just as you can run a compiler from Emacs and then visit the lines
321 with compilation errors, you can also run @code{grep} and
322 then visit the lines on which matches were found. This works by
323 treating the matches reported by @code{grep} as if they were ``errors.''
324
325 @table @kbd
326 @item M-x grep
327 Run @code{grep} asynchronously under Emacs, with matching lines
328 listed in the buffer named @samp{*grep*}.
329 @item M-x grep-find
330 @itemx M-x find-grep
331 Run @code{grep} via @code{find}, with user-specified arguments, and
332 collect output in the buffer named @samp{*grep*}.
333 @item M-x kill-grep
334 Kill the running @code{grep} subprocess.
335 @end table
336
337 @findex grep
338 To run @code{grep}, type @kbd{M-x grep}, then enter a command line that
339 specifies how to run @code{grep}. Use the same arguments you would give
340 @code{grep} when running it normally: a @code{grep}-style regexp
341 (usually in single-quotes to quote the shell's special characters)
342 followed by file names, which may use wildcards. If you specify a
343 prefix argument for @kbd{M-x grep}, it figures out the tag
344 (@pxref{Tags}) around point, and puts that into the default
345 @code{grep} command.
346
347 The output from @code{grep} goes in the @samp{*grep*} buffer. You
348 can find the corresponding lines in the original files using @kbd{C-x
349 `}, @key{RET}, and so forth, just like compilation errors.
350
351 Some grep programs accept a @samp{--color} option to output special
352 markers around matches for the purpose of highlighting. You can make
353 use of this feature by setting @code{grep-highlight-matches} to
354 @code{t}. When displaying a match in the source buffer, the exact
355 match will be highlighted, instead of the entire source line.
356
357 @findex grep-find
358 @findex find-grep
359 The command @kbd{M-x grep-find} (also available as @kbd{M-x
360 find-grep}) is similar to @kbd{M-x grep}, but it supplies a different
361 initial default for the command---one that runs both @code{find} and
362 @code{grep}, so as to search every file in a directory tree. See also
363 the @code{find-grep-dired} command, in @ref{Dired and Find}.
364
365 @node Flymake
366 @section Finding Syntax Errors On The Fly
367 @cindex checking syntax
368
369 Flymake mode is a minor mode that performs on-the-fly syntax
370 checking for many programming and markup languages, including C, C++,
371 Perl, HTML, and @TeX{}/La@TeX{}. It is somewhat analogous to Flyspell
372 mode, which performs spell checking for ordinary human languages in a
373 similar fashion (@pxref{Spelling}). As you edit a file, Flymake mode
374 runs an appropriate syntax checking tool in the background, using a
375 temporary copy of the buffer. It then parses the error and warning
376 messages, and highlights the erroneous lines in the buffer. The
377 syntax checking tool used depends on the language; for example, for
378 C/C++ files this is usually the C compiler. Flymake can also use
379 build tools such as @code{make} for checking complicated projects.
380
381 To activate Flymake mode, type @kbd{M-x flymake-mode}. You can move
382 to the errors spotted by Flymake mode with @kbd{M-x
383 flymake-goto-next-error} and @kbd{M-x flymake-goto-prev-error}. To
384 display any error messages associated with the current line, use
385 @kbd{M-x flymake-display-err-menu-for-current-line}.
386
387 For more details about using Flymake, see @ref{Top, Flymake,
388 Flymake, flymake, The Flymake Manual}.
389
390 @node Debuggers
391 @section Running Debuggers Under Emacs
392 @cindex debuggers
393 @cindex GUD library
394 @cindex GDB
395 @cindex DBX
396 @cindex SDB
397 @cindex XDB
398 @cindex Perldb
399 @cindex bashdb
400 @cindex JDB
401 @cindex PDB
402
403 @c Do you believe in GUD?
404 The GUD (Grand Unified Debugger) library provides an interface to
405 various symbolic debuggers from within Emacs. We recommend the
406 debugger GDB, which is free software, but you can also run DBX, SDB or
407 XDB if you have them. GUD can also serve as an interface to Perl's
408 debugging mode, the Python debugger PDB, the bash debugger, and to
409 JDB, the Java Debugger. @xref{Debugging,, The Lisp Debugger, elisp,
410 the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}, for information on debugging Emacs
411 Lisp programs.
412
413 @menu
414 * Starting GUD:: How to start a debugger subprocess.
415 * Debugger Operation:: Connection between the debugger and source buffers.
416 * Commands of GUD:: Key bindings for common commands.
417 * GUD Customization:: Defining your own commands for GUD.
418 * GDB Graphical Interface:: An enhanced mode that uses GDB features to
419 implement a graphical debugging environment through
420 Emacs.
421 @end menu
422
423 @node Starting GUD
424 @subsection Starting GUD
425
426 There are several commands for starting a debugger, each corresponding
427 to a particular debugger program.
428
429 @table @kbd
430 @item M-x gdb @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET}
431 @findex gdb
432 Run GDB as a subprocess of Emacs. By default, this operates in
433 graphical mode; @xref{GDB Graphical Interface}. Graphical mode
434 does not support any other debuggers.
435
436 @item M-x dbx @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET}
437 @findex dbx
438 Similar, but run DBX instead of GDB.
439
440 @item M-x xdb @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET}
441 @findex xdb
442 @vindex gud-xdb-directories
443 Similar, but run XDB instead of GDB. Use the variable
444 @code{gud-xdb-directories} to specify directories to search for source
445 files.
446
447 @item M-x sdb @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET}
448 @findex sdb
449 Similar, but run SDB instead of GDB.
450
451 Some versions of SDB do not mention source file names in their
452 messages. When you use them, you need to have a valid tags table
453 (@pxref{Tags}) in order for GUD to find functions in the source code.
454 If you have not visited a tags table or the tags table doesn't list one
455 of the functions, you get a message saying @samp{The sdb support
456 requires a valid tags table to work}. If this happens, generate a valid
457 tags table in the working directory and try again.
458
459 @item M-x bashdb @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET}
460 @findex bashdb
461 Run the bash debugger to debug @var{file}, a shell script.
462
463 @item M-x perldb @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET}
464 @findex perldb
465 Run the Perl interpreter in debug mode to debug @var{file}, a Perl program.
466
467 @item M-x jdb @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET}
468 @findex jdb
469 Run the Java debugger to debug @var{file}.
470
471 @item M-x pdb @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET}
472 @findex pdb
473 Run the Python debugger to debug @var{file}.
474 @end table
475
476 Each of these commands takes one argument: a command line to invoke
477 the debugger. In the simplest case, specify just the name of the
478 executable file you want to debug. You may also use options that the
479 debugger supports. However, shell wildcards and variables are not
480 allowed. GUD assumes that the first argument not starting with a
481 @samp{-} is the executable file name.
482
483 @node Debugger Operation
484 @subsection Debugger Operation
485
486 @cindex fringes, and current execution line in GUD
487 When you run a debugger with GUD, the debugger uses an Emacs buffer
488 for its ordinary input and output. This is called the GUD buffer. The
489 debugger displays the source files of the program by visiting them in
490 Emacs buffers. An arrow (@samp{=>}) in one of these buffers indicates
491 the current execution line.@footnote{Under a window system, the arrow
492 appears in the left fringe of the Emacs window.} Moving point in this
493 buffer does not move the arrow.
494
495 You can start editing these source files at any time in the buffers
496 that display them. The arrow is not part of the file's
497 text; it appears only on the screen. If you do modify a source file,
498 keep in mind that inserting or deleting lines will throw off the arrow's
499 positioning; GUD has no way of figuring out which line corresponded
500 before your changes to the line number in a debugger message. Also,
501 you'll typically have to recompile and restart the program for your
502 changes to be reflected in the debugger's tables.
503
504 If you wish, you can control your debugger process entirely through the
505 debugger buffer, which uses a variant of Shell mode. All the usual
506 commands for your debugger are available, and you can use the Shell mode
507 history commands to repeat them. @xref{Shell Mode}.
508
509 @cindex tooltips with GUD
510 @vindex tooltip-gud-modes
511 @vindex gud-tooltip-mode
512 @vindex gud-tooltip-echo-area
513 The Tooltip facility (@pxref{Tooltips}) provides support for GUD@.
514 You activate this feature by turning on the minor mode
515 @code{gud-tooltip-mode}. Then you can display a variable's value in a
516 tooltip simply by pointing at it with the mouse. In graphical mode,
517 with a C program, you can also display the @code{#define} directive
518 associated with an identifier when the program is not executing. This
519 operates in the GUD buffer and in source buffers with major modes in
520 the list @code{gud-tooltip-modes}. If the variable
521 @code{gud-tooltip-echo-area} is non-@code{nil} then the variable's
522 value is displayed in the echo area.
523
524 With GDB in text command mode (@pxref{GDB Graphical Interface}),
525 it is possible that use of GUD tooltips can cause a function to be
526 called with harmful side-effects. In this case, Emacs disables
527 them.
528
529 @node Commands of GUD
530 @subsection Commands of GUD
531
532 The GUD interaction buffer uses a variant of Shell mode, so the
533 commands of Shell mode are available (@pxref{Shell Mode}). GUD mode
534 also provides commands for setting and clearing breakpoints, for
535 selecting stack frames, and for stepping through the program. These
536 commands are available both in the GUD buffer and globally, but with
537 different key bindings. It also has its own tool bar from which you
538 can invoke the more common commands by clicking on the appropriate
539 icon. This is particularly useful for repetitive commands like
540 gud-next and gud-step and allows the user to hide the GUD buffer.
541
542 The breakpoint commands are normally used in source file buffers,
543 because that is the easiest way to specify where to set or clear the
544 breakpoint. Here's the global command to set a breakpoint:
545
546 @table @kbd
547 @item C-x @key{SPC}
548 @kindex C-x SPC
549 Set a breakpoint on the source line that point is on.
550 @end table
551
552 @kindex C-x C-a @r{(GUD)}
553 Here are the other special commands provided by GUD. The keys
554 starting with @kbd{C-c} are available only in the GUD interaction
555 buffer. The key bindings that start with @kbd{C-x C-a} are available in
556 the GUD interaction buffer and also in source files.
557
558 @table @kbd
559 @item C-c C-l
560 @kindex C-c C-l @r{(GUD)}
561 @itemx C-x C-a C-l
562 @findex gud-refresh
563 Display in another window the last line referred to in the GUD
564 buffer (that is, the line indicated in the last location message).
565 This runs the command @code{gud-refresh}.
566
567 @item C-c C-s
568 @kindex C-c C-s @r{(GUD)}
569 @itemx C-x C-a C-s
570 @findex gud-step
571 Execute a single line of code (@code{gud-step}). If the line contains
572 a function call, execution stops after entering the called function.
573
574 @item C-c C-n
575 @kindex C-c C-n @r{(GUD)}
576 @itemx C-x C-a C-n
577 @findex gud-next
578 Execute a single line of code, stepping across entire function calls
579 at full speed (@code{gud-next}).
580
581 @item C-c C-i
582 @kindex C-c C-i @r{(GUD)}
583 @itemx C-x C-a C-i
584 @findex gud-stepi
585 Execute a single machine instruction (@code{gud-stepi}).
586
587 @need 3000
588 @item C-c C-r
589 @kindex C-c C-r @r{(GUD)}
590 @itemx C-x C-a C-r
591 @findex gud-cont
592 Continue execution without specifying any stopping point. The program
593 will run until it hits a breakpoint, terminates, or gets a signal that
594 the debugger is checking for (@code{gud-cont}).
595
596 @need 1000
597 @item C-c C-d
598 @kindex C-c C-d @r{(GUD)}
599 @itemx C-x C-a C-d
600 @findex gud-remove
601 Delete the breakpoint(s) on the current source line, if any
602 (@code{gud-remove}). If you use this command in the GUD interaction
603 buffer, it applies to the line where the program last stopped.
604
605 @item C-c C-t
606 @kindex C-c C-t @r{(GUD)}
607 @itemx C-x C-a C-t
608 @findex gud-tbreak
609 Set a temporary breakpoint on the current source line, if any.
610 If you use this command in the GUD interaction buffer,
611 it applies to the line where the program last stopped.
612 @end table
613
614 The above commands are common to all supported debuggers. If you are
615 using GDB or (some versions of) DBX, these additional commands are available:
616
617 @table @kbd
618 @item C-c <
619 @kindex C-c < @r{(GUD)}
620 @itemx C-x C-a <
621 @findex gud-up
622 Select the next enclosing stack frame (@code{gud-up}). This is
623 equivalent to the @samp{up} command.
624
625 @item C-c >
626 @kindex C-c > @r{(GUD)}
627 @itemx C-x C-a >
628 @findex gud-down
629 Select the next inner stack frame (@code{gud-down}). This is
630 equivalent to the @samp{down} command.
631 @end table
632
633 If you are using GDB, these additional key bindings are available:
634
635 @table @kbd
636 @item C-c C-r
637 @kindex C-c C-r @r{(GUD)}
638 @itemx C-x C-a C-r
639 @findex gud-run
640 Start execution of the program (@code{gud-run}).
641
642 @item C-c C-u
643 @kindex C-c C-u @r{(GUD)}
644 @itemx C-x C-a C-u
645 @findex gud-until
646 Continue execution to the current line. The program will run until
647 it hits a breakpoint, terminates, gets a signal that the debugger is
648 checking for, or reaches the line on which the cursor currently sits
649 (@code{gud-until}).
650
651 @item @key{TAB}
652 @kindex TAB @r{(GUD)}
653 @findex gud-gdb-complete-command
654 With GDB, complete a symbol name (@code{gud-gdb-complete-command}).
655 This key is available only in the GUD interaction buffer, and requires
656 GDB versions 4.13 and later.
657
658 @item C-c C-f
659 @kindex C-c C-f @r{(GUD)}
660 @itemx C-x C-a C-f
661 @findex gud-finish
662 Run the program until the selected stack frame returns (or until it
663 stops for some other reason).
664
665 @item C-x C-a C-j
666 @kindex C-x C-a C-j @r{(GUD)}
667 @findex gud-jump
668 Only useful in a source buffer, (@code{gud-jump}) transfers the
669 program's execution point to the current line. In other words, the
670 next line that the program executes will be the one where you gave the
671 command. If the new execution line is in a different function from
672 the previously one, GDB prompts for confirmation since the results may
673 be bizarre. See the GDB manual entry regarding @code{jump} for
674 details.
675 @end table
676
677 These commands interpret a numeric argument as a repeat count, when
678 that makes sense.
679
680 Because @key{TAB} serves as a completion command, you can't use it to
681 enter a tab as input to the program you are debugging with GDB.
682 Instead, type @kbd{C-q @key{TAB}} to enter a tab.
683
684 @node GUD Customization
685 @subsection GUD Customization
686
687 @vindex gdb-mode-hook
688 @vindex dbx-mode-hook
689 @vindex sdb-mode-hook
690 @vindex xdb-mode-hook
691 @vindex perldb-mode-hook
692 @vindex pdb-mode-hook
693 @vindex jdb-mode-hook
694 On startup, GUD runs one of the following hooks: @code{gdb-mode-hook},
695 if you are using GDB; @code{dbx-mode-hook}, if you are using DBX;
696 @code{sdb-mode-hook}, if you are using SDB; @code{xdb-mode-hook}, if you
697 are using XDB; @code{perldb-mode-hook}, for Perl debugging mode;
698 @code{pdb-mode-hook}, for PDB; @code{jdb-mode-hook}, for JDB. You can
699 use these hooks to define custom key bindings for the debugger
700 interaction buffer. @xref{Hooks}.
701
702 Here is a convenient way to define a command that sends a particular
703 command string to the debugger, and set up a key binding for it in the
704 debugger interaction buffer:
705
706 @findex gud-def
707 @example
708 (gud-def @var{function} @var{cmdstring} @var{binding} @var{docstring})
709 @end example
710
711 This defines a command named @var{function} which sends
712 @var{cmdstring} to the debugger process, and gives it the documentation
713 string @var{docstring}. You can then use the command @var{function} in any
714 buffer. If @var{binding} is non-@code{nil}, @code{gud-def} also binds
715 the command to @kbd{C-c @var{binding}} in the GUD buffer's mode and to
716 @kbd{C-x C-a @var{binding}} generally.
717
718 The command string @var{cmdstring} may contain certain
719 @samp{%}-sequences that stand for data to be filled in at the time
720 @var{function} is called:
721
722 @table @samp
723 @item %f
724 The name of the current source file. If the current buffer is the GUD
725 buffer, then the ``current source file'' is the file that the program
726 stopped in.
727 @c This said, ``the name of the file the program counter was in at the last breakpoint.''
728 @c But I suspect it is really the last stop file.
729
730 @item %l
731 The number of the current source line. If the current buffer is the GUD
732 buffer, then the ``current source line'' is the line that the program
733 stopped in.
734
735 @item %e
736 The text of the C lvalue or function-call expression at or adjacent to point.
737
738 @item %a
739 The text of the hexadecimal address at or adjacent to point.
740
741 @item %p
742 The numeric argument of the called function, as a decimal number. If
743 the command is used without a numeric argument, @samp{%p} stands for the
744 empty string.
745
746 If you don't use @samp{%p} in the command string, the command you define
747 ignores any numeric argument.
748 @end table
749
750 @node GDB Graphical Interface
751 @subsection GDB Graphical Interface
752
753 @findex gdb-mouse-set-clear-breakpoint
754 @findex gdb-mouse-toggle-breakpoint
755 By default, the command @code{gdb} starts GDB using a graphical
756 interface where you view and control the program's data using Emacs
757 windows. You can still interact with GDB through the GUD buffer, but
758 the point of this mode is that you can do it through menus and clicks,
759 without needing to know GDB commands. For example, you can click
760 @kbd{Mouse-1} in the fringe or display margin of a source buffer to
761 set a breakpoint there and, on a graphical display, a red bullet will
762 appear. If a breakpoint already exists on that line, this action will
763 remove it. You can also enable or disable a breakpoint by clicking
764 @kbd{Mouse-3} on the bullet. If you drag the debugger arrow in the
765 fringe with @kbd{Mouse-1}, execution will continue to the line where
766 you release the button, provided it is still in the same frame
767 (@code{gdb-mouse-until}). Alternatively, you can click @kbd{Mouse-2}
768 at some point in the fringe of this buffer and execution will advance
769 to there.
770
771 @vindex gud-gdb-command-name
772 @findex gdba
773 You can also run GDB in text command mode, which creates a buffer
774 for input and output to GDB. To do this, set
775 @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to @code{"gdb --fullname"} or edit the
776 startup command in the minibuffer to say that. You need to do use
777 text command mode to run multiple debugging sessions within one Emacs
778 session. If you have customized @code{gud-gdb-command-name} in that
779 way, then you can use @kbd{M-x gdba} to invoke GDB in graphical mode.
780
781 @menu
782 * GDB User Interface Layout:: Control the number of displayed buffers.
783 * Breakpoints Buffer:: A breakpoint control panel.
784 * Stack Buffer:: Select a frame from the call stack.
785 * Watch Expressions:: Monitor variable values in the speedbar.
786 * Other GDB User Interface Buffers:: Input/output, locals, registers,
787 assembler, threads and memory buffers.
788 @end menu
789
790 @node GDB User Interface Layout
791 @subsubsection GDB User Interface Layout
792 @cindex GDB User Interface layout
793
794 @findex gdb-many-windows
795 @vindex gdb-many-windows
796
797 If the variable @code{gdb-many-windows} is @code{nil} (the default
798 value) then gdb just pops up the GUD buffer unless the variable
799 @code{gdb-show-main} is non-@code{nil}. In this case it starts with
800 two windows: one displaying the GUD buffer and the other with the
801 source file with the main routine of the inferior.
802
803 If @code{gdb-many-windows} is non-@code{nil}, regardless of the value of
804 @code{gdb-show-main}, the layout below will appear unless
805 @code{gdb-use-inferior-io-buffer} is @code{nil}. In this case the
806 source buffer occupies the full width of the frame.
807
808 @example
809 +--------------------------------+--------------------------------+
810 | | |
811 | GUD buffer (I/O of GDB) | Locals buffer |
812 | | |
813 |--------------------------------+--------------------------------+
814 | | |
815 | Source buffer | I/O buffer (of inferior) |
816 | | |
817 |--------------------------------+--------------------------------+
818 | | |
819 | Stack buffer | Breakpoints buffer |
820 | | |
821 +--------------------------------+--------------------------------+
822 @end example
823
824 To toggle this layout, do @kbd{M-x gdb-many-windows}.
825
826 @findex gdb-restore-windows
827 If you change the window layout, for example, while editing and
828 re-compiling your program, then you can restore it with the command
829 @code{gdb-restore-windows}.
830
831 You may also choose which additional buffers you want to display,
832 either in the same frame or a different one. Select them from
833 @samp{GUD->GDB-windows} or @samp{GUD->GDB-Frames} sub-menu
834 respectively. If the menu-bar is unavailable, type @code{M-x
835 gdb-display-@var{buffertype}-buffer} or @code{M-x
836 gdb-frame-@var{buffertype}-buffer} respectively, where
837 @var{buffertype} is the relevant buffer type e.g breakpoints.
838
839 When you finish debugging then kill the GUD buffer with @kbd{C-x k},
840 which will also kill all the buffers associated with the session.
841 However you need not do this if, after editing and re-compiling your
842 source code within Emacs, you wish continue debugging. When you
843 restart execution, GDB will automatically find your new executable.
844 Keeping the GUD buffer has the advantage of keeping the shell history
845 as well as GDB's breakpoints. You need to check, however, that the
846 breakpoints in the recently edited code are still where you want them.
847
848 @node Breakpoints Buffer
849 @subsubsection Breakpoints Buffer
850
851 The breakpoints buffer shows the existing breakpoints and watchpoints
852 (@pxref{Breakpoints,,, gdb, The GNU debugger}). It has three special
853 commands:
854
855 @table @kbd
856 @item @key{SPC}
857 @kindex SPC @r{(GDB breakpoints buffer)}
858 @findex gdb-toggle-breakpoint
859 Enable/disable the breakpoint at the current line
860 (@code{gdb-toggle-breakpoint}). On a graphical display, this changes
861 the color of a bullet in the margin of the source buffer at the
862 relevant line. This is red when the breakpoint is enabled and grey
863 when it is disabled. Text-only terminals correspondingly display
864 a @samp{B} or @samp{b}.
865
866 @item d
867 @kindex d @r{(GDB breakpoints buffer)}
868 @findex gdb-delete-breakpoint
869 Delete the breakpoint at the current line (@code{gdb-delete-breakpoint}).
870
871 @item @key{RET}
872 @kindex RET @r{(GDB breakpoints buffer)}
873 @findex gdb-goto-breakpoint
874 Display the file in the source buffer at the breakpoint specified at
875 the current line (@code{gdb-goto-breakpoint}). Alternatively, click
876 @kbd{Mouse-2} on the breakpoint that you wish to visit.
877 @end table
878
879 @node Stack Buffer
880 @subsubsection Stack Buffer
881
882 The stack buffer displays a @dfn{call stack}, with one line for each
883 of the nested subroutine calls (@dfn{stack frames}) now active in the
884 program. @xref{Backtrace,, Backtraces, gdb, The GNU debugger}.
885
886 @findex gdb-frames-select
887 The selected frame number is displayed in reverse contrast. Move
888 point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to select it
889 (@code{gdb-frames-select}) and display the associated source in the
890 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} on a frame to
891 select it. If the locals buffer is displayed then its contents update
892 to display the variables that are local to the new frame.
893
894 @node Watch Expressions
895 @subsubsection Watch Expressions
896 @cindex Watching expressions in GDB
897
898 @findex gud-watch
899 If you want to see how a variable changes each time your program stops
900 then place the cursor over the variable name and click on the watch
901 icon in the tool bar (@code{gud-watch}).
902
903 Each watch expression is displayed in the speedbar. Complex data
904 types, such as arrays, structures and unions are represented in a tree
905 format. Leaves and simple data types show the name of the expression
906 and its value, and display the type as a tooltip. Higher levels
907 just show the name and the data type.
908
909 To expand or contract a complex data type, click @kbd{Mouse-2}
910 on the tag to the left of the expression.
911
912 @findex gdb-var-delete
913 With the cursor over the root expression of a complex data type, type
914 @kbd{D} to delete it from the speedbar
915 (@code{gdb-var-delete}).
916
917 @kindex RET @r{(GDB speedbar)}
918 @findex gdb-edit-value
919 With the cursor over a simple data type or an element of a complex
920 data type which holds a value, type @key{RET} or click @kbd{Mouse-2} to edit
921 its value. A prompt for a new value appears in the mini-buffer
922 (@code{gdb-edit-value}).
923
924 @vindex gdb-show-changed-values
925 If you set the variable @code{gdb-show-changed-values} to
926 non-@code{nil} (the default value), Emacs will use
927 font-lock-warning-face to display values that have recently changed in
928 the speedbar.
929
930 @vindex gdb-use-colon-colon-notation
931 If you set the variable @code{gdb-use-colon-colon-notation} to a
932 non-@code{nil} value then, in C, Emacs will use the
933 @var{function}::@var{variable} format to display variables in the
934 speedbar. Since this does not work for variables defined in compound
935 statements, the default value is @code{nil}.
936
937 @node Other GDB User Interface Buffers
938 @subsubsection Other Buffers
939
940 @table @asis
941 @item Input/Output Buffer
942 @vindex gdb-use-inferior-io-buffer
943 If the variable @code{gdb-use-inferior-io-buffer} is non-@code{nil},
944 the executable program that is being debugged takes its input and
945 displays its output here, otherwise it uses the GUD buffer. To toggle
946 the use of this buffer, do @kbd{M-x gdb-use-inferior-io-buffer}.
947
948 Some of the commands from shell mode are available here. @xref{Shell
949 Mode}.
950
951 @item Locals Buffer
952 The locals buffer displays the values of local variables of the
953 current frame for simple data types (@pxref{Frame Info, Frame Info,
954 Information on a frame, gdb, The GNU debugger}).
955
956 Arrays and structures display their type only. Move point to their
957 type description ([struct/union] or [array]) and press @key{RET}, or
958 alternatively click @kbd{Mouse-2} there, to examine their values.
959 @xref{Watch Expressions}.
960
961 @item Registers Buffer
962 @findex toggle-gdb-all-registers
963 The registers buffer displays the values held by the registers
964 (@pxref{Registers,,, gdb, The GNU debugger}). Press @key{SPC} to
965 toggle the display of floating point registers
966 (@code{toggle-gdb-all-registers}).
967
968 @item Assembler Buffer
969 The assembler buffer displays the current frame as machine code. An
970 overlay arrow points to the current instruction and you can set and
971 remove breakpoints as with the source buffer. Breakpoint icons also
972 appear in the fringe or margin.
973
974 @item Threads Buffer
975 @findex gdb-threads-select
976 The threads buffer displays a summary of all threads currently in your
977 program (@pxref{Threads, Threads, Debugging programs with multiple
978 threads, gdb, The GNU debugger}). Move point to any thread in the
979 list and press @key{RET} to select it (@code{gdb-threads-select}) and
980 display the associated source in the source buffer. Alternatively,
981 click @kbd{Mouse-2} on a thread to select it. If the locals buffer is
982 displayed then its contents update to display the variables that are
983 local to the new thread.
984
985 @item Memory Buffer
986 The memory buffer allows the user to examine sections of program
987 memory (@pxref{Memory, Memory, Examining memory, gdb, The GNU
988 debugger}). Click @kbd{Mouse-1} on the appropriate part of the header
989 line to change the starting address or number of data items that the
990 buffer displays. Click @kbd{Mouse-3} on the header line to select the
991 display format or unit size for these data items.
992
993 @end table
994
995 @node Executing Lisp
996 @section Executing Lisp Expressions
997
998 Emacs has several different major modes for Lisp and Scheme. They are
999 the same in terms of editing commands, but differ in the commands for
1000 executing Lisp expressions. Each mode has its own purpose.
1001
1002 @table @asis
1003 @item Emacs-Lisp mode
1004 The mode for editing source files of programs to run in Emacs Lisp.
1005 This mode defines @kbd{C-M-x} to evaluate the current defun.
1006 @xref{Lisp Libraries}.
1007 @item Lisp Interaction mode
1008 The mode for an interactive session with Emacs Lisp. It defines
1009 @kbd{C-j} to evaluate the sexp before point and insert its value in the
1010 buffer. @xref{Lisp Interaction}.
1011 @item Lisp mode
1012 The mode for editing source files of programs that run in Lisps other
1013 than Emacs Lisp. This mode defines @kbd{C-M-x} to send the current defun
1014 to an inferior Lisp process. @xref{External Lisp}.
1015 @item Inferior Lisp mode
1016 The mode for an interactive session with an inferior Lisp process.
1017 This mode combines the special features of Lisp mode and Shell mode
1018 (@pxref{Shell Mode}).
1019 @item Scheme mode
1020 Like Lisp mode but for Scheme programs.
1021 @item Inferior Scheme mode
1022 The mode for an interactive session with an inferior Scheme process.
1023 @end table
1024
1025 Most editing commands for working with Lisp programs are in fact
1026 available globally. @xref{Programs}.
1027
1028 @node Lisp Libraries
1029 @section Libraries of Lisp Code for Emacs
1030 @cindex libraries
1031 @cindex loading Lisp code
1032
1033 Lisp code for Emacs editing commands is stored in files whose names
1034 conventionally end in @file{.el}. This ending tells Emacs to edit them in
1035 Emacs-Lisp mode (@pxref{Executing Lisp}).
1036
1037 @findex load-file
1038 To execute a file of Emacs Lisp code, use @kbd{M-x load-file}. This
1039 command reads a file name using the minibuffer and then executes the
1040 contents of that file as Lisp code. It is not necessary to visit the
1041 file first; in any case, this command reads the file as found on disk,
1042 not text in an Emacs buffer.
1043
1044 @findex load
1045 @findex load-library
1046 Once a file of Lisp code is installed in the Emacs Lisp library
1047 directories, users can load it using @kbd{M-x load-library}. Programs can
1048 load it by calling @code{load-library}, or with @code{load}, a more primitive
1049 function that is similar but accepts some additional arguments.
1050
1051 @kbd{M-x load-library} differs from @kbd{M-x load-file} in that it
1052 searches a sequence of directories and tries three file names in each
1053 directory. Suppose your argument is @var{lib}; the three names are
1054 @file{@var{lib}.elc}, @file{@var{lib}.el}, and lastly just
1055 @file{@var{lib}}. If @file{@var{lib}.elc} exists, it is by convention
1056 the result of compiling @file{@var{lib}.el}; it is better to load the
1057 compiled file, since it will load and run faster.
1058
1059 If @code{load-library} finds that @file{@var{lib}.el} is newer than
1060 @file{@var{lib}.elc} file, it issues a warning, because it's likely that
1061 somebody made changes to the @file{.el} file and forgot to recompile
1062 it.
1063
1064 Because the argument to @code{load-library} is usually not in itself
1065 a valid file name, file name completion is not available. Indeed, when
1066 using this command, you usually do not know exactly what file name
1067 will be used.
1068
1069 @vindex load-path
1070 The sequence of directories searched by @kbd{M-x load-library} is
1071 specified by the variable @code{load-path}, a list of strings that are
1072 directory names. The default value of the list contains the directory where
1073 the Lisp code for Emacs itself is stored. If you have libraries of
1074 your own, put them in a single directory and add that directory
1075 to @code{load-path}. @code{nil} in this list stands for the current default
1076 directory, but it is probably not a good idea to put @code{nil} in the
1077 list. If you find yourself wishing that @code{nil} were in the list,
1078 most likely what you really want to do is use @kbd{M-x load-file}
1079 this once.
1080
1081 @cindex autoload
1082 Often you do not have to give any command to load a library, because
1083 the commands defined in the library are set up to @dfn{autoload} that
1084 library. Trying to run any of those commands calls @code{load} to load
1085 the library; this replaces the autoload definitions with the real ones
1086 from the library.
1087
1088 @cindex byte code
1089 Emacs Lisp code can be compiled into byte-code which loads faster,
1090 takes up less space when loaded, and executes faster. @xref{Byte
1091 Compilation,, Byte Compilation, elisp, the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
1092 By convention, the compiled code for a library goes in a separate file
1093 whose name consists of the library source file with @samp{c} appended.
1094 Thus, the compiled code for @file{foo.el} goes in @file{foo.elc}.
1095 That's why @code{load-library} searches for @samp{.elc} files first.
1096
1097 @vindex load-dangerous-libraries
1098 @cindex Lisp files byte-compiled by XEmacs
1099 By default, Emacs refuses to load compiled Lisp files which were
1100 compiled with XEmacs, a modified versions of Emacs---they can cause
1101 Emacs to crash. Set the variable @code{load-dangerous-libraries} to
1102 @code{t} if you want to try loading them.
1103
1104 @node Lisp Eval
1105 @section Evaluating Emacs Lisp Expressions
1106 @cindex Emacs-Lisp mode
1107 @cindex mode, Emacs-Lisp
1108
1109 @findex emacs-lisp-mode
1110 Lisp programs intended to be run in Emacs should be edited in
1111 Emacs-Lisp mode; this happens automatically for file names ending in
1112 @file{.el}. By contrast, Lisp mode itself is used for editing Lisp
1113 programs intended for other Lisp systems. To switch to Emacs-Lisp mode
1114 explicitly, use the command @kbd{M-x emacs-lisp-mode}.
1115
1116 For testing of Lisp programs to run in Emacs, it is often useful to
1117 evaluate part of the program as it is found in the Emacs buffer. For
1118 example, after changing the text of a Lisp function definition,
1119 evaluating the definition installs the change for future calls to the
1120 function. Evaluation of Lisp expressions is also useful in any kind of
1121 editing, for invoking noninteractive functions (functions that are
1122 not commands).
1123
1124 @table @kbd
1125 @item M-:
1126 Read a single Lisp expression in the minibuffer, evaluate it, and print
1127 the value in the echo area (@code{eval-expression}).
1128 @item C-x C-e
1129 Evaluate the Lisp expression before point, and print the value in the
1130 echo area (@code{eval-last-sexp}).
1131 @item C-M-x
1132 Evaluate the defun containing or after point, and print the value in
1133 the echo area (@code{eval-defun}).
1134 @item M-x eval-region
1135 Evaluate all the Lisp expressions in the region.
1136 @item M-x eval-current-buffer
1137 Evaluate all the Lisp expressions in the buffer.
1138 @end table
1139
1140 @ifinfo
1141 @c This uses ``colon'' instead of a literal `:' because Info cannot
1142 @c cope with a `:' in a menu
1143 @kindex M-@key{colon}
1144 @end ifinfo
1145 @ifnotinfo
1146 @kindex M-:
1147 @end ifnotinfo
1148 @findex eval-expression
1149 @kbd{M-:} (@code{eval-expression}) is the most basic command for evaluating
1150 a Lisp expression interactively. It reads the expression using the
1151 minibuffer, so you can execute any expression on a buffer regardless of
1152 what the buffer contains. When the expression is evaluated, the current
1153 buffer is once again the buffer that was current when @kbd{M-:} was
1154 typed.
1155
1156 @kindex C-M-x @r{(Emacs-Lisp mode)}
1157 @findex eval-defun
1158 In Emacs-Lisp mode, the key @kbd{C-M-x} is bound to the command
1159 @code{eval-defun}, which parses the defun containing or following point
1160 as a Lisp expression and evaluates it. The value is printed in the echo
1161 area. This command is convenient for installing in the Lisp environment
1162 changes that you have just made in the text of a function definition.
1163
1164 @kbd{C-M-x} treats @code{defvar} expressions specially. Normally,
1165 evaluating a @code{defvar} expression does nothing if the variable it
1166 defines already has a value. But @kbd{C-M-x} unconditionally resets the
1167 variable to the initial value specified in the @code{defvar} expression.
1168 @code{defcustom} expressions are treated similarly.
1169 This special feature is convenient for debugging Lisp programs.
1170 Typing @kbd{C-M-x} on a @code{defface} expression reinitializes
1171 the face according to the @code{defface} specification.
1172
1173 @kindex C-x C-e
1174 @findex eval-last-sexp
1175 The command @kbd{C-x C-e} (@code{eval-last-sexp}) evaluates the Lisp
1176 expression preceding point in the buffer, and displays the value in the
1177 echo area. It is available in all major modes, not just Emacs-Lisp
1178 mode. It does not treat @code{defvar} specially.
1179
1180 When the result of an evaluation is an integer, you can type
1181 @kbd{C-x C-e} a second time to display the value of the integer result
1182 in additional formats (octal, hexadecimal, and character).
1183
1184 If @kbd{C-x C-e}, or @kbd{M-:} is given a numeric argument, it
1185 inserts the value into the current buffer at point, rather than
1186 displaying it in the echo area. The argument's value does not matter.
1187 @kbd{C-M-x} with a numeric argument instruments the function
1188 definition for Edebug (@pxref{Instrumenting, Instrumenting for Edebug,, elisp, the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
1189
1190 @findex eval-region
1191 @findex eval-current-buffer
1192 The most general command for evaluating Lisp expressions from a buffer
1193 is @code{eval-region}. @kbd{M-x eval-region} parses the text of the
1194 region as one or more Lisp expressions, evaluating them one by one.
1195 @kbd{M-x eval-current-buffer} is similar but evaluates the entire
1196 buffer. This is a reasonable way to install the contents of a file of
1197 Lisp code that you are ready to test. Later, as you find bugs and
1198 change individual functions, use @kbd{C-M-x} on each function that you
1199 change. This keeps the Lisp world in step with the source file.
1200
1201 @vindex eval-expression-print-level
1202 @vindex eval-expression-print-length
1203 @vindex eval-expression-debug-on-error
1204 The customizable variables @code{eval-expression-print-level} and
1205 @code{eval-expression-print-length} control the maximum depth and length
1206 of lists to print in the result of the evaluation commands before
1207 abbreviating them. @code{eval-expression-debug-on-error} controls
1208 whether evaluation errors invoke the debugger when these commands are
1209 used.
1210
1211 @node Lisp Interaction
1212 @section Lisp Interaction Buffers
1213
1214 The buffer @samp{*scratch*} which is selected when Emacs starts up is
1215 provided for evaluating Lisp expressions interactively inside Emacs.
1216
1217 The simplest way to use the @samp{*scratch*} buffer is to insert Lisp
1218 expressions and type @kbd{C-j} after each expression. This command
1219 reads the Lisp expression before point, evaluates it, and inserts the
1220 value in printed representation before point. The result is a complete
1221 typescript of the expressions you have evaluated and their values.
1222
1223 The @samp{*scratch*} buffer's major mode is Lisp Interaction mode, which
1224 is the same as Emacs-Lisp mode except for the binding of @kbd{C-j}.
1225
1226 @findex lisp-interaction-mode
1227 The rationale for this feature is that Emacs must have a buffer when
1228 it starts up, but that buffer is not useful for editing files since a
1229 new buffer is made for every file that you visit. The Lisp interpreter
1230 typescript is the most useful thing I can think of for the initial
1231 buffer to do. Type @kbd{M-x lisp-interaction-mode} to put the current
1232 buffer in Lisp Interaction mode.
1233
1234 @findex ielm
1235 An alternative way of evaluating Emacs Lisp expressions interactively
1236 is to use Inferior Emacs-Lisp mode, which provides an interface rather
1237 like Shell mode (@pxref{Shell Mode}) for evaluating Emacs Lisp
1238 expressions. Type @kbd{M-x ielm} to create an @samp{*ielm*} buffer
1239 which uses this mode.
1240
1241 @node External Lisp
1242 @section Running an External Lisp
1243
1244 Emacs has facilities for running programs in other Lisp systems. You can
1245 run a Lisp process as an inferior of Emacs, and pass expressions to it to
1246 be evaluated. You can also pass changed function definitions directly from
1247 the Emacs buffers in which you edit the Lisp programs to the inferior Lisp
1248 process.
1249
1250 @findex run-lisp
1251 @vindex inferior-lisp-program
1252 @kindex C-x C-z
1253 To run an inferior Lisp process, type @kbd{M-x run-lisp}. This runs
1254 the program named @code{lisp}, the same program you would run by typing
1255 @code{lisp} as a shell command, with both input and output going through
1256 an Emacs buffer named @samp{*lisp*}. That is to say, any ``terminal
1257 output'' from Lisp will go into the buffer, advancing point, and any
1258 ``terminal input'' for Lisp comes from text in the buffer. (You can
1259 change the name of the Lisp executable file by setting the variable
1260 @code{inferior-lisp-program}.)
1261
1262 To give input to Lisp, go to the end of the buffer and type the input,
1263 terminated by @key{RET}. The @samp{*lisp*} buffer is in Inferior Lisp
1264 mode, which combines the special characteristics of Lisp mode with most
1265 of the features of Shell mode (@pxref{Shell Mode}). The definition of
1266 @key{RET} to send a line to a subprocess is one of the features of Shell
1267 mode.
1268
1269 @findex lisp-mode
1270 For the source files of programs to run in external Lisps, use Lisp
1271 mode. This mode can be selected with @kbd{M-x lisp-mode}, and is used
1272 automatically for files whose names end in @file{.l}, @file{.lsp}, or
1273 @file{.lisp}, as most Lisp systems usually expect.
1274
1275 @kindex C-M-x @r{(Lisp mode)}
1276 @findex lisp-eval-defun
1277 When you edit a function in a Lisp program you are running, the easiest
1278 way to send the changed definition to the inferior Lisp process is the key
1279 @kbd{C-M-x}. In Lisp mode, this runs the function @code{lisp-eval-defun},
1280 which finds the defun around or following point and sends it as input to
1281 the Lisp process. (Emacs can send input to any inferior process regardless
1282 of what buffer is current.)
1283
1284 Contrast the meanings of @kbd{C-M-x} in Lisp mode (for editing programs
1285 to be run in another Lisp system) and Emacs-Lisp mode (for editing Lisp
1286 programs to be run in Emacs): in both modes it has the effect of installing
1287 the function definition that point is in, but the way of doing so is
1288 different according to where the relevant Lisp environment is found.
1289 @xref{Executing Lisp}.
1290
1291 @ignore
1292 arch-tag: 9c3c2f71-b332-4144-8500-3ff9945a50ed
1293 @end ignore