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73804d4b 1@comment -*-texinfo-*-
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2@c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
3@c Copyright (C) 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
4@c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
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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
87b2d5ff 12@node Edebug,, Compilation Errors, 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
38@item
39Automatically reevaluate a list of expressions and
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.
69* Trapping Errors:: trapping errors with Edebug.
70* Views: Edebug Views. Views inside and outside of Edebug.
71* Eval: Edebug Eval. Evaluating expressions within Edebug.
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
92Edebug. Activating Edebug may stop execution and let you step through
93the function, or it may update the display and continue execution while
94checking for debugging commands, depending on which Edebug execution
95mode you have selected. The default execution mode is step, which does
96stop execution. @xref{Edebug Execution Modes}.
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
100code buffer}. This buffer is temporarily read-only.
101
102 An arrow at the left margin indicates the line where the function is
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
107execute @code{(fac 3)}, here is what you normally see. Point is at the
108open-parenthesis before @code{if}.
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
120that is a list, and also after each variable reference.
121Here we show with periods the stop points found in the function
122@code{fac}:
123
124@example
125(defun fac (n)
126 .(if .(< 0 n.).
127 .(* n. .(fac (1- n.).).).
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
145expression's value in the echo area.
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)
161 Once you have loaded Edebug, the command @kbd{C-M-x}
162(@code{eval-defun}) is redefined so that when invoked with a prefix
163argument on a definition, it instruments the definition before
164evaluating it. (The source code itself is not modified.) If the
165variable @code{edebug-all-defs} is non-@code{nil}, that inverts the
166meaning of the prefix argument: then @kbd{C-M-x} instruments the
167definition @emph{unless} it has a prefix argument. The default value of
168@code{edebug-all-defs} is @code{nil}. The command @kbd{M-x
169edebug-all-defs} toggles the value of the variable
170@code{edebug-all-defs}.
171
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172@findex eval-region @r{(Edebug)}
173@findex eval-current-buffer @r{(Edebug)}
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174 If @code{edebug-all-defs} is non-@code{nil}, then the commands
175@code{eval-region}, @code{eval-current-buffer}, and @code{eval-buffer}
176also instrument any definitions they evaluate. Similarly,
177@code{edebug-all-forms} controls whether @code{eval-region} should
178instrument @emph{any} form, even non-defining forms. This doesn't apply
179to loading or evaluations in the minibuffer. The command @kbd{M-x
180edebug-all-forms} toggles this option.
181
182@findex edebug-eval-top-level-form
969fe9b5 183 Another command, @kbd{M-x edebug-eval-top-level-form}, is available to
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184instrument any top-level form regardless of the values of
185@code{edebug-all-defs} and @code{edebug-all-forms}.
73804d4b 186
969fe9b5 187 While Edebug is active, the command @kbd{I}
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188(@code{edebug-instrument-callee}) instruments the definition of the
189function or macro called by the list form after point, if is not already
190instrumented. This is possible only if Edebug knows where to find the
191source for that function; after loading Edebug, @code{eval-region}
192records the position of every definition it evaluates, even if not
193instrumenting it. See also the @kbd{i} command (@pxref{Jumping}), which
194steps into the call after instrumenting the function.
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)}
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201@pindex cl-specs.el
202 Edebug knows how to instrument all the standard special forms, an
203interactive form with an expression argument, anonymous lambda
204expressions, and other defining forms. Edebug cannot know what a
205user-defined macro will do with the arguments of a macro call, so you
206must tell it; @xref{Instrumenting Macro Calls}, for details.
207
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208 When Edebug is about to instrument code for the first time in a
209session, it runs the hook @code{edebug-setup-hook}, then sets it to
210@code{nil}. You can use this to arrange to load Edebug specifications
211(@pxref{Instrumenting Macro Calls}) associated with a package you are
212using, but actually load them only if you use Edebug.
213
214@findex eval-expression @r{(Edebug)}
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215 To remove instrumentation from a definition, simply reevaluate its
216definition in a way that does not instrument. There are two ways of
87b2d5ff 217evaluating forms that never instrument them: from a file with
73804d4b 218@code{load}, and from the minibuffer with @code{eval-expression}
bfe721d1 219(@kbd{M-:}).
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220
221 If Edebug detects a syntax error while instrumenting, it leaves point
222at the erroneous code and signals an @code{invalid-read-syntax} error.
223
224 @xref{Edebug Eval}, for other evaluation functions available
225inside of Edebug.
226
227@node Edebug Execution Modes
228@subsection Edebug Execution Modes
229
230@cindex Edebug execution modes
231Edebug supports several execution modes for running the program you are
232debugging. We call these alternatives @dfn{Edebug execution modes}; do
87b2d5ff 233not confuse them with major or minor modes. The current Edebug execution mode
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234determines how far Edebug continues execution before stopping---whether
235it stops at each stop point, or continues to the next breakpoint, for
236example---and how much Edebug displays the progress of the evaluation
237before it stops.
238
239Normally, you specify the Edebug execution mode by typing a command to
240continue the program in a certain mode. Here is a table of these
241commands. All except for @kbd{S} resume execution of the program, at
242least for a certain distance.
243
244@table @kbd
245@item S
246Stop: don't execute any more of the program for now, just wait for more
247Edebug commands (@code{edebug-stop}).
248
249@item @key{SPC}
250Step: stop at the next stop point encountered (@code{edebug-step-mode}).
251
252@item n
253Next: stop at the next stop point encountered after an expression
254(@code{edebug-next-mode}). Also see @code{edebug-forward-sexp} in
255@ref{Edebug Misc}.
256
257@item t
258Trace: pause one second at each Edebug stop point (@code{edebug-trace-mode}).
259
260@item T
261Rapid trace: update the display at each stop point, but don't actually
262pause (@code{edebug-Trace-fast-mode}).
263
264@item g
265Go: run until the next breakpoint (@code{edebug-go-mode}). @xref{Breakpoints}.
266
267@item c
268Continue: pause one second at each breakpoint, and then continue
269(@code{edebug-continue-mode}).
270
271@item C
272Rapid continue: move point to each breakpoint, but don't pause
273(@code{edebug-Continue-fast-mode}).
274
275@item G
276Go non-stop: ignore breakpoints (@code{edebug-Go-nonstop-mode}). You
277can still stop the program by typing @kbd{S}, or any editing command.
278@end table
279
280In general, the execution modes earlier in the above list run the
87b2d5ff 281program more slowly or stop sooner than the modes later in the list.
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282
283While executing or tracing, you can interrupt the execution by typing
284any Edebug command. Edebug stops the program at the next stop point and
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285then executes the command you typed. For example, typing @kbd{t} during
286execution switches to trace mode at the next stop point. You can use
287@kbd{S} to stop execution without doing anything else.
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288
289If your function happens to read input, a character you type intending
290to interrupt execution may be read by the function instead. You can
291avoid such unintended results by paying attention to when your program
292wants input.
293
294@cindex keyboard macros (Edebug)
295Keyboard macros containing the commands in this section do not
296completely work: exiting from Edebug, to resume the program, loses track
297of the keyboard macro. This is not easy to fix. Also, defining or
298executing a keyboard macro outside of Edebug does not affect commands
299inside Edebug. This is usually an advantage. But see the
300@code{edebug-continue-kbd-macro} option (@pxref{Edebug Options}).
301
302When you enter a new Edebug level, the initial execution mode comes from
303the value of the variable @code{edebug-initial-mode}. By default, this
304specifies step mode. Note that you may reenter the same Edebug level
305several times if, for example, an instrumented function is called
306several times from one command.
307
308
309@node Jumping
310@subsection Jumping
311
312 The commands described in this section execute until they reach a
313specified location. All except @kbd{i} make a temporary breakpoint to
314establish the place to stop, then switch to go mode. Any other
315breakpoint reached before the intended stop point will also stop
316execution. @xref{Breakpoints}, for the details on breakpoints.
317
318 These commands may fail to work as expected in case of nonlocal exit,
319because a nonlocal exit can bypass the temporary breakpoint where you
320expected the program to stop.
321
322@table @kbd
323@item h
324Proceed to the stop point near where point is (@code{edebug-goto-here}).
325
326@item f
327Run the program forward over one expression
328(@code{edebug-forward-sexp}).
329
330@item o
331Run the program until the end of the containing sexp.
332
333@item i
334Step into the function or macro called by the form after point.
335@end table
336
337The @kbd{h} command proceeds to the stop point near the current location
338if point, using a temporary breakpoint. See @ref{Breakpoints}, for more
339about breakpoints.
340
341The @kbd{f} command runs the program forward over one expression. More
342precisely, it sets a temporary breakpoint at the position that
343@kbd{C-M-f} would reach, then executes in go mode so that the program
344will stop at breakpoints.
345
346With a prefix argument @var{n}, the temporary breakpoint is placed
347@var{n} sexps beyond point. If the containing list ends before @var{n}
348more elements, then the place to stop is after the containing
349expression.
350
351Be careful that the position @kbd{C-M-f} finds is a place that the
352program will really get to; this may not be true in a
353@code{cond}, for example.
354
355The @kbd{f} command does @code{forward-sexp} starting at point, rather
356than at the stop point, for flexibility. If you want to execute one
357expression @emph{from the current stop point}, type @kbd{w} first, to
358move point there, and then type @kbd{f}.
359
360The @kbd{o} command continues ``out of'' an expression. It places a
361temporary breakpoint at the end of the sexp containing point. If the
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362containing sexp is a function definition itself, @kbd{o} continues until
363just before the last sexp in the definition. If that is where you are
364now, it returns from the function and then stops. In other words, this
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365command does not exit the currently executing function unless you are
366positioned after the last sexp.
367
368The @kbd{i} command steps into the function or macro called by the list
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369form after point, and stops at its first stop point. Note that the form
370need not be the one about to be evaluated. But if the form is a
371function call about to be evaluated, remember to use this command before
372any of the arguments are evaluated, since otherwise it will be too late.
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373
374The @kbd{i} command instruments the function or macro it's supposed to
375step into, if it isn't instrumented already. This is convenient, but keep
376in mind that the function or macro remains instrumented unless you explicitly
377arrange to deinstrument it.
378
379@node Edebug Misc
380@subsection Miscellaneous Edebug Commands
381
382 Some miscellaneous Edebug commands are described here.
383
384@table @kbd
385@item ?
386Display the help message for Edebug (@code{edebug-help}).
387
388@item C-]
389Abort one level back to the previous command level
390(@code{abort-recursive-edit}).
391
392@item q
393Return to the top level editor command loop (@code{top-level}). This
394exits all recursive editing levels, including all levels of Edebug
395activity. However, instrumented code protected with
396@code{unwind-protect} or @code{condition-case} forms may resume
397debugging.
398
399@item Q
400Like @kbd{q} but don't stop even for protected code
401(@code{top-level-nonstop}).
402
403@item r
404Redisplay the most recently known expression result in the echo area
405(@code{edebug-previous-result}).
406
407@item d
408Display a backtrace, excluding Edebug's own functions for clarity
409(@code{edebug-backtrace}).
410
411You cannot use debugger commands in the backtrace buffer in Edebug as
412you would in the standard debugger.
413
414The backtrace buffer is killed automatically when you continue
415execution.
416@end table
417
87b2d5ff 418From the Edebug recursive edit, you may invoke commands that activate
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419Edebug again recursively. Any time Edebug is active, you can quit to
420the top level with @kbd{q} or abort one recursive edit level with
421@kbd{C-]}. You can display a backtrace of all the
422pending evaluations with @kbd{d}.
423
424@node Breakpoints
425@subsection Breakpoints
426
427@cindex breakpoints
428Edebug's step mode stops execution at the next stop point reached.
429There are three other ways to stop Edebug execution once it has started:
430breakpoints, the global break condition, and source breakpoints.
431
432While using Edebug, you can specify @dfn{breakpoints} in the program you
433are testing: points where execution should stop. You can set a
434breakpoint at any stop point, as defined in @ref{Using Edebug}. For
435setting and unsetting breakpoints, the stop point that is affected is
436the first one at or after point in the source code buffer. Here are the
437Edebug commands for breakpoints:
438
439@table @kbd
440@item b
441Set a breakpoint at the stop point at or after point
442(@code{edebug-set-breakpoint}). If you use a prefix argument, the
443breakpoint is temporary (it turns off the first time it stops the
444program).
445
446@item u
447Unset the breakpoint (if any) at the stop point at or after
448point (@code{edebug-unset-breakpoint}).
449
450@item x @var{condition} @key{RET}
451Set a conditional breakpoint which stops the program only if
452@var{condition} evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value
453(@code{edebug-set-conditional-breakpoint}). With a prefix argument, the
454breakpoint is temporary.
455
456@item B
9e2b495b 457Move point to the next breakpoint in the current definition
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458(@code{edebug-next-breakpoint}).
459@end table
460
461While in Edebug, you can set a breakpoint with @kbd{b} and unset one
462with @kbd{u}. First move point to the Edebug stop point of your choice,
463then type @kbd{b} or @kbd{u} to set or unset a breakpoint there.
464Unsetting a breakpoint where none has been set has no effect.
465
466Reevaluating or reinstrumenting a definition forgets all its breakpoints.
467
468A @dfn{conditional breakpoint} tests a condition each time the program
469gets there. Any errors that occur as a result of evaluating the
470condition are ignored, as if the result were @code{nil}. To set a
471conditional breakpoint, use @kbd{x}, and specify the condition
472expression in the minibuffer. Setting a conditional breakpoint at a
473stop point that has a previously established conditional breakpoint puts
474the previous condition expression in the minibuffer so you can edit it.
475
476You can make a conditional or unconditional breakpoint
969fe9b5 477@dfn{temporary} by using a prefix argument with the command to set the
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478breakpoint. When a temporary breakpoint stops the program, it is
479automatically unset.
480
481Edebug always stops or pauses at a breakpoint except when the Edebug
482mode is Go-nonstop. In that mode, it ignores breakpoints entirely.
483
484To find out where your breakpoints are, use the @kbd{B} command, which
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485moves point to the next breakpoint following point, within the same
486function, or to the first breakpoint if there are no following
487breakpoints. This command does not continue execution---it just moves
488point in the buffer.
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489
490@menu
491* Global Break Condition:: Breaking on an event.
492* Source Breakpoints:: Embedding breakpoints in source code.
493@end menu
494
495
496@node Global Break Condition
497@subsubsection Global Break Condition
498
499@cindex stopping on events
500@cindex global break condition
501 A @dfn{global break condition} stops execution when a specified
502condition is satisfied, no matter where that may occur. Edebug
503evaluates the global break condition at every stop point. If it
504evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value, then execution stops or pauses
505depending on the execution mode, as if a breakpoint had been hit. If
506evaluating the condition gets an error, execution does not stop.
507
508@findex edebug-set-global-break-condition
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509 The condition expression is stored in
510@code{edebug-global-break-condition}. You can specify a new expression
511using the @kbd{X} command (@code{edebug-set-global-break-condition}).
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512
513 The global break condition is the simplest way to find where in your
514code some event occurs, but it makes code run much more slowly. So you
515should reset the condition to @code{nil} when not using it.
516
517@node Source Breakpoints
518@subsubsection Source Breakpoints
519
520@findex edebug
521@cindex source breakpoints
522 All breakpoints in a definition are forgotten each time you
523reinstrument it. To make a breakpoint that won't be forgotten, you can
524write a @dfn{source breakpoint}, which is simply a call to the function
525@code{edebug} in your source code. You can, of course, make such a call
526conditional. For example, in the @code{fac} function, insert the first
527line as shown below to stop when the argument reaches zero:
528
529@example
530(defun fac (n)
531 (if (= n 0) (edebug))
532 (if (< 0 n)
533 (* n (fac (1- n)))
534 1))
535@end example
536
969fe9b5 537 When the @code{fac} definition is instrumented and the function is
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538called, the call to @code{edebug} acts as a breakpoint. Depending on
539the execution mode, Edebug stops or pauses there.
540
969fe9b5 541 If no instrumented code is being executed when @code{edebug} is called,
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542that function calls @code{debug}.
543@c This may not be a good idea anymore.
544
545@node Trapping Errors
546@subsection Trapping Errors
547
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548 Emacs normally displays an error message when an error is signaled and
549not handled with @code{condition-case}. While Edebug is active and
550executing instrumented code, it normally responds to all unhandled
551errors. You can customize this with the options @code{edebug-on-error}
552and @code{edebug-on-quit}; see @ref{Edebug Options}.
73804d4b 553
969fe9b5 554 When Edebug responds to an error, it shows the last stop point
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555encountered before the error. This may be the location of a call to a
556function which was not instrumented, within which the error actually
557occurred. For an unbound variable error, the last known stop point
558might be quite distant from the offending variable reference. In that
559case you might want to display a full backtrace (@pxref{Edebug Misc}).
560
87b2d5ff 561@c Edebug should be changed for the following: -- dan
969fe9b5 562 If you change @code{debug-on-error} or @code{debug-on-quit} while
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563Edebug is active, these changes will be forgotten when Edebug becomes
564inactive. Furthermore, during Edebug's recursive edit, these variables
565are bound to the values they had outside of Edebug.
566
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567@node Edebug Views
568@subsection Edebug Views
569
969fe9b5 570 These Edebug commands let you view aspects of the buffer and window
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571status that obtained before entry to Edebug. The outside window
572configuration is the collection of windows and contents that were in
573effect outside of Edebug.
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574
575@table @kbd
576@item v
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577Temporarily view the outside window configuration
578(@code{edebug-view-outside}).
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579
580@item p
581Temporarily display the outside current buffer with point at its outside
582position (@code{edebug-bounce-point}). With a prefix argument @var{n},
583pause for @var{n} seconds instead.
584
585@item w
586Move point back to the current stop point (@code{edebug-where}) in the
587source code buffer. Also, if you use this command in a different window
588displaying the same buffer, that window will be used instead to display
589the current definition in the future.
590
591@item W
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592@c Its function is not simply to forget the saved configuration -- dan
593Toggle whether Edebug saves and restores the outside window
594configuration (@code{edebug-toggle-save-windows}).
595
596With a prefix argument, @code{W} only toggles saving and restoring of
597the selected window. To specify a window that is not displaying the
598source code buffer, you must use @kbd{C-x X W} from the global keymap.
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599@end table
600
969fe9b5 601 You can view the outside window configuration with @kbd{v} or just
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602bounce to the point in the current buffer with @kbd{p}, even if
603it is not normally displayed. After moving point, you may wish to jump
604back to the stop point with @kbd{w} from a source code buffer.
605
969fe9b5 606 Each time you use @kbd{W} to turn saving @emph{off}, Edebug forgets the
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607saved outside window configuration---so that even if you turn saving
608back @emph{on}, the current window configuration remains unchanged when
609you next exit Edebug (by continuing the program). However, the
610automatic redisplay of @samp{*edebug*} and @samp{*edebug-trace*} may
611conflict with the buffers you wish to see unless you have enough windows
612open.
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613
614@node Edebug Eval
615@subsection Evaluation
616
969fe9b5 617 While within Edebug, you can evaluate expressions ``as if'' Edebug were
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618not running. Edebug tries to be invisible to the expression's
619evaluation and printing. Evaluation of expressions that cause side
620effects will work as expected except for things that Edebug explicitly
621saves and restores. @xref{The Outside Context}, for details on this
622process.
623
624@table @kbd
625@item e @var{exp} @key{RET}
626Evaluate expression @var{exp} in the context outside of Edebug
627(@code{edebug-eval-expression}). That is, Edebug tries to minimize its
628interference with the evaluation.
629
bfe721d1 630@item M-: @var{exp} @key{RET}
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631Evaluate expression @var{exp} in the context of Edebug itself.
632
633@item C-x C-e
634Evaluate the expression before point, in the context outside of Edebug
635(@code{edebug-eval-last-sexp}).
636@end table
637
638@cindex lexical binding (Edebug)
969fe9b5 639 Edebug supports evaluation of expressions containing references to
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640lexically bound symbols created by the following constructs in
641@file{cl.el} (version 2.03 or later): @code{lexical-let},
642@code{macrolet}, and @code{symbol-macrolet}.
643
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644@node Eval List
645@subsection Evaluation List Buffer
646
969fe9b5 647 You can use the @dfn{evaluation list buffer}, called @samp{*edebug*}, to
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648evaluate expressions interactively. You can also set up the
649@dfn{evaluation list} of expressions to be evaluated automatically each
650time Edebug updates the display.
651
652@table @kbd
653@item E
654Switch to the evaluation list buffer @samp{*edebug*}
655(@code{edebug-visit-eval-list}).
656@end table
657
969fe9b5 658 In the @samp{*edebug*} buffer you can use the commands of Lisp
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659Interaction mode (@pxref{Lisp Interaction,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs
660Manual}) as well as these special commands:
661
662@table @kbd
969fe9b5 663@item C-j
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664Evaluate the expression before point, in the outside context, and insert
665the value in the buffer (@code{edebug-eval-print-last-sexp}).
666
667@item C-x C-e
668Evaluate the expression before point, in the context outside of Edebug
669(@code{edebug-eval-last-sexp}).
670
671@item C-c C-u
87b2d5ff 672Build a new evaluation list from the contents of the buffer
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673(@code{edebug-update-eval-list}).
674
675@item C-c C-d
676Delete the evaluation list group that point is in
677(@code{edebug-delete-eval-item}).
678
679@item C-c C-w
680Switch back to the source code buffer at the current stop point
681(@code{edebug-where}).
682@end table
683
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684 You can evaluate expressions in the evaluation list window with
685@kbd{C-j} or @kbd{C-x C-e}, just as you would in @samp{*scratch*};
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686but they are evaluated in the context outside of Edebug.
687
969fe9b5 688 The expressions you enter interactively (and their results) are lost
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689when you continue execution; but you can set up an @dfn{evaluation list}
690consisting of expressions to be evaluated each time execution stops.
691
692@cindex evaluation list group
969fe9b5 693 To do this, write one or more @dfn{evaluation list groups} in the
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694evaluation list buffer. An evaluation list group consists of one or
695more Lisp expressions. Groups are separated by comment lines.
696
969fe9b5 697 The command @kbd{C-c C-u} (@code{edebug-update-eval-list}) rebuilds the
73804d4b 698evaluation list, scanning the buffer and using the first expression of
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699each group. (The idea is that the second expression of the group is the
700value previously computed and displayed.)
73804d4b 701
969fe9b5 702 Each entry to Edebug redisplays the evaluation list by inserting each
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703expression in the buffer, followed by its current value. It also
704inserts comment lines so that each expression becomes its own group.
705Thus, if you type @kbd{C-c C-u} again without changing the buffer text,
706the evaluation list is effectively unchanged.
73804d4b 707
969fe9b5 708 If an error occurs during an evaluation from the evaluation list, the
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709error message is displayed in a string as if it were the result.
710Therefore, expressions that use variables not currently valid do not
711interrupt your debugging.
712
969fe9b5 713 Here is an example of what the evaluation list window looks like after
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714several expressions have been added to it:
715
716@smallexample
717(current-buffer)
718#<buffer *scratch*>
719;---------------------------------------------------------------
720(selected-window)
721#<window 16 on *scratch*>
722;---------------------------------------------------------------
723(point)
724196
725;---------------------------------------------------------------
726bad-var
727"Symbol's value as variable is void: bad-var"
728;---------------------------------------------------------------
729(recursion-depth)
7300
731;---------------------------------------------------------------
732this-command
733eval-last-sexp
734;---------------------------------------------------------------
735@end smallexample
736
737To delete a group, move point into it and type @kbd{C-c C-d}, or simply
738delete the text for the group and update the evaluation list with
739@kbd{C-c C-u}. To add a new expression to the evaluation list, insert
740the expression at a suitable place, and insert a new comment line. (You
741need not insert dashes in the comment line---its contents don't matter.)
742Then type @kbd{C-c C-u}.
743
744After selecting @samp{*edebug*}, you can return to the source code
745buffer with @kbd{C-c C-w}. The @samp{*edebug*} buffer is killed when
746you continue execution, and recreated next time it is needed.
747
748
749@node Printing in Edebug
750@subsection Printing in Edebug
751
752@cindex printing (Edebug)
753@cindex printing circular structures
754@pindex cust-print
755 If an expression in your program produces a value containing circular
756list structure, you may get an error when Edebug attempts to print it.
757
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758 One way to cope with circular structure is to set @code{print-length}
759or @code{print-level} to truncate the printing. Edebug does this for
760you; it binds @code{print-length} and @code{print-level} to 50 if they
761were @code{nil}. (Actually, the variables @code{edebug-print-length}
762and @code{edebug-print-level} specify the values to use within Edebug.)
763@xref{Output Variables}.
764
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765@defopt edebug-print-length
766If non-@code{nil}, bind @code{print-length} to this while printing
767results in Edebug. The default value is @code{50}.
768@xref{Printing in Edebug}.
769@end defopt
770
771@defopt edebug-print-level
772If non-@code{nil}, bind @code{print-level} to this while printing
773results in Edebug. The default value is @code{50}.
774@end defopt
775
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776 You can also print circular structures and structures that share
777elements more informatively by using the @file{cust-print} package.
778
779 To load @file{cust-print} and activate custom printing only for
780Edebug, simply use the command @kbd{M-x edebug-install-custom-print}.
781To restore the standard print functions, use @kbd{M-x
782edebug-uninstall-custom-print}.
783
784 Here is an example of code that creates a circular structure:
785
786@example
787(setq a '(x y))
788(setcar a a))
789@end example
790
791@noindent
792Custom printing prints this as @samp{Result: #1=(#1# y)}. The
793@samp{#1=} notation labels the structure that follows it with the label
794@samp{1}, and the @samp{#1#} notation references the previously labelled
795structure. This notation is used for any shared elements of lists or
796vectors.
797
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798@defopt edebug-print-circle
799If non-@code{nil}, bind @code{print-circle} to this while printing
800results in Edebug. The default value is @code{nil}.
801@end defopt
802
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803 Other programs can also use custom printing; see @file{cust-print.el}
804for details.
805
806@node Trace Buffer
807@subsection Trace Buffer
808@cindex trace buffer
809
87b2d5ff 810 Edebug can record an execution trace, storing it in a buffer named
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811@samp{*edebug-trace*}. This is a log of function calls and returns,
812showing the function names and their arguments and values. To enable
813trace recording, set @code{edebug-trace} to a non-@code{nil} value.
814
815 Making a trace buffer is not the same thing as using trace execution
816mode (@pxref{Edebug Execution Modes}).
817
818 When trace recording is enabled, each function entry and exit adds
819lines to the trace buffer. A function entry record looks like
820@samp{::::@{} followed by the function name and argument values. A
821function exit record looks like @samp{::::@}} followed by the function
822name and result of the function.
823
824 The number of @samp{:}s in an entry shows its recursion depth. You
825can use the braces in the trace buffer to find the matching beginning or
826end of function calls.
827
828@findex edebug-print-trace-before
829@findex edebug-print-trace-after
830 You can customize trace recording for function entry and exit by
831redefining the functions @code{edebug-print-trace-before} and
832@code{edebug-print-trace-after}.
833
834@defmac edebug-tracing string body@dots{}
835This macro requests additional trace information around the execution
836of the @var{body} forms. The argument @var{string} specifies text
837to put in the trace buffer. All the arguments are evaluated.
838@code{edebug-tracing} returns the value of the last form in @var{body}.
839@end defmac
840
841@defun edebug-trace format-string &rest format-args
842This function inserts text in the trace buffer. It computes the text
843with @code{(apply 'format @var{format-string} @var{format-args})}.
87b2d5ff 844It also appends a newline to separate entries.
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845@end defun
846
847 @code{edebug-tracing} and @code{edebug-trace} insert lines in the trace
848buffer even if Edebug is not active.
849
850 Adding text to the trace buffer also scrolls its window to show the
851last lines inserted.
852
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853@node Coverage Testing
854@subsection Coverage Testing
855
856@cindex coverage testing
857@cindex frequency counts
858@cindex performance analysis
859Edebug provides rudimentary coverage testing and display of execution
860frequency. All execution of an instrumented function accumulates
861frequency counts, both before and after evaluation of each instrumented
862expression, even if the execution mode is Go-nonstop. Coverage testing
969fe9b5 863is more expensive, so it is done only if @code{edebug-test-coverage} is
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864non-@code{nil}. The command @kbd{M-x edebug-display-freq-count}
865displays both the frequency data and the coverage data (if recorded).
866
867@deffn Command edebug-display-freq-count
868This command displays the frequency count data for each line of the
869current definition.
870
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871The frequency counts appear as comment lines after each line of code,
872and you can undo all insertions with one @code{undo} command. The
873counts appear under the @samp{(} before an expression or the @samp{)}
874after an expression, or on the last character of a symbol. Values do
875not appear if they are equal to the previous count on the same line.
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876
877The character @samp{=} following the count for an expression says that
878the expression has returned the same value each time it was evaluated
879This is the only coverage information that Edebug records.
880
881To clear the frequency count and coverage data for a definition,
882reinstrument it.
883@end deffn
884
885For example, after evaluating @code{(fac 5)} with a source
886breakpoint, and setting @code{edebug-test-coverage} to @code{t}, when
887the breakpoint is reached, the frequency data looks like this:
888
889@example
890(defun fac (n)
891 (if (= n 0) (edebug))
892;#6 1 0 =5
893 (if (< 0 n)
894;#5 =
895 (* n (fac (1- n)))
896;# 5 0
897 1))
898;# 0
899@end example
900
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901The comment lines show that @code{fac} was called 6 times. The
902first @code{if} statement returned 5 times with the same result each
73804d4b 903time; the same is true of the condition on the second @code{if}.
87b2d5ff 904The recursive call of @code{fac} did not return at all.
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905
906
907@node The Outside Context
908@subsection The Outside Context
909
910Edebug tries to be transparent to the program you are debugging, but it
911does not succeed completely. Edebug also tries to be transparent when
912you evaluate expressions with @kbd{e} or with the evaluation list
913buffer, by temporarily restoring the outside context. This section
914explains precisely what context Edebug restores, and how Edebug fails to
915be completely transparent.
916
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917@menu
918* Checking Whether to Stop:: When Edebug decides what to do.
919* Edebug Display Update:: When Edebug updates the display.
920* Edebug Recursive Edit:: When Edebug stops execution.
921@end menu
922
923@node Checking Whether to Stop
924@subsubsection Checking Whether to Stop
925
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926Whenever Edebug is entered, it needs to save and restore certain data
927before even deciding whether to make trace information or stop the
928program.
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929
930@itemize @bullet
931@item
932@code{max-lisp-eval-depth} and @code{max-specpdl-size} are both
933incremented one time to reduce Edebug's impact on the stack.
934You could, however, still run out of stack space when using Edebug.
935
936@item
937The state of keyboard macro execution is saved and restored. While
938Edebug is active, @code{executing-macro} is bound to
939@code{edebug-continue-kbd-macro}.
940
941@end itemize
942
943
944@node Edebug Display Update
945@subsubsection Edebug Display Update
946
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947@c This paragraph is not filled, because LaLiberte's conversion script
948@c needs an xref to be on just one line.
73804d4b 949When Edebug needs to display something (e.g., in trace mode), it saves
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950the current window configuration from ``outside'' Edebug
951(@pxref{Window Configurations}). When you exit Edebug (by continuing
952the program), it restores the previous window configuration.
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953
954Emacs redisplays only when it pauses. Usually, when you continue
955execution, the program comes back into Edebug at a breakpoint or after
956stepping without pausing or reading input in between. In such cases,
957Emacs never gets a chance to redisplay the ``outside'' configuration.
958What you see is the same window configuration as the last time Edebug
959was active, with no interruption.
960
961Entry to Edebug for displaying something also saves and restores the
962following data, but some of these are deliberately not restored if an
963error or quit signal occurs.
964
965@itemize @bullet
966@item
967@cindex current buffer point and mark (Edebug)
968Which buffer is current, and the positions of point and the mark in the
969current buffer, are saved and restored.
970
971@item
972@cindex window configuration (Edebug)
973The outside window configuration is saved and restored if
974@code{edebug-save-windows} is non-@code{nil} (@pxref{Edebug Display Update}).
975
976The window configuration is not restored on error or quit, but the
977outside selected window @emph{is} reselected even on error or quit in
978case a @code{save-excursion} is active. If the value of
979@code{edebug-save-windows} is a list, only the listed windows are saved
980and restored.
981
982The window start and horizontal scrolling of the source code buffer are
983not restored, however, so that the display remains coherent within Edebug.
984
985@item
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986The value of point in each displayed buffer is saved and restored if
987@code{edebug-save-displayed-buffer-points} is non-@code{nil}.
988
989@item
990The variables @code{overlay-arrow-position} and
991@code{overlay-arrow-string} are saved and restored. So you can safely
992invoke Edebug from the recursive edit elsewhere in the same buffer.
993
994@item
995@code{cursor-in-echo-area} is locally bound to @code{nil} so that
996the cursor shows up in the window.
997@end itemize
998
999@node Edebug Recursive Edit
1000@subsubsection Edebug Recursive Edit
1001
1002When Edebug is entered and actually reads commands from the user, it
1003saves (and later restores) these additional data:
1004
1005@itemize @bullet
1006@item
1007The current match data. @xref{Match Data}.
1008
1009@item
1010@code{last-command}, @code{this-command}, @code{last-command-char},
1011@code{last-input-char}, @code{last-input-event},
1012@code{last-command-event}, @code{last-event-frame},
1013@code{last-nonmenu-event}, and @code{track-mouse}. Commands used within
1014Edebug do not affect these variables outside of Edebug.
1015
1016The key sequence returned by @code{this-command-keys} is changed by
1017executing commands within Edebug and there is no way to reset
1018the key sequence from Lisp.
1019
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1020Edebug cannot save and restore the value of
1021@code{unread-command-events}. Entering Edebug while this variable has a
1022nontrivial value can interfere with execution of the program you are
1023debugging.
1024
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1025@item
1026Complex commands executed while in Edebug are added to the variable
1027@code{command-history}. In rare cases this can alter execution.
1028
1029@item
1030Within Edebug, the recursion depth appears one deeper than the recursion
1031depth outside Edebug. This is not true of the automatically updated
1032evaluation list window.
1033
1034@item
1035@code{standard-output} and @code{standard-input} are bound to @code{nil}
1036by the @code{recursive-edit}, but Edebug temporarily restores them during
1037evaluations.
1038
1039@item
1040The state of keyboard macro definition is saved and restored. While
1041Edebug is active, @code{defining-kbd-macro} is bound to
1042@code{edebug-continue-kbd-macro}.
1043@end itemize
1044
1045@node Instrumenting Macro Calls
1046@subsection Instrumenting Macro Calls
1047
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1048 When Edebug instruments an expression that calls a Lisp macro, it needs
1049additional information about the macro to do the job properly. This is
1050because there is no a-priori way to tell which subexpressions of the
1051macro call are forms to be evaluated. (Evaluation may occur explicitly
1052in the macro body, or when the resulting expansion is evaluated, or any
1053time later.)
1054
1055 Therefore, you must define an Edebug specification for each macro that
1056Edebug will encounter, to explain the format of calls to that macro. To
1057do this, use @code{def-edebug-spec}.
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1058
1059@deffn Macro def-edebug-spec macro specification
1060Specify which expressions of a call to macro @var{macro} are forms to be
1061evaluated. For simple macros, the @var{specification} often looks very
1062similar to the formal argument list of the macro definition, but
1063specifications are much more general than macro arguments.
1064
969fe9b5 1065The @var{macro} argument can actually be any symbol, not just a macro
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1066name.
1067@end deffn
1068
1069Here is a simple example that defines the specification for the
1070@code{for} macro described in the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual, followed
1071by an alternative, equivalent specification.
1072
1073@example
1074(def-edebug-spec for
1075 (symbolp "from" form "to" form "do" &rest form))
1076
1077(def-edebug-spec for
1078 (symbolp ['from form] ['to form] ['do body]))
1079@end example
1080
1081Here is a table of the possibilities for @var{specification} and how each
1082directs processing of arguments.
1083
ec221d13 1084@table @asis
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1085@item @code{t}
1086All arguments are instrumented for evaluation.
1087
1088@item @code{0}
1089None of the arguments is instrumented.
1090
1091@item a symbol
1092The symbol must have an Edebug specification which is used instead.
1093This indirection is repeated until another kind of specification is
1094found. This allows you to inherit the specification for another macro.
1095
1096@item a list
1097The elements of the list describe the types of the arguments of a
1098calling form. The possible elements of a specification list are
1099described in the following sections.
1100@end table
1101
1102@menu
1103* Specification List:: How to specify complex patterns of evaluation.
1104* Backtracking:: What Edebug does when matching fails.
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1105* Specification Examples:: To help understand specifications.
1106@end menu
1107
1108
1109@node Specification List
1110@subsubsection Specification List
1111
1112@cindex Edebug specification list
1113A @dfn{specification list} is required for an Edebug specification if
1114some arguments of a macro call are evaluated while others are not. Some
1115elements in a specification list match one or more arguments, but others
1116modify the processing of all following elements. The latter, called
1117@dfn{specification keywords}, are symbols beginning with @samp{&} (such
1118as @code{&optional}).
1119
1120A specification list may contain sublists which match arguments that are
1121themselves lists, or it may contain vectors used for grouping. Sublists
1122and groups thus subdivide the specification list into a hierarchy of
969fe9b5 1123levels. Specification keywords apply only to the remainder of the
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1124sublist or group they are contained in.
1125
1126When a specification list involves alternatives or repetition, matching
1127it against an actual macro call may require backtracking.
1128@xref{Backtracking}, for more details.
1129
1130Edebug specifications provide the power of regular expression matching,
1131plus some context-free grammar constructs: the matching of sublists with
1132balanced parentheses, recursive processing of forms, and recursion via
1133indirect specifications.
1134
1135Here's a table of the possible elements of a specification list, with
1136their meanings:
1137
1138@table @code
1139@item sexp
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1140A single Lisp object, not unevaluated.
1141@c "unevaluated expression" is not meaningful, because
1142@c an expression is a Lisp object intended for evaluation.
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1143
1144@item form
1145A single evaluated expression, which is instrumented.
1146
1147@item place
1148@findex edebug-unwrap
1149A place to store a value, as in the Common Lisp @code{setf} construct.
1150
1151@item body
1152Short for @code{&rest form}. See @code{&rest} below.
1153
1154@item function-form
1155A function form: either a quoted function symbol, a quoted lambda
1156expression, or a form (that should evaluate to a function symbol or
1157lambda expression). This is useful when an argument that's a lambda
1158expression might be quoted with @code{quote} rather than
1159@code{function}, since it instruments the body of the lambda expression
1160either way.
1161
1162@item lambda-expr
1163A lambda expression with no quoting.
1164
1165@item &optional
1166@kindex &optional @r{(Edebug)}
1167All following elements in the specification list are optional; as soon
1168as one does not match, Edebug stops matching at this level.
1169
1170To make just a few elements optional followed by non-optional elements,
1171use @code{[&optional @var{specs}@dots{}]}. To specify that several
1172elements must all match or none, use @code{&optional
1173[@var{specs}@dots{}]}. See the @code{defun} example below.
1174
1175@item &rest
1176@kindex &rest @r{(Edebug)}
1177All following elements in the specification list are repeated zero or
1178more times. All the elements need not match in the last repetition,
1179however.
1180
1181To repeat only a few elements, use @code{[&rest @var{specs}@dots{}]}.
1182To specify several elements that must all match on every repetition, use
1183@code{&rest [@var{specs}@dots{}]}.
1184
1185@item &or
1186@kindex &or @r{(Edebug)}
1187Each of the following elements in the specification list is an
1188alternative. One of the alternatives must match, or the @code{&or}
1189specification fails.
1190
1191Each list element following @code{&or} is a single alternative. To
1192group two or more list elements as a single alternative, enclose them in
1193@code{[@dots{}]}.
1194
1195@item &not
1196@kindex &not @r{(Edebug)}
1197Each of the following elements is matched as alternatives as if by using
1198@code{&or}, but if any of them match, the specification fails. If none
1199of them match, nothing is matched, but the @code{&not} specification
1200succeeds.
1201
1202@item &define
1203@kindex &define @r{(Edebug)}
1204Indicates that the specification is for a defining form. The defining
1205form itself is not instrumented (i.e. Edebug does not stop before and
1206after the defining form), but forms inside it typically will be
1207instrumented. The @code{&define} keyword should be the first element in
1208a list specification.
1209
1210@item nil
1211This is successful when there are no more arguments to match at the
1212current argument list level; otherwise it fails. See sublist
1213specifications and the backquote example below.
1214
1215@item gate
1216@cindex preventing backtracking
1217No argument is matched but backtracking through the gate is disabled
1218while matching the remainder of the specifications at this level. This
1219is primarily used to generate more specific syntax error messages. See
1220@ref{Backtracking}, for more details. Also see the @code{let} example
1221below.
1222
1223@item @var{other-symbol}
1224@cindex indirect specifications
1225Any other symbol in a specification list may be a predicate or an
1226indirect specification.
1227
1228If the symbol has an Edebug specification, this @dfn{indirect
1229specification} should be either a list specification that is used in
1230place of the symbol, or a function that is called to process the
1231arguments. The specification may be defined with @code{def-edebug-spec}
1232just as for macros. See the @code{defun} example below.
1233
1234Otherwise, the symbol should be a predicate. The predicate is called
1235with the argument and the specification fails if the predicate returns
1236@code{nil}. In either case, that argument is not instrumented.
1237
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1238Some suitable predicates include @code{symbolp}, @code{integerp},
1239@code{stringp}, @code{vectorp}, and @code{atom}.
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1240
1241@item [@var{elements}@dots{}]
1242@cindex [@dots{}] (Edebug)
1243A vector of elements groups the elements into a single @dfn{group
1244specification}. Its meaning has nothing to do with vectors.
1245
1246@item "@var{string}"
1247The argument should be a symbol named @var{string}. This specification
1248is equivalent to the quoted symbol, @code{'@var{symbol}}, where the name
1249of @var{symbol} is the @var{string}, but the string form is preferred.
1250
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1251@item (vector @var{elements}@dots{})
1252The argument should be a vector whose elements must match the
1253@var{elements} in the specification. See the backquote example below.
1254
1255@item (@var{elements}@dots{})
1256Any other list is a @dfn{sublist specification} and the argument must be
1257a list whose elements match the specification @var{elements}.
1258
1259@cindex dotted lists (Edebug)
1260A sublist specification may be a dotted list and the corresponding list
1261argument may then be a dotted list. Alternatively, the last @sc{cdr} of a
1262dotted list specification may be another sublist specification (via a
1263grouping or an indirect specification, e.g. @code{(spec . [(more
1264specs@dots{})])}) whose elements match the non-dotted list arguments.
1265This is useful in recursive specifications such as in the backquote
1266example below. Also see the description of a @code{nil} specification
1267above for terminating such recursion.
1268
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1269Note that a sublist specification written as @code{(specs . nil)}
1270is equivalent to @code{(specs)}, and @code{(specs .
1271(sublist-elements@dots{}))} is equivalent to @code{(specs
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1272sublist-elements@dots{})}.
1273@end table
1274
1275@c Need to document extensions with &symbol and :symbol
1276
969fe9b5 1277Here is a list of additional specifications that may appear only after
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1278@code{&define}. See the @code{defun} example below.
1279
1280@table @code
1281@item name
1282The argument, a symbol, is the name of the defining form.
1283
1284A defining form is not required to have a name field; and it may have
1285multiple name fields.
1286
1287@item :name
1288This construct does not actually match an argument. The element
1289following @code{:name} should be a symbol; it is used as an additional
1290name component for the definition. You can use this to add a unique,
1291static component to the name of the definition. It may be used more
1292than once.
1293
1294@item arg
1295The argument, a symbol, is the name of an argument of the defining form.
1296However, lambda list keywords (symbols starting with @samp{@code{&}})
87b2d5ff 1297are not allowed.
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1298
1299@item lambda-list
1300@cindex lambda-list (Edebug)
1301This matches a lambda list---the argument list of a lambda expression.
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1302
1303@item def-body
1304The argument is the body of code in a definition. This is like
1305@code{body}, described above, but a definition body must be instrumented
1306with a different Edebug call that looks up information associated with
1307the definition. Use @code{def-body} for the highest level list of forms
1308within the definition.
1309
1310@item def-form
1311The argument is a single, highest-level form in a definition. This is
1312like @code{def-body}, except use this to match a single form rather than
1313a list of forms. As a special case, @code{def-form} also means that
1314tracing information is not output when the form is executed. See the
1315@code{interactive} example below.
1316@end table
1317
1318@node Backtracking
969fe9b5 1319@subsubsection Backtracking in Specifications
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1320
1321@cindex backtracking
1322@cindex syntax error (Edebug)
1323If a specification fails to match at some point, this does not
1324necessarily mean a syntax error will be signaled; instead,
1325@dfn{backtracking} will take place until all alternatives have been
1326exhausted. Eventually every element of the argument list must be
1327matched by some element in the specification, and every required element
1328in the specification must match some argument.
1329
1330Backtracking is disabled for the remainder of a sublist or group when
1331certain conditions occur, described below. Backtracking is reenabled
1332when a new alternative is established by @code{&optional}, @code{&rest},
1333or @code{&or}. It is also reenabled initially when processing a
1334sublist or group specification or an indirect specification.
1335
1336You might want to disable backtracking to commit to some alternative so
1337that Edebug can provide a more specific syntax error message. Normally,
1338if no alternative matches, Edebug reports that none matched, but if one
1339alternative is committed to, Edebug can report how it failed to match.
1340
1341First, backtracking is disabled while matching any of the form
1342specifications (i.e. @code{form}, @code{body}, @code{def-form}, and
1343@code{def-body}). These specifications will match any form so any error
1344must be in the form itself rather than at a higher level.
1345
1346Second, backtracking is disabled after successfully matching a quoted
1347symbol or string specification, since this usually indicates a
1348recognized construct. If you have a set of alternative constructs that
1349all begin with the same symbol, you can usually work around this
1350constraint by factoring the symbol out of the alternatives, e.g.,
1351@code{["foo" &or [first case] [second case] ...]}.
1352
1353Third, backtracking may be explicitly disabled by using the
1354@code{gate} specification. This is useful when you know that
1355no higher alternatives may apply.
1356
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1357@node Specification Examples
1358@subsubsection Specification Examples
1359
1360It may be easier to understand Edebug specifications by studying
1361the examples provided here.
1362
1363A @code{let} special form has a sequence of bindings and a body. Each
1364of the bindings is either a symbol or a sublist with a symbol and
1365optional value. In the specification below, notice the @code{gate}
1366inside of the sublist to prevent backtracking once a sublist is found.
1367
1368@example
1369(def-edebug-spec let
1370 ((&rest
1371 &or symbolp (gate symbolp &optional form))
1372 body))
1373@end example
1374
1375Edebug uses the following specifications for @code{defun} and
1376@code{defmacro} and the associated argument list and @code{interactive}
1377specifications. It is necessary to handle interactive forms specially
1378since an expression argument it is actually evaluated outside of the
1379function body.
1380
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1381@smallexample
1382(def-edebug-spec defmacro defun) ; @r{Indirect ref to @code{defun} spec.}
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1383(def-edebug-spec defun
1384 (&define name lambda-list
87b2d5ff 1385 [&optional stringp] ; @r{Match the doc string, if present.}
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1386 [&optional ("interactive" interactive)]
1387 def-body))
1388
1389(def-edebug-spec lambda-list
1390 (([&rest arg]
1391 [&optional ["&optional" arg &rest arg]]
1392 &optional ["&rest" arg]
1393 )))
1394
1395(def-edebug-spec interactive
1396 (&optional &or stringp def-form)) ; @r{Notice: @code{def-form}}
87b2d5ff 1397@end smallexample
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1398
1399The specification for backquote below illustrates how to match
1400dotted lists and use @code{nil} to terminate recursion. It also
1401illustrates how components of a vector may be matched. (The actual
1402specification defined by Edebug does not support dotted lists because
1403doing so causes very deep recursion that could fail.)
1404
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1405@smallexample
1406(def-edebug-spec ` (backquote-form)) ; @r{Alias just for clarity.}
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1407
1408(def-edebug-spec backquote-form
1409 (&or ([&or "," ",@@"] &or ("quote" backquote-form) form)
1410 (backquote-form . [&or nil backquote-form])
1411 (vector &rest backquote-form)
1412 sexp))
87b2d5ff 1413@end smallexample
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1414
1415
1416@node Edebug Options
1417@subsection Edebug Options
1418
1419 These options affect the behavior of Edebug:
1420
1421@defopt edebug-setup-hook
1422Functions to call before Edebug is used. Each time it is set to a new
1423value, Edebug will call those functions once and then
1424@code{edebug-setup-hook} is reset to @code{nil}. You could use this to
1425load up Edebug specifications associated with a package you are using
1426but only when you also use Edebug.
1427@xref{Instrumenting}.
1428@end defopt
1429
1430@defopt edebug-all-defs
1431If this is non-@code{nil}, normal evaluation of defining forms such as
1432@code{defun} and @code{defmacro} instruments them for Edebug. This
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1433applies to @code{eval-defun}, @code{eval-region}, @code{eval-buffer},
1434and @code{eval-current-buffer}.
1435
1436Use the command @kbd{M-x edebug-all-defs} to toggle the value of this
1437option. @xref{Instrumenting}.
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1438@end defopt
1439
1440@defopt edebug-all-forms
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1441If this is non-@code{nil}, the commands @code{eval-defun},
1442@code{eval-region}, @code{eval-buffer}, and @code{eval-current-buffer}
1443instrument all forms, even those that don't define anything.
1444This doesn't apply to loading or evaluations in the minibuffer.
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1445
1446Use the command @kbd{M-x edebug-all-forms} to toggle the value of this
87b2d5ff 1447option. @xref{Instrumenting}.
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1448@end defopt
1449
1450@defopt edebug-save-windows
1451If this is non-@code{nil}, Edebug saves and restores the window
1452configuration. That takes some time, so if your program does not care
1453what happens to the window configurations, it is better to set this
1454variable to @code{nil}.
1455
1456If the value is a list, only the listed windows are saved and
1457restored.
1458
1459You can use the @kbd{W} command in Edebug to change this variable
1460interactively. @xref{Edebug Display Update}.
1461@end defopt
1462
1463@defopt edebug-save-displayed-buffer-points
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1464If this is non-@code{nil}, Edebug saves and restores point in all
1465displayed buffers.
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1466
1467Saving and restoring point in other buffers is necessary if you are
1468debugging code that changes the point of a buffer which is displayed in
1469a non-selected window. If Edebug or the user then selects the window,
87b2d5ff 1470point in that buffer will move to the window's value of point.
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1471
1472Saving and restoring point in all buffers is expensive, since it
1473requires selecting each window twice, so enable this only if you need
1474it. @xref{Edebug Display Update}.
1475@end defopt
1476
1477@defopt edebug-initial-mode
1478If this variable is non-@code{nil}, it specifies the initial execution
1479mode for Edebug when it is first activated. Possible values are
1480@code{step}, @code{next}, @code{go}, @code{Go-nonstop}, @code{trace},
1481@code{Trace-fast}, @code{continue}, and @code{Continue-fast}.
1482
1483The default value is @code{step}.
1484@xref{Edebug Execution Modes}.
1485@end defopt
1486
1487@defopt edebug-trace
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1488Non-@code{nil} means display a trace of function entry and exit.
1489Tracing output is displayed in a buffer named @samp{*edebug-trace*}, one
1490function entry or exit per line, indented by the recursion level.
1491
1492The default value is @code{nil}.
1493
87b2d5ff 1494Also see @code{edebug-tracing}, in @xref{Trace Buffer}.
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1495@end defopt
1496
1497@defopt edebug-test-coverage
1498If non-@code{nil}, Edebug tests coverage of all expressions debugged.
1499This is done by comparing the result of each expression
1500with the previous result. Coverage is considered OK if two different
1501results are found. So to sufficiently test the coverage of your code,
1502try to execute it under conditions that evaluate all expressions more
1503than once, and produce different results for each expression.
1504
1505Use @kbd{M-x edebug-display-freq-count} to display the frequency count
1506and coverage information for a definition.
1507@xref{Coverage Testing}.
1508@end defopt
1509
1510@defopt edebug-continue-kbd-macro
1511If non-@code{nil}, continue defining or executing any keyboard macro
1512that is executing outside of Edebug. Use this with caution since it is not
1513debugged.
1514@xref{Edebug Execution Modes}.
1515@end defopt
1516
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1517@defopt edebug-on-error
1518Edebug binds @code{debug-on-error} to this value, if
1519@code{debug-on-error} was previously @code{nil}. @xref{Trapping
1520Errors}.
1521@end defopt
1522
1523@defopt edebug-on-quit
1524Edebug binds @code{debug-on-quit} to this value, if
1525@code{debug-on-quit} was previously @code{nil}. @xref{Trapping
1526Errors}.
1527@end defopt
1528
1529 If you change the values of @code{edebug-on-error} or
1530@code{edebug-on-quit} while Edebug is active, their values won't be used
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1531until the @emph{next} time Edebug is invoked via a new command.
1532@c Not necessarily a deeper command level.
1533@c A new command is not precisely true, but that is close enough -- dan
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1534
1535@defopt edebug-global-break-condition
1536If non-@code{nil}, an expression to test for at every stop point.
1537If the result is non-nil, then break. Errors are ignored.
1538@xref{Global Break Condition}.
1539@end defopt