annotate README.multi-tty @ 53229:33c3c7c16e13

lib-src/emacsclient.c: Implemented --here option (open a new Emacs tty). Needs more work. (here): New variable. (decode_options): Use it. (ec_get_tty, ec_set_tty, init_tty, window_change, hang_up_signal): New functions. (window_change_signal, init_signals, reset_tty, init_pty, copy_from_to): Ditto. (pty_conversation): Ditto. (main): Use them. (master, pty_name, old_tty, tty, old_tty_valid, tty_erase_char): New variables. (flow_control, meta_key, _sobuf, in_conversation, quit_conversation): Ditto. lisp/server.el (server-process-filter): Added support for opening a new terminal frame. dispextern.h (get_frame_size): Renamed to get_tty_size, added tty_output parameter. dispnew.c (Fredraw_frame): fflush the current terminal instead of stdout. (direct_output_for_insert, direct_output_forward_char, update_frame_1): Ditto. (Fding, bitch_at_user): Ditto. (update_frame_1): Count pending output for current terminal instead of stdout. (window_change_signal): Resize all terminals. (change_frame_size): Don't resize all terminals to the same size. frame.c (Vterminal_frame): Removed. (syms_of_frame): Removed declaration of Vterminal_frame. (make_terminal_frame): Set the top frame of the terminal to the new frame. (Fmake_terminal_frame): Get a new frame size from get_tty_size, don't copy it. (do_switch_frame): Handle terminal frame visibility. (next_frame, prev_frame): Skip over frames on different terminals. frame.h (Vterminal_frame): Removed. keyboard.c (input_fd): Removed. (read_avail_input): Removed first argument from read_socket_hook. Try to read from each available tty, until one succeeds. (Fsuspend_emacs): Don't suspend if there are multiple terminals. lisp.h (get_frame_size): Removed superflous declaration. xterm.c (Xtread_socket): Removed first parameter. macterm.h (XTread_socket): Ditto. w32inevt.c (w32_console_read_socket): Ditto. w32term.c (w32_read_socket): Ditto. sysdep.c (input_fd): Removed. (change_input_fd): Removed. (discard_tty_input): Discard pending input on _all_ input descriptors. (stuff_char, tabs_safe_p): Use current terminal instead of input_fd. (init_baud_rate, request_sigio, unrequest_sigio): Ditto. (init_sys_modes, reset_sys_modes): Ditto. (narrow_foreground_group, widen_foreground_group): Use stdin. (init_sys_modes, reset_sys_modes): otty parameter renamed to tty_out. (get_frame_size): Renamed to get_tty_size, added tty_out parameter. term.c (read_socket_hook): Removed first parameter. (clear_end_of_line): Use updating_frame, if possible. (write_glyphs, insert_glyphs, ins_del_lines): Ditto. (term_init): Renamed get_frame_size to get_tty_size. termchar.h (struct tty_output): New entries: top_frame, previous_terminal_frame. termhooks.h (read_socket_hook): Removed first parameter. window.c (init_window_once): Removed reference to Vterminal_frame. xdisp.c (previous_terminal_frame): Moved to struct tty_output. (redisplay_internal): Updated to use previous_terminal_frame in tty_output. Allow for simultaneous refresh of multiple ttys. git-archimport-id: [e-mail]--2004/emacs--multi-tty--0--patch-5

			-*- coding: utf-8; -*-
GOAL
----

The ultimate goal of this branch is to implement support for opening
multiple, different tty devices and simultaneous X and tty frames from
a single Emacs session.

WHO IS DOING IT
---------------

I'm Károly Lőrentey.  My address: [e-mail].

Patches or suggestions are welcome!

Retrieving the branch:

	tla register-archive [e-mail]--2004 http://lorentey.web.elte.hu/arch/2004/
	tla get [e-mail]--2004/emacs--multi-tty--0 <directory>

(I use tla 1.1.)


STATUS
------

We can create frames on new tty devices, but there are problems with
redisplay.  Input is read from all terminals (NOT via MULTIKBOARD!).
At the moment, the type of the new terminals must be the same as the
initial terminal.  Emacsclient is extended to support opening a new
terminal frame.

To try it out, start up the emacs server (M-x server-start), and then
start emacsclient with

	emacsclient -h

If you exit emacs, both terminals are restored to their previous
states.

X, Mac, Windows and DOS support is broken.

NEWS
----

For the NEWS file:

** Support for multiple terminal devices has been added.  You can
   specify a terminal device (`tty' parameter) and a terminal type
   (`tty-type' parameter) to `make-terminal-frame'.

** Emacsclient has been extended to support opening a new terminal
   frame.

CHANGELOG
---------

See arch logs.


THINGS THAT ARE DONE
--------------------

-- Introduce a new abstraction for terminal devices.  

   (Done, see struct tty_output.  The abstraction is not yet
   complete.)


-- Change the bootstrap procedure to initialize tty_list.

   (Done, but needs review.)


-- Change make-terminal-frame to support specifying another tty.

   (Done, new frame parameters: `tty' and `tty-type'.)


-- Implement support for reading from multiple terminals.

   (Done, read_avail_input tries to read from each terminal, until one
   succeeds.)

-- other-frame should cycle through the frames on the `current'
   terminal.  

   (Done.  A little fragile, but seems to work.)

-- Support different terminal sizes.
   
   (Done, no problem.)

-- Make sure terminal resizes are handled gracefully.  (Could be
   problematic.)

   (Done.  We don't get SIGWINCH for additional ttys, though.)

-- Extend emacsclient to automatically open a new tty when it connects
   to Emacs.
   
   (Done.  It's an ugly hack, needs more work.)

-- Redisplay must refresh the topmost frame on all terminals, not just
   the initial terminal.
   
   (Done, but introduced ugly redisplay problems.  Ugh.)


THINGS TO DO
------------

** Fix redisplay problems.

** Make make-terminal-frame look up the tty and tty-type parameters
   from the currently selected terminal before the global default.

** Move optimalization parameters (costs) from union output_data to
   struct frame.

** Provide a way for emacsclient to tell Emacs that the tty has been
   resized.

** Implement terminal deletion, i.e., closing the tty device and
   restoring its previous state without exiting Emacs.  This should be
   exported to the Lisp interpreter.

** Implement automatic deletion of terminals, when the last frame on
   that terminal is closed.

** Put all cached terminal escape sequences into struct tty_output.
   Currently, they are still stored in global variables, so we don't
   really support multiple terminal types.


** Each keypress should automatically select the frame corresponding
   to the terminal that it was coming from.  This means that Emacs
   must know from which terminal the last keyboard event came from.
   (Multikeyboard support may help with this.)

** Make struct tty_output available from Lisp.

** Implement support for starting an interactive Emacs session without
   an initial frame.  (The user would connect to it and open frames
   later, with emacsclient.)  Not necessary a good idea.

** Fix X support.

** Allow simultaneous X and tty frames.

** Fix Mac support (I can't do this myself).

** Fix W32 support (I can't do this myself).

** Fix DOS support (I can't do this myself).



;;; arch-tag: 8da1619e-2e79-41a8-9ac9-a0485daad17d