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annotate lispref/tips.texi @ 65332:c2fb39cb93f0
(Programming Tips): Add conventions for minibuffer questions and prompts.
author | Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org> |
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date | Sun, 04 Sep 2005 01:48:26 +0000 |
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6552 | 1 @c -*-texinfo-*- |
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. | |
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3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, |
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4 @c 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc. |
6552 | 5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. |
6 @setfilename ../info/tips | |
30904 | 7 @node Tips, GNU Emacs Internals, GPL, Top |
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8 @appendix Tips and Conventions |
6552 | 9 @cindex tips |
10 @cindex standards of coding style | |
11 @cindex coding standards | |
12 | |
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13 This chapter describes no additional features of Emacs Lisp. Instead |
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14 it gives advice on making effective use of the features described in the |
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15 previous chapters, and describes conventions Emacs Lisp programmers |
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16 should follow. |
6552 | 17 |
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18 You can automatically check some of the conventions described below by |
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19 running the command @kbd{M-x checkdoc RET} when visiting a Lisp file. |
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20 It cannot check all of the conventions, and not all the warnings it |
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21 gives necessarily correspond to problems, but it is worth examining them |
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22 all. |
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23 |
6552 | 24 @menu |
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25 * Coding Conventions:: Conventions for clean and robust programs. |
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26 * Key Binding Conventions:: Which keys should be bound by which programs. |
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27 * Programming Tips:: Making Emacs code fit smoothly in Emacs. |
6552 | 28 * Compilation Tips:: Making compiled code run fast. |
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29 * Warning Tips:: Turning off compiler warnings. |
6552 | 30 * Documentation Tips:: Writing readable documentation strings. |
31 * Comment Tips:: Conventions for writing comments. | |
32 * Library Headers:: Standard headers for library packages. | |
33 @end menu | |
34 | |
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35 @node Coding Conventions |
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36 @section Emacs Lisp Coding Conventions |
6552 | 37 |
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38 Here are conventions that you should follow when writing Emacs Lisp |
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39 code intended for widespread use: |
6552 | 40 |
41 @itemize @bullet | |
42 @item | |
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43 Simply loading the package should not change Emacs's editing behavior. |
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44 Include a command or commands to enable and disable the feature, |
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45 or to invoke it. |
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46 |
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47 This convention is mandatory for any file that includes custom |
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48 definitions. If fixing such a file to follow this convention requires |
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49 an incompatible change, go ahead and make the incompatible change; |
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50 don't postpone it. |
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51 |
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52 @item |
38162 | 53 Since all global variables share the same name space, and all |
54 functions share another name space, you should choose a short word to | |
55 distinguish your program from other Lisp programs.@footnote{The | |
56 benefits of a Common Lisp-style package system are considered not to | |
57 outweigh the costs.} Then take care to begin the names of all global | |
58 variables, constants, and functions in your program with the chosen | |
59 prefix. This helps avoid name conflicts. | |
6552 | 60 |
61 This recommendation applies even to names for traditional Lisp | |
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62 primitives that are not primitives in Emacs Lisp---such as |
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63 @code{copy-list}. Believe it or not, there is more than one plausible |
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64 way to define @code{copy-list}. Play it safe; append your name prefix |
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65 to produce a name like @code{foo-copy-list} or @code{mylib-copy-list} |
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66 instead. |
6552 | 67 |
68 If you write a function that you think ought to be added to Emacs under | |
69 a certain name, such as @code{twiddle-files}, don't call it by that name | |
70 in your program. Call it @code{mylib-twiddle-files} in your program, | |
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71 and send mail to @samp{bug-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org} suggesting we add |
6552 | 72 it to Emacs. If and when we do, we can change the name easily enough. |
73 | |
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74 If one prefix is insufficient, your package can use two or three |
6552 | 75 alternative common prefixes, so long as they make sense. |
76 | |
77 Separate the prefix from the rest of the symbol name with a hyphen, | |
78 @samp{-}. This will be consistent with Emacs itself and with most Emacs | |
79 Lisp programs. | |
80 | |
81 @item | |
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82 Put a call to @code{provide} at the end of each separate Lisp file. |
6552 | 83 |
84 @item | |
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85 If a file requires certain other Lisp programs to be loaded |
12098 | 86 beforehand, then the comments at the beginning of the file should say |
87 so. Also, use @code{require} to make sure they are loaded. | |
88 | |
89 @item | |
6552 | 90 If one file @var{foo} uses a macro defined in another file @var{bar}, |
12098 | 91 @var{foo} should contain this expression before the first use of the |
92 macro: | |
93 | |
94 @example | |
95 (eval-when-compile (require '@var{bar})) | |
96 @end example | |
97 | |
98 @noindent | |
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99 (And the library @var{bar} should contain @code{(provide '@var{bar})}, |
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100 to make the @code{require} work.) This will cause @var{bar} to be |
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101 loaded when you byte-compile @var{foo}. Otherwise, you risk compiling |
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102 @var{foo} without the necessary macro loaded, and that would produce |
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103 compiled code that won't work right. @xref{Compiling Macros}. |
12098 | 104 |
105 Using @code{eval-when-compile} avoids loading @var{bar} when | |
106 the compiled version of @var{foo} is @emph{used}. | |
6552 | 107 |
108 @item | |
24799 | 109 Please don't require the @code{cl} package of Common Lisp extensions at |
110 run time. Use of this package is optional, and it is not part of the | |
111 standard Emacs namespace. If your package loads @code{cl} at run time, | |
112 that could cause name clashes for users who don't use that package. | |
113 | |
114 However, there is no problem with using the @code{cl} package at compile | |
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115 time, with @code{(eval-when-compile (require 'cl))}. |
24799 | 116 |
117 @item | |
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118 When defining a major mode, please follow the major mode |
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119 conventions. @xref{Major Mode Conventions}. |
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120 |
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121 @item |
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122 When defining a minor mode, please follow the minor mode |
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123 conventions. @xref{Minor Mode Conventions}. |
6552 | 124 |
125 @item | |
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126 If the purpose of a function is to tell you whether a certain condition |
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127 is true or false, give the function a name that ends in @samp{p}. If |
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128 the name is one word, add just @samp{p}; if the name is multiple words, |
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129 add @samp{-p}. Examples are @code{framep} and @code{frame-live-p}. |
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130 |
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131 @item |
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132 If a user option variable records a true-or-false condition, give it a |
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133 name that ends in @samp{-flag}. |
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134 |
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135 @item |
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136 If the purpose of a variable is to store a single function, give it a |
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137 name that ends in @samp{-function}. If the purpose of a variable is |
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138 to store a list of functions (i.e., the variable is a hook), please |
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139 follow the naming conventions for hooks. @xref{Hooks}. |
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140 |
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141 @item |
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142 @cindex unloading packages |
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143 If loading the file adds functions to hooks, define a function |
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144 @code{@var{feature}-unload-hook}, where @var{feature} is the name of |
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145 the feature the package provides, and make it undo any such changes. |
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146 Using @code{unload-feature} to unload the file will run this function. |
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147 @xref{Unloading}. |
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148 |
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149 @item |
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150 It is a bad idea to define aliases for the Emacs primitives. Normally |
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151 you should use the standard names instead. The case where an alias |
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152 may be useful is where it facilitates backwards compatibility or |
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153 portability. |
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154 |
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155 @item |
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156 If a package needs to define an alias or a new function for |
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157 compatibility with some other version of Emacs, name it with the package |
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158 prefix, not with the raw name with which it occurs in the other version. |
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159 Here is an example from Gnus, which provides many examples of such |
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160 compatibility issues. |
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161 |
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162 @example |
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163 (defalias 'gnus-point-at-bol |
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164 (if (fboundp 'point-at-bol) |
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165 'point-at-bol |
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166 'line-beginning-position)) |
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167 @end example |
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168 |
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169 @item |
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170 Redefining (or advising) an Emacs primitive is discouraged. It may do |
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171 the right thing for a particular program, but there is no telling what |
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172 other programs might break as a result. |
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173 |
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174 @item |
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175 If a file does replace any of the functions or library programs of |
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176 standard Emacs, prominent comments at the beginning of the file should |
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177 say which functions are replaced, and how the behavior of the |
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178 replacements differs from that of the originals. |
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179 |
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180 @item |
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181 Avoid using macros that define functions and variables with names that |
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182 are constructed. It is best for maintenance when the name of the |
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183 function or variable being defined is given explicitly in the source |
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184 code, as the second element of the list---as it is when you use |
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185 @code{defun}, @code{defalias}, @code{defvar} and @code{defcustom}. |
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186 |
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187 @item |
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188 Please keep the names of your Emacs Lisp source files to 13 characters |
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189 or less. This way, if the files are compiled, the compiled files' names |
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190 will be 14 characters or less, which is short enough to fit on all kinds |
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191 of Unix systems. |
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192 |
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193 @item |
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194 In some other systems there is a convention of choosing variable names |
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195 that begin and end with @samp{*}. We don't use that convention in Emacs |
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196 Lisp, so please don't use it in your programs. (Emacs uses such names |
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197 only for special-purpose buffers.) The users will find Emacs more |
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198 coherent if all libraries use the same conventions. |
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199 |
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200 @item |
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201 Indent each function with @kbd{C-M-q} (@code{indent-sexp}) using the |
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202 default indentation parameters. |
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203 |
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204 @item |
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205 Don't make a habit of putting close-parentheses on lines by themselves; |
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206 Lisp programmers find this disconcerting. Once in a while, when there |
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207 is a sequence of many consecutive close-parentheses, it may make sense |
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208 to split the sequence in one or two significant places. |
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209 |
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210 @item |
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211 Please put a copyright notice and copying permission notice on the |
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212 file if you distribute copies. Use a notice like this one: |
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213 |
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214 @smallexample |
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215 ;; Copyright (C) @var{year} @var{name} |
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216 |
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217 ;; This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or |
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218 ;; modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as |
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219 ;; published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of |
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220 ;; the License, or (at your option) any later version. |
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221 |
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222 ;; This program is distributed in the hope that it will be |
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223 ;; useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied |
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224 ;; warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR |
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225 ;; PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details. |
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226 |
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227 ;; You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public |
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228 ;; License along with this program; if not, write to the Free |
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229 ;; Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, |
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230 ;; MA 02110-1301 USA |
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231 @end smallexample |
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232 |
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233 If you have signed papers to assign the copyright to the Foundation, |
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234 then use @samp{Free Software Foundation, Inc.} as @var{name}. |
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235 Otherwise, use your name. See also @xref{Library Headers}. |
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236 @end itemize |
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237 |
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238 @node Key Binding Conventions |
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239 @section Key Binding Conventions |
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240 |
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241 @itemize @bullet |
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242 @item |
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243 @cindex mouse-2 |
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244 @cindex references, following |
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245 Special major modes used for read-only text should usually redefine |
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246 @kbd{mouse-2} and @key{RET} to trace some sort of reference in the text. |
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247 Modes such as Dired, Info, Compilation, and Occur redefine it in this |
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248 way. |
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249 |
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250 In addition, they should mark the text as a kind of ``link'' so that |
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251 @kbd{mouse-1} will follow it also. @xref{Links and Mouse-1}. |
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252 |
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253 @item |
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254 @cindex reserved keys |
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255 @cindex keys, reserved |
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256 Please do not define @kbd{C-c @var{letter}} as a key in Lisp programs. |
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257 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} and a letter (either upper or lower |
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258 case) are reserved for users; they are the @strong{only} sequences |
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259 reserved for users, so do not block them. |
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261 Changing all the Emacs major modes to respect this convention was a |
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262 lot of work; abandoning this convention would make that work go to |
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263 waste, and inconvenience users. Please comply with it. |
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265 @item |
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266 Function keys @key{F5} through @key{F9} without modifier keys are |
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267 also reserved for users to define. |
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268 |
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269 @item |
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270 Applications should not bind mouse events based on button 1 with the |
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271 shift key held down. These events include @kbd{S-mouse-1}, |
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272 @kbd{M-S-mouse-1}, @kbd{C-S-mouse-1}, and so on. They are reserved for |
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273 users. |
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274 |
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275 @item |
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276 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} followed by a control character or a |
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277 digit are reserved for major modes. |
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278 |
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279 @item |
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280 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} followed by @kbd{@{}, @kbd{@}}, |
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281 @kbd{<}, @kbd{>}, @kbd{:} or @kbd{;} are also reserved for major modes. |
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282 |
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283 @item |
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284 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} followed by any other punctuation |
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285 character are allocated for minor modes. Using them in a major mode is |
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286 not absolutely prohibited, but if you do that, the major mode binding |
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287 may be shadowed from time to time by minor modes. |
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289 @item | |
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290 Do not bind @kbd{C-h} following any prefix character (including |
6552 | 291 @kbd{C-c}). If you don't bind @kbd{C-h}, it is automatically available |
292 as a help character for listing the subcommands of the prefix character. | |
293 | |
294 @item | |
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295 Do not bind a key sequence ending in @key{ESC} except following |
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296 another @key{ESC}. (That is, it is OK to bind a sequence ending in |
6552 | 297 @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC}}.) |
298 | |
299 The reason for this rule is that a non-prefix binding for @key{ESC} in | |
300 any context prevents recognition of escape sequences as function keys in | |
301 that context. | |
302 | |
303 @item | |
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304 Anything which acts like a temporary mode or state which the user can |
24862 | 305 enter and leave should define @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC}} or |
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306 @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC} @key{ESC}} as a way to escape. |
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307 |
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308 For a state which accepts ordinary Emacs commands, or more generally any |
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309 kind of state in which @key{ESC} followed by a function key or arrow key |
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310 is potentially meaningful, then you must not define @kbd{@key{ESC} |
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311 @key{ESC}}, since that would preclude recognizing an escape sequence |
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312 after @key{ESC}. In these states, you should define @kbd{@key{ESC} |
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313 @key{ESC} @key{ESC}} as the way to escape. Otherwise, define |
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314 @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC}} instead. |
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315 @end itemize |
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316 |
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317 @node Programming Tips |
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318 @section Emacs Programming Tips |
34305 | 319 |
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320 Following these conventions will make your program fit better |
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321 into Emacs when it runs. |
6552 | 322 |
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323 @itemize @bullet |
6552 | 324 @item |
325 Don't use @code{next-line} or @code{previous-line} in programs; nearly | |
326 always, @code{forward-line} is more convenient as well as more | |
327 predictable and robust. @xref{Text Lines}. | |
328 | |
329 @item | |
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330 Don't call functions that set the mark, unless setting the mark is one |
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331 of the intended features of your program. The mark is a user-level |
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332 feature, so it is incorrect to change the mark except to supply a value |
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333 for the user's benefit. @xref{The Mark}. |
6552 | 334 |
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335 In particular, don't use any of these functions: |
6552 | 336 |
337 @itemize @bullet | |
338 @item | |
339 @code{beginning-of-buffer}, @code{end-of-buffer} | |
340 @item | |
341 @code{replace-string}, @code{replace-regexp} | |
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342 @item |
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343 @code{insert-file}, @code{insert-buffer} |
6552 | 344 @end itemize |
345 | |
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346 If you just want to move point, or replace a certain string, or insert |
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347 a file or buffer's contents, without any of the other features |
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348 intended for interactive users, you can replace these functions with |
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349 one or two lines of simple Lisp code. |
6552 | 350 |
351 @item | |
8669 | 352 Use lists rather than vectors, except when there is a particular reason |
353 to use a vector. Lisp has more facilities for manipulating lists than | |
354 for vectors, and working with lists is usually more convenient. | |
355 | |
356 Vectors are advantageous for tables that are substantial in size and are | |
357 accessed in random order (not searched front to back), provided there is | |
358 no need to insert or delete elements (only lists allow that). | |
359 | |
360 @item | |
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361 The recommended way to show a message in the echo area is with |
6552 | 362 the @code{message} function, not @code{princ}. @xref{The Echo Area}. |
363 | |
364 @item | |
365 When you encounter an error condition, call the function @code{error} | |
366 (or @code{signal}). The function @code{error} does not return. | |
367 @xref{Signaling Errors}. | |
368 | |
369 Do not use @code{message}, @code{throw}, @code{sleep-for}, | |
370 or @code{beep} to report errors. | |
371 | |
372 @item | |
12098 | 373 An error message should start with a capital letter but should not end |
374 with a period. | |
375 | |
376 @item | |
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377 A question asked in the minibuffer with @code{y-or-n-p} or |
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378 @code{yes-or-no-p} should start with a capital letter and end with |
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379 @samp{? }. |
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380 |
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381 @item |
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382 When you mention a default value in a minibuffer prompt, |
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383 put it and the word @samp{default} inside parentheses. |
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384 It should look like this: |
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385 |
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386 @example |
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387 Enter the answer: (default 42) |
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388 @end example |
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389 |
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390 @item |
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391 In @code{interactive}, if you use a Lisp expression to produce a list |
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392 of arguments, don't try to provide the ``correct'' default values for |
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393 region or position arguments. Instead, provide @code{nil} for those |
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394 arguments if they were not specified, and have the function body |
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395 compute the default value when the argument is @code{nil}. For |
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396 instance, write this: |
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397 |
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398 @example |
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399 (defun foo (pos) |
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400 (interactive |
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401 (list (if @var{specified} @var{specified-pos}))) |
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402 (unless pos (setq pos @var{default-pos})) |
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403 ...) |
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404 @end example |
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405 |
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406 @noindent |
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407 rather than this: |
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408 |
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409 @example |
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410 (defun foo (pos) |
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411 (interactive |
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412 (list (if @var{specified} @var{specified-pos} |
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413 @var{default-pos}))) |
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414 ...) |
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415 @end example |
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416 |
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417 @noindent |
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418 This is so that repetition of the command will recompute |
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419 these defaults based on the current circumstances. |
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420 |
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421 You do not need to take such precautions when you use interactive |
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422 specs @samp{d}, @samp{m} and @samp{r}, because they make special |
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423 arrangements to recompute the argument values on repetition of the |
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424 command. |
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425 |
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426 @item |
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427 Many commands that take a long time to execute display a message that |
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428 says something like @samp{Operating...} when they start, and change it to |
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429 @samp{Operating...done} when they finish. Please keep the style of |
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430 these messages uniform: @emph{no} space around the ellipsis, and |
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431 @emph{no} period after @samp{done}. |
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432 |
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433 @item |
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434 Try to avoid using recursive edits. Instead, do what the Rmail @kbd{e} |
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435 command does: use a new local keymap that contains one command defined |
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436 to switch back to the old local keymap. Or do what the |
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437 @code{edit-options} command does: switch to another buffer and let the |
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438 user switch back at will. @xref{Recursive Editing}. |
6552 | 439 @end itemize |
440 | |
441 @node Compilation Tips | |
442 @section Tips for Making Compiled Code Fast | |
443 @cindex execution speed | |
444 @cindex speedups | |
445 | |
446 Here are ways of improving the execution speed of byte-compiled | |
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447 Lisp programs. |
6552 | 448 |
449 @itemize @bullet | |
450 @item | |
451 @cindex profiling | |
452 @cindex timing programs | |
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453 @cindex @file{elp.el} |
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454 Profile your program with the @file{elp} library. See the file |
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455 @file{elp.el} for instructions. |
6552 | 456 |
457 @item | |
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458 @cindex @file{benchmark.el} |
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459 @cindex benchmarking |
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460 Check the speed of individual Emacs Lisp forms using the |
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461 @file{benchmark} library. See the functions @code{benchmark-run} and |
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462 @code{benchmark-run-compiled} in @file{benchmark.el}. |
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463 |
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464 @item |
6552 | 465 Use iteration rather than recursion whenever possible. |
466 Function calls are slow in Emacs Lisp even when a compiled function | |
467 is calling another compiled function. | |
468 | |
469 @item | |
12098 | 470 Using the primitive list-searching functions @code{memq}, @code{member}, |
471 @code{assq}, or @code{assoc} is even faster than explicit iteration. It | |
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472 can be worth rearranging a data structure so that one of these primitive |
12098 | 473 search functions can be used. |
6552 | 474 |
475 @item | |
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476 Certain built-in functions are handled specially in byte-compiled code, |
6552 | 477 avoiding the need for an ordinary function call. It is a good idea to |
478 use these functions rather than alternatives. To see whether a function | |
479 is handled specially by the compiler, examine its @code{byte-compile} | |
480 property. If the property is non-@code{nil}, then the function is | |
481 handled specially. | |
482 | |
483 For example, the following input will show you that @code{aref} is | |
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484 compiled specially (@pxref{Array Functions}): |
6552 | 485 |
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486 @example |
6552 | 487 @group |
488 (get 'aref 'byte-compile) | |
489 @result{} byte-compile-two-args | |
490 @end group | |
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491 @end example |
6552 | 492 |
493 @item | |
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494 If calling a small function accounts for a substantial part of your |
6552 | 495 program's running time, make the function inline. This eliminates |
496 the function call overhead. Since making a function inline reduces | |
497 the flexibility of changing the program, don't do it unless it gives | |
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498 a noticeable speedup in something slow enough that users care about |
6552 | 499 the speed. @xref{Inline Functions}. |
500 @end itemize | |
501 | |
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502 @node Warning Tips |
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503 @section Tips for Avoiding Compiler Warnings |
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504 |
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505 @itemize @bullet |
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506 @item |
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507 Try to avoid compiler warnings about undefined free variables, by adding |
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508 dummy @code{defvar} definitions for these variables, like this: |
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509 |
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510 @example |
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511 (defvar foo) |
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512 @end example |
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513 |
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514 Such a definition has no effect except to tell the compiler |
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515 not to warn about uses of the variable @code{foo} in this file. |
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516 |
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517 @item |
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518 If you use many functions and variables from a certain file, you can |
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519 add a @code{require} for that package to avoid compilation warnings |
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520 for them. For instance, |
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521 |
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522 @example |
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523 (eval-when-compile |
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524 (require 'foo)) |
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525 @end example |
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526 |
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527 @item |
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528 If you bind a variable in one function, and use it or set it in |
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529 another function, the compiler warns about the latter function unless |
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530 the variable has a definition. But adding a definition would be |
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531 unclean if the variable has a short name, since Lisp packages should |
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532 not define short variable names. The right thing to do is to rename |
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533 this variable to start with the name prefix used for the other |
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534 functions and variables in your package. |
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535 |
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536 @item |
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537 The last resort for avoiding a warning, when you want to do something |
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538 that usually is a mistake but it's not a mistake in this one case, |
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539 is to put a call to @code{with-no-warnings} around it. |
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540 @end itemize |
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541 |
6552 | 542 @node Documentation Tips |
543 @section Tips for Documentation Strings | |
544 | |
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545 @findex checkdoc-minor-mode |
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546 Here are some tips and conventions for the writing of documentation |
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547 strings. You can check many of these conventions by running the command |
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548 @kbd{M-x checkdoc-minor-mode}. |
6552 | 549 |
550 @itemize @bullet | |
551 @item | |
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552 Every command, function, or variable intended for users to know about |
6552 | 553 should have a documentation string. |
554 | |
555 @item | |
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556 An internal variable or subroutine of a Lisp program might as well have |
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557 a documentation string. In earlier Emacs versions, you could save space |
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558 by using a comment instead of a documentation string, but that is no |
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559 longer the case---documentation strings now take up very little space in |
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560 a running Emacs. |
6552 | 561 |
562 @item | |
42979 | 563 Format the documentation string so that it fits in an Emacs window on an |
564 80-column screen. It is a good idea for most lines to be no wider than | |
565 60 characters. The first line should not be wider than 67 characters | |
566 or it will look bad in the output of @code{apropos}. | |
567 | |
568 You can fill the text if that looks good. However, rather than blindly | |
569 filling the entire documentation string, you can often make it much more | |
570 readable by choosing certain line breaks with care. Use blank lines | |
571 between topics if the documentation string is long. | |
572 | |
573 @item | |
6552 | 574 The first line of the documentation string should consist of one or two |
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575 complete sentences that stand on their own as a summary. @kbd{M-x |
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576 apropos} displays just the first line, and if that line's contents don't |
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577 stand on their own, the result looks bad. In particular, start the |
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578 first line with a capital letter and end with a period. |
6552 | 579 |
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580 For a function, the first line should briefly answer the question, |
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581 ``What does this function do?'' For a variable, the first line should |
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582 briefly answer the question, ``What does this value mean?'' |
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583 |
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584 Don't limit the documentation string to one line; use as many lines as |
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585 you need to explain the details of how to use the function or |
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586 variable. Please use complete sentences for the rest of the text too. |
6552 | 587 |
588 @item | |
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589 The first line should mention all the important arguments of the |
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590 function, and should mention them in the order that they are written |
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591 in a function call. If the function has many arguments, then it is |
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592 not feasible to mention them all in the first line; in that case, the |
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593 first line should mention the first few arguments, including the most |
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594 important arguments. |
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595 |
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596 @item |
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597 For consistency, phrase the verb in the first sentence of a function's |
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598 documentation string as an imperative---for instance, use ``Return the |
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599 cons of A and B.'' in preference to ``Returns the cons of A and B@.'' |
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600 Usually it looks good to do likewise for the rest of the first |
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601 paragraph. Subsequent paragraphs usually look better if each sentence |
42979 | 602 is indicative and has a proper subject. |
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603 |
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604 @item |
6552 | 605 Write documentation strings in the active voice, not the passive, and in |
606 the present tense, not the future. For instance, use ``Return a list | |
607 containing A and B.'' instead of ``A list containing A and B will be | |
608 returned.'' | |
609 | |
610 @item | |
611 Avoid using the word ``cause'' (or its equivalents) unnecessarily. | |
612 Instead of, ``Cause Emacs to display text in boldface,'' write just | |
613 ``Display text in boldface.'' | |
614 | |
615 @item | |
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616 When a command is meaningful only in a certain mode or situation, |
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617 do mention that in the documentation string. For example, |
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618 the documentation of @code{dired-find-file} is: |
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619 |
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620 @example |
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621 In Dired, visit the file or directory named on this line. |
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622 @end example |
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623 |
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624 @item |
6552 | 625 Do not start or end a documentation string with whitespace. |
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626 |
6552 | 627 @item |
628 @strong{Do not} indent subsequent lines of a documentation string so | |
629 that the text is lined up in the source code with the text of the first | |
630 line. This looks nice in the source code, but looks bizarre when users | |
631 view the documentation. Remember that the indentation before the | |
632 starting double-quote is not part of the string! | |
633 | |
634 @item | |
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635 When the user tries to use a disabled command, Emacs displays just the |
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636 first paragraph of its documentation string---everything through the |
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637 first blank line. If you wish, you can choose which information to |
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638 include before the first blank line so as to make this display useful. |
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639 |
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640 @item |
6552 | 641 A variable's documentation string should start with @samp{*} if the |
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642 variable is one that users would often want to set interactively. If |
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643 the value is a long list, or a function, or if the variable would be set |
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644 only in init files, then don't start the documentation string with |
6552 | 645 @samp{*}. @xref{Defining Variables}. |
646 | |
647 @item | |
648 The documentation string for a variable that is a yes-or-no flag should | |
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649 start with words such as ``Non-nil means@dots{}'', to make it clear that |
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650 all non-@code{nil} values are equivalent and indicate explicitly what |
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651 @code{nil} and non-@code{nil} mean. |
6552 | 652 |
653 @item | |
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654 The documentation string for a function that is a yes-or-no predicate |
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655 should start with words such as ``Return t if @dots{}'', to indicate |
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656 explicitly what constitutes ``truth''. The word ``return'' avoids |
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657 starting the sentence with lower-case ``t'', which is somewhat |
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658 distracting. |
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659 |
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660 @item |
6552 | 661 When a function's documentation string mentions the value of an argument |
662 of the function, use the argument name in capital letters as if it were | |
663 a name for that value. Thus, the documentation string of the function | |
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664 @code{eval} refers to its second argument as @samp{FORM}, because the |
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665 actual argument name is @code{form}: |
6552 | 666 |
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667 @example |
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668 Evaluate FORM and return its value. |
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669 @end example |
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670 |
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671 Also write metasyntactic variables in capital letters, such as when you |
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672 show the decomposition of a list or vector into subunits, some of which |
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|
673 may vary. @samp{KEY} and @samp{VALUE} in the following example |
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674 illustrate this practice: |
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675 |
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676 @example |
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677 The argument TABLE should be an alist whose elements |
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678 have the form (KEY . VALUE). Here, KEY is ... |
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679 @end example |
6552 | 680 |
681 @item | |
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682 Never change the case of a Lisp symbol when you mention it in a doc |
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|
683 string. If the symbol's name is @code{foo}, write ``foo'', not |
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684 ``Foo'' (which is a different symbol). |
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|
685 |
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|
686 This might appear to contradict the policy of writing function |
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|
687 argument values, but there is no real contradiction; the argument |
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|
688 @emph{value} is not the same thing as the @emph{symbol} which the |
37a08b5afded
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|
689 function uses to hold the value. |
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|
690 |
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|
691 If this puts a lower-case letter at the beginning of a sentence |
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|
692 and that annoys you, rewrite the sentence so that the symbol |
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Document textual convention for doc strings of predicates.
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|
693 is not at the start of it. |
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Document textual convention for doc strings of predicates.
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|
694 |
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|
695 @item |
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|
696 If a line in a documentation string begins with an open-parenthesis, |
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|
697 write a backslash before the open-parenthesis, like this: |
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|
698 |
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|
699 @example |
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|
700 The argument FOO can be either a number |
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|
701 \(a buffer position) or a string (a file name). |
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|
702 @end example |
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|
703 |
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|
704 This prevents the open-parenthesis from being treated as the start of a |
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|
705 defun (@pxref{Defuns,, Defuns, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). |
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|
706 |
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|
707 @anchor{Docstring hyperlinks} |
26696
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708 @item |
6552 | 709 @iftex |
710 When a documentation string refers to a Lisp symbol, write it as it | |
711 would be printed (which usually means in lower case), with single-quotes | |
712 around it. For example: @samp{`lambda'}. There are two exceptions: | |
713 write @code{t} and @code{nil} without single-quotes. | |
714 @end iftex | |
27193 | 715 @ifnottex |
6552 | 716 When a documentation string refers to a Lisp symbol, write it as it |
717 would be printed (which usually means in lower case), with single-quotes | |
718 around it. For example: @samp{lambda}. There are two exceptions: write | |
21682
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719 t and nil without single-quotes. (In this manual, we use a different |
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720 convention, with single-quotes for all symbols.) |
27193 | 721 @end ifnottex |
6552 | 722 |
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723 Help mode automatically creates a hyperlink when a documentation string |
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724 uses a symbol name inside single quotes, if the symbol has either a |
22138
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725 function or a variable definition. You do not need to do anything |
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726 special to make use of this feature. However, when a symbol has both a |
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727 function definition and a variable definition, and you want to refer to |
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728 just one of them, you can specify which one by writing one of the words |
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729 @samp{variable}, @samp{option}, @samp{function}, or @samp{command}, |
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730 immediately before the symbol name. (Case makes no difference in |
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|
731 recognizing these indicator words.) For example, if you write |
21682
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732 |
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|
733 @example |
22138
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734 This function sets the variable `buffer-file-name'. |
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735 @end example |
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736 |
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737 @noindent |
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738 then the hyperlink will refer only to the variable documentation of |
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739 @code{buffer-file-name}, and not to its function documentation. |
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740 |
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741 If a symbol has a function definition and/or a variable definition, but |
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742 those are irrelevant to the use of the symbol that you are documenting, |
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743 you can write the word @samp{symbol} before the symbol name to prevent |
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744 making any hyperlink. For example, |
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745 |
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746 @example |
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747 If the argument KIND-OF-RESULT is the symbol `list', |
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748 this function returns a list of all the objects |
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749 that satisfy the criterion. |
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750 @end example |
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751 |
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752 @noindent |
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753 does not make a hyperlink to the documentation, irrelevant here, of the |
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754 function @code{list}. |
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755 |
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756 Normally, no hyperlink is made for a variable without variable |
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757 documentation. You can force a hyperlink for such variables by |
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758 preceding them with one of the words @samp{variable} or |
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759 @samp{option}. |
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760 |
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761 Hyperlinks for faces are only made if the face name is preceded or |
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762 followed by the word @samp{face}. In that case, only the face |
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763 documentation will be shown, even if the symbol is also defined as a |
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764 variable or as a function. |
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765 |
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766 To make a hyperlink to Info documentation, write the name of the Info |
53457
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767 node (or anchor) in single quotes, preceded by @samp{info node}, |
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768 @samp{Info node}, @samp{info anchor} or @samp{Info anchor}. The Info |
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769 file name defaults to @samp{emacs}. For example, |
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770 |
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771 @smallexample |
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772 See Info node `Font Lock' and Info node `(elisp)Font Lock Basics'. |
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773 @end smallexample |
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774 |
6552 | 775 @item |
776 Don't write key sequences directly in documentation strings. Instead, | |
777 use the @samp{\\[@dots{}]} construct to stand for them. For example, | |
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778 instead of writing @samp{C-f}, write the construct |
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779 @samp{\\[forward-char]}. When Emacs displays the documentation string, |
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780 it substitutes whatever key is currently bound to @code{forward-char}. |
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781 (This is normally @samp{C-f}, but it may be some other character if the |
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782 user has moved key bindings.) @xref{Keys in Documentation}. |
6552 | 783 |
784 @item | |
785 In documentation strings for a major mode, you will want to refer to the | |
786 key bindings of that mode's local map, rather than global ones. | |
787 Therefore, use the construct @samp{\\<@dots{}>} once in the | |
788 documentation string to specify which key map to use. Do this before | |
789 the first use of @samp{\\[@dots{}]}. The text inside the | |
790 @samp{\\<@dots{}>} should be the name of the variable containing the | |
791 local keymap for the major mode. | |
792 | |
793 It is not practical to use @samp{\\[@dots{}]} very many times, because | |
794 display of the documentation string will become slow. So use this to | |
795 describe the most important commands in your major mode, and then use | |
796 @samp{\\@{@dots{}@}} to display the rest of the mode's keymap. | |
797 @end itemize | |
798 | |
799 @node Comment Tips | |
800 @section Tips on Writing Comments | |
801 | |
802 We recommend these conventions for where to put comments and how to | |
803 indent them: | |
804 | |
805 @table @samp | |
806 @item ; | |
807 Comments that start with a single semicolon, @samp{;}, should all be | |
808 aligned to the same column on the right of the source code. Such | |
809 comments usually explain how the code on the same line does its job. In | |
810 Lisp mode and related modes, the @kbd{M-;} (@code{indent-for-comment}) | |
811 command automatically inserts such a @samp{;} in the right place, or | |
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812 aligns such a comment if it is already present. |
6552 | 813 |
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814 This and following examples are taken from the Emacs sources. |
6552 | 815 |
816 @smallexample | |
817 @group | |
818 (setq base-version-list ; there was a base | |
819 (assoc (substring fn 0 start-vn) ; version to which | |
820 file-version-assoc-list)) ; this looks like | |
821 ; a subversion | |
822 @end group | |
823 @end smallexample | |
824 | |
825 @item ;; | |
826 Comments that start with two semicolons, @samp{;;}, should be aligned to | |
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827 the same level of indentation as the code. Such comments usually |
6552 | 828 describe the purpose of the following lines or the state of the program |
829 at that point. For example: | |
830 | |
831 @smallexample | |
832 @group | |
833 (prog1 (setq auto-fill-function | |
834 @dots{} | |
835 @dots{} | |
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836 ;; update mode line |
6552 | 837 (force-mode-line-update))) |
838 @end group | |
839 @end smallexample | |
840 | |
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841 We also normally use two semicolons for comments outside functions. |
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842 |
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843 @smallexample |
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844 @group |
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845 ;; This Lisp code is run in Emacs |
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846 ;; when it is to operate as a server |
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847 ;; for other processes. |
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848 @end group |
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849 @end smallexample |
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850 |
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851 Every function that has no documentation string (presumably one that is |
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852 used only internally within the package it belongs to), should instead |
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853 have a two-semicolon comment right before the function, explaining what |
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854 the function does and how to call it properly. Explain precisely what |
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855 each argument means and how the function interprets its possible values. |
6552 | 856 |
857 @item ;;; | |
858 Comments that start with three semicolons, @samp{;;;}, should start at | |
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859 the left margin. These are used, occasionally, for comments within |
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860 functions that should start at the margin. We also use them sometimes |
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861 for comments that are between functions---whether to use two or three |
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862 semicolons depends on whether the comment should be considered a |
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863 ``heading'' by Outline minor mode. By default, comments starting with |
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864 at least three semicolons (followed by a single space and a |
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865 non-whitespace character) are considered headings, comments starting |
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866 with two or less are not. |
6552 | 867 |
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868 Another use for triple-semicolon comments is for commenting out lines |
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869 within a function. We use three semicolons for this precisely so that |
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870 they remain at the left margin. By default, Outline minor mode does |
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871 not consider a comment to be a heading (even if it starts with at |
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872 least three semicolons) if the semicolons are followed by at least two |
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873 spaces. Thus, if you add an introductory comment to the commented out |
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874 code, make sure to indent it by at least two spaces after the three |
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875 semicolons. |
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876 |
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877 @smallexample |
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878 (defun foo (a) |
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879 ;;; This is no longer necessary. |
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880 ;;; (force-mode-line-update) |
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881 (message "Finished with %s" a)) |
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882 @end smallexample |
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883 |
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884 When commenting out entire functions, use two semicolons. |
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885 |
6552 | 886 @item ;;;; |
887 Comments that start with four semicolons, @samp{;;;;}, should be aligned | |
888 to the left margin and are used for headings of major sections of a | |
889 program. For example: | |
890 | |
891 @smallexample | |
892 ;;;; The kill ring | |
893 @end smallexample | |
894 @end table | |
895 | |
896 @noindent | |
897 The indentation commands of the Lisp modes in Emacs, such as @kbd{M-;} | |
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898 (@code{indent-for-comment}) and @key{TAB} (@code{lisp-indent-line}), |
6552 | 899 automatically indent comments according to these conventions, |
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900 depending on the number of semicolons. @xref{Comments,, |
6552 | 901 Manipulating Comments, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
902 | |
903 @node Library Headers | |
904 @section Conventional Headers for Emacs Libraries | |
905 @cindex header comments | |
906 @cindex library header comments | |
907 | |
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908 Emacs has conventions for using special comments in Lisp libraries |
6552 | 909 to divide them into sections and give information such as who wrote |
25751
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910 them. This section explains these conventions. |
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911 |
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912 We'll start with an example, a package that is included in the Emacs |
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913 distribution. |
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914 |
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915 Parts of this example reflect its status as part of Emacs; for |
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916 example, the copyright notice lists the Free Software Foundation as the |
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917 copyright holder, and the copying permission says the file is part of |
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918 Emacs. When you write a package and post it, the copyright holder would |
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919 be you (unless your employer claims to own it instead), and you should |
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920 get the suggested copying permission from the end of the GNU General |
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921 Public License itself. Don't say your file is part of Emacs |
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922 if we haven't installed it in Emacs yet! |
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923 |
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924 With that warning out of the way, on to the example: |
6552 | 925 |
926 @smallexample | |
927 @group | |
928 ;;; lisp-mnt.el --- minor mode for Emacs Lisp maintainers | |
929 | |
930 ;; Copyright (C) 1992 Free Software Foundation, Inc. | |
931 @end group | |
932 | |
933 ;; Author: Eric S. Raymond <esr@@snark.thyrsus.com> | |
934 ;; Maintainer: Eric S. Raymond <esr@@snark.thyrsus.com> | |
935 ;; Created: 14 Jul 1992 | |
936 ;; Version: 1.2 | |
937 @group | |
938 ;; Keywords: docs | |
939 | |
940 ;; This file is part of GNU Emacs. | |
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941 @dots{} |
64091 | 942 ;; Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, |
943 ;; Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA. | |
6552 | 944 @end group |
945 @end smallexample | |
946 | |
947 The very first line should have this format: | |
948 | |
949 @example | |
950 ;;; @var{filename} --- @var{description} | |
951 @end example | |
952 | |
953 @noindent | |
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954 The description should be complete in one line. If the file |
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955 needs a @samp{-*-} specification, put it after @var{description}. |
6552 | 956 |
957 After the copyright notice come several @dfn{header comment} lines, | |
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958 each beginning with @samp{;; @var{header-name}:}. Here is a table of |
6552 | 959 the conventional possibilities for @var{header-name}: |
960 | |
961 @table @samp | |
962 @item Author | |
963 This line states the name and net address of at least the principal | |
964 author of the library. | |
965 | |
966 If there are multiple authors, you can list them on continuation lines | |
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967 led by @code{;;} and a tab character, like this: |
6552 | 968 |
969 @smallexample | |
970 @group | |
971 ;; Author: Ashwin Ram <Ram-Ashwin@@cs.yale.edu> | |
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972 ;; Dave Sill <de5@@ornl.gov> |
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973 ;; Dave Brennan <brennan@@hal.com> |
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974 ;; Eric Raymond <esr@@snark.thyrsus.com> |
6552 | 975 @end group |
976 @end smallexample | |
977 | |
978 @item Maintainer | |
979 This line should contain a single name/address as in the Author line, or | |
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980 an address only, or the string @samp{FSF}. If there is no maintainer |
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981 line, the person(s) in the Author field are presumed to be the |
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982 maintainers. The example above is mildly bogus because the maintainer |
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983 line is redundant. |
6552 | 984 |
985 The idea behind the @samp{Author} and @samp{Maintainer} lines is to make | |
986 possible a Lisp function to ``send mail to the maintainer'' without | |
987 having to mine the name out by hand. | |
988 | |
989 Be sure to surround the network address with @samp{<@dots{}>} if | |
990 you include the person's full name as well as the network address. | |
991 | |
992 @item Created | |
993 This optional line gives the original creation date of the | |
994 file. For historical interest only. | |
995 | |
996 @item Version | |
997 If you wish to record version numbers for the individual Lisp program, put | |
998 them in this line. | |
999 | |
1000 @item Adapted-By | |
1001 In this header line, place the name of the person who adapted the | |
1002 library for installation (to make it fit the style conventions, for | |
1003 example). | |
1004 | |
1005 @item Keywords | |
1006 This line lists keywords for the @code{finder-by-keyword} help command. | |
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1007 Please use that command to see a list of the meaningful keywords. |
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1008 |
6552 | 1009 This field is important; it's how people will find your package when |
10229
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1010 they're looking for things by topic area. To separate the keywords, you |
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1011 can use spaces, commas, or both. |
6552 | 1012 @end table |
1013 | |
1014 Just about every Lisp library ought to have the @samp{Author} and | |
1015 @samp{Keywords} header comment lines. Use the others if they are | |
1016 appropriate. You can also put in header lines with other header | |
1017 names---they have no standard meanings, so they can't do any harm. | |
1018 | |
1019 We use additional stylized comments to subdivide the contents of the | |
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1020 library file. These should be separated by blank lines from anything |
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1021 else. Here is a table of them: |
6552 | 1022 |
1023 @table @samp | |
1024 @item ;;; Commentary: | |
1025 This begins introductory comments that explain how the library works. | |
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1026 It should come right after the copying permissions, terminated by a |
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1027 @samp{Change Log}, @samp{History} or @samp{Code} comment line. This |
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1028 text is used by the Finder package, so it should make sense in that |
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1029 context. |
6552 | 1030 |
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1031 @item ;;; Documentation: |
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1032 This was used in some files in place of @samp{;;; Commentary:}, |
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1033 but it is deprecated. |
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1034 |
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1035 @item ;;; Change Log: |
6552 | 1036 This begins change log information stored in the library file (if you |
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1037 store the change history there). For Lisp files distributed with Emacs, |
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1038 the change history is kept in the file @file{ChangeLog} and not in the |
ef5e7bbe6f19
Current version from /gd/gnu/elisp.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
26211
diff
changeset
|
1039 source file at all; these files generally do not have a @samp{;;; Change |
ef5e7bbe6f19
Current version from /gd/gnu/elisp.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
26211
diff
changeset
|
1040 Log:} line. @samp{History} is an alternative to @samp{Change Log}. |
6552 | 1041 |
1042 @item ;;; Code: | |
1043 This begins the actual code of the program. | |
1044 | |
1045 @item ;;; @var{filename} ends here | |
1046 This is the @dfn{footer line}; it appears at the very end of the file. | |
1047 Its purpose is to enable people to detect truncated versions of the file | |
1048 from the lack of a footer line. | |
1049 @end table | |
52401 | 1050 |
1051 @ignore | |
1052 arch-tag: 9ea911c2-6b1d-47dd-88b7-0a94e8b27c2e | |
1053 @end ignore |