annotate doc/lispref/tips.texi @ 96303:ddedcecb18ef

* unexnext.c: * m/ews4800.h: * m/hp9000s300.h: * m/ibm370aix.h: * m/mips-siemens.h: * m/ncr386.h: * m/next.h: * m/pmax.h: * m/powerpcle.h: * m/tandem-s2.h: * s/386bsd.h: * s/bsd386.h: * s/bsd4-1.h: * s/bsd4-2.h: * s/bsdos2-1.h: * s/bsdos2.h: * s/bsdos3.h: * s/bsdos4.h: * s/nextstep.h: * s/ultrix4-3.h: * s/usg5-0.h: * s/usg5-2-2.h: * s/usg5-2.h: * s/usg5-4-3.h: * s/ux4800.h: * s/uxpds.h: * s/uxpv.h: Remove support for obsolete systems. * s/hpux.h, s/hpux10.h, s/hpux8.h, s/hpux9.h, s/hpux9shr.h: Remove, insert contents in s/hpux-10.20.h * s/aix3-1.h, s/aix3-2-5.h, s/aix3-2.h, s/aix4-1.h, s/aix4.h: Remove, insert contents in s/aix-4.2.h * s/usg5-3.h: Remove, insert contents in s/usg5-4.h. * s/bsd4-3.h: Rename to .. * s/bsd-common.h: ... this. * src/data.c: * src/doc.c: * src/ecrt0.c: * src/emacs.c: * src/fileio.c: * src/floatfns.c: * src/keyboard.c: * src/mem-limits.h: * src/print.c: * src/process.c: * src/sysdep.c: * src/syssignal.h: * src/systty.h: * src/syswait.h: * src/term.c: * src/unexec.c: * src/unexelf.c: * src/unexhp9k800.c: * src/m/hp800.h: * src/m/ibmrs6000.h: * src/m/mips.h: * src/m/vax.h: * src/s/darwin.h: * src/s/freebsd.h: * src/s/gnu.h: * src/s/ms-w32.h: * src/s/msdos.h: * src/s/netbsd.h: * src/s/template.h: Remove references to obsolete variables. * Makefile.in: Add dependencies for all unexec files. (admindir): Remove unused variable. (UNEXEC_SRC): Remove references. * config.nt: Remove reference to UNEXEC_SRC. * lwlib.c: Remove references to obsolete variables. * fakemail.c: Remove references to obsolete variables. * os.texi: Remove references to obsolete systems. * configure.in: * configure: Remove references to obsolete systems.
author Dan Nicolaescu <dann@ics.uci.edu>
date Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:24:54 +0000
parents f03be7461a37
children cb5d2387102c
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1 @c -*-texinfo-*-
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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, 2001, 2002,
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4 @c 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
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6 @setfilename ../../info/tips
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7 @node Tips, GNU Emacs Internals, GPL, Top
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8 @appendix Tips and Conventions
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9 @cindex tips for writing Lisp
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10 @cindex standards of coding style
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11 @cindex coding standards
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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.
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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
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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.
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28 * Compilation Tips:: Making compiled code run fast.
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29 * Warning Tips:: Turning off compiler warnings.
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30 * Documentation Tips:: Writing readable documentation strings.
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31 * Comment Tips:: Conventions for writing comments.
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32 * Library Headers:: Standard headers for library packages.
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33 @end menu
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34
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35 @node Coding Conventions
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36 @section Emacs Lisp Coding Conventions
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37
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38 @cindex coding conventions in Emacs Lisp
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39 Here are conventions that you should follow when writing Emacs Lisp
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40 code intended for widespread use:
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41
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42 @itemize @bullet
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43 @item
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44 Simply loading the package should not change Emacs's editing behavior.
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45 Include a command or commands to enable and disable the feature,
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46 or to invoke it.
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47
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48 This convention is mandatory for any file that includes custom
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49 definitions. If fixing such a file to follow this convention requires
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50 an incompatible change, go ahead and make the incompatible change;
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51 don't postpone it.
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52
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53 @item
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54 Since all global variables share the same name space, and all
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55 functions share another name space, you should choose a short word to
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56 distinguish your program from other Lisp programs@footnote{The
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57 benefits of a Common Lisp-style package system are considered not to
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58 outweigh the costs.}. Then take care to begin the names of all global
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59 variables, constants, and functions in your program with the chosen
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60 prefix. This helps avoid name conflicts.
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61
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62 Occasionally, for a command name intended for users to use, it is more
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63 convenient if some words come before the package's name prefix. And
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64 constructs that define functions, variables, etc., work better if they
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65 start with @samp{defun} or @samp{defvar}, so put the name prefix later
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66 on in the name.
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67
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68 This recommendation applies even to names for traditional Lisp
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69 primitives that are not primitives in Emacs Lisp---such as
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70 @code{copy-list}. Believe it or not, there is more than one plausible
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71 way to define @code{copy-list}. Play it safe; append your name prefix
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72 to produce a name like @code{foo-copy-list} or @code{mylib-copy-list}
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73 instead.
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74
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75 If you write a function that you think ought to be added to Emacs under
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76 a certain name, such as @code{twiddle-files}, don't call it by that name
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77 in your program. Call it @code{mylib-twiddle-files} in your program,
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78 and send mail to @samp{bug-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org} suggesting we add
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79 it to Emacs. If and when we do, we can change the name easily enough.
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80
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81 If one prefix is insufficient, your package can use two or three
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82 alternative common prefixes, so long as they make sense.
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83
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84 Separate the prefix from the rest of the symbol name with a hyphen,
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85 @samp{-}. This will be consistent with Emacs itself and with most Emacs
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86 Lisp programs.
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87
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88 @item
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89 Put a call to @code{provide} at the end of each separate Lisp file.
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90
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91 @item
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92 If a file requires certain other Lisp programs to be loaded
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93 beforehand, then the comments at the beginning of the file should say
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94 so. Also, use @code{require} to make sure they are loaded.
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95
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96 @item
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97 If one file @var{foo} uses a macro defined in another file @var{bar},
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98 @var{foo} should contain this expression before the first use of the
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99 macro:
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100
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101 @example
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102 (eval-when-compile (require '@var{bar}))
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103 @end example
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104
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105 @noindent
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106 (And the library @var{bar} should contain @code{(provide '@var{bar})},
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107 to make the @code{require} work.) This will cause @var{bar} to be
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108 loaded when you byte-compile @var{foo}. Otherwise, you risk compiling
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109 @var{foo} without the necessary macro loaded, and that would produce
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110 compiled code that won't work right. @xref{Compiling Macros}.
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111
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112 Using @code{eval-when-compile} avoids loading @var{bar} when
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113 the compiled version of @var{foo} is @emph{used}.
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114
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115 @item
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116 Please don't require the @code{cl} package of Common Lisp extensions at
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117 run time. Use of this package is optional, and it is not part of the
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118 standard Emacs namespace. If your package loads @code{cl} at run time,
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119 that could cause name clashes for users who don't use that package.
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120
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121 However, there is no problem with using the @code{cl} package at
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122 compile time, with @code{(eval-when-compile (require 'cl))}. That's
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123 sufficient for using the macros in the @code{cl} package, because the
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124 compiler expands them before generating the byte-code.
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125
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126 @item
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127 When defining a major mode, please follow the major mode
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128 conventions. @xref{Major Mode Conventions}.
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129
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130 @item
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131 When defining a minor mode, please follow the minor mode
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132 conventions. @xref{Minor Mode Conventions}.
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133
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134 @item
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135 If the purpose of a function is to tell you whether a certain condition
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136 is true or false, give the function a name that ends in @samp{p}. If
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137 the name is one word, add just @samp{p}; if the name is multiple words,
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138 add @samp{-p}. Examples are @code{framep} and @code{frame-live-p}.
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139
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140 @item
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141 If the purpose of a variable is to store a single function, give it a
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142 name that ends in @samp{-function}. If the purpose of a variable is
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143 to store a list of functions (i.e., the variable is a hook), please
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144 follow the naming conventions for hooks. @xref{Hooks}.
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145
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146 @item
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147 @cindex unloading packages, preparing for
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148 If loading the file adds functions to hooks, define a function
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149 @code{@var{feature}-unload-hook}, where @var{feature} is the name of
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150 the feature the package provides, and make it undo any such changes.
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151 Using @code{unload-feature} to unload the file will run this function.
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152 @xref{Unloading}.
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153
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154 @item
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155 It is a bad idea to define aliases for the Emacs primitives. Normally
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156 you should use the standard names instead. The case where an alias
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157 may be useful is where it facilitates backwards compatibility or
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158 portability.
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159
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160 @item
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161 If a package needs to define an alias or a new function for
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162 compatibility with some other version of Emacs, name it with the package
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163 prefix, not with the raw name with which it occurs in the other version.
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164 Here is an example from Gnus, which provides many examples of such
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165 compatibility issues.
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166
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167 @example
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168 (defalias 'gnus-point-at-bol
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169 (if (fboundp 'point-at-bol)
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170 'point-at-bol
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171 'line-beginning-position))
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172 @end example
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173
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174 @item
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175 Redefining (or advising) an Emacs primitive is a bad idea. It may do
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176 the right thing for a particular program, but there is no telling what
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177 other programs might break as a result. In any case, it is a problem
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178 for debugging, because the advised function doesn't do what its source
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179 code says it does. If the programmer investigating the problem is
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180 unaware that there is advice on the function, the experience can be
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181 very frustrating.
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182
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183 We hope to remove all the places in Emacs that advise primitives.
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184 In the mean time, please don't add any more.
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185
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186 @item
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187 It is likewise a bad idea for one Lisp package to advise a function
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188 in another Lisp package.
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189
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190 @item
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191 Likewise, avoid using @code{eval-after-load} (@pxref{Hooks for
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192 Loading}) in libraries and packages. This feature is meant for
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193 personal customizations; using it in a Lisp program is unclean,
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194 because it modifies the behavior of another Lisp file in a way that's
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195 not visible in that file. This is an obstacle for debugging, much
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196 like advising a function in the other package.
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197
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198 @item
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199 If a file does replace any of the functions or library programs of
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200 standard Emacs, prominent comments at the beginning of the file should
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201 say which functions are replaced, and how the behavior of the
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202 replacements differs from that of the originals.
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203
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204 @item
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205 Constructs that define a function or variable should be macros,
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206 not functions, and their names should start with @samp{def}.
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207
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208 @item
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209 A macro that defines a function or variable should have a name that
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210 starts with @samp{define-}. The macro should receive the name to be
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211 defined as the first argument. That will help various tools find the
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212 definition automatically. Avoid constructing the names in the macro
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213 itself, since that would confuse these tools.
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214
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215 @item
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216 Please keep the names of your Emacs Lisp source files to 13 characters
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217 or less. This way, if the files are compiled, the compiled files' names
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218 will be 14 characters or less, which is short enough to fit on all kinds
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219 of Unix systems.
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220
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221 @item
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222 In some other systems there is a convention of choosing variable names
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223 that begin and end with @samp{*}. We don't use that convention in Emacs
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224 Lisp, so please don't use it in your programs. (Emacs uses such names
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225 only for special-purpose buffers.) The users will find Emacs more
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226 coherent if all libraries use the same conventions.
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227
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228 @item
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229 If your program contains non-ASCII characters in string or character
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230 constants, you should make sure Emacs always decodes these characters
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231 the same way, regardless of the user's settings. There are two ways
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232 to do that:
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233
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234 @itemize -
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235 @item
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236 Use coding system @code{emacs-mule}, and specify that for
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237 @code{coding} in the @samp{-*-} line or the local variables list.
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238
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239 @example
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240 ;; XXX.el -*- coding: emacs-mule; -*-
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241 @end example
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242
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243 @item
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244 Use one of the coding systems based on ISO 2022 (such as
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245 iso-8859-@var{n} and iso-2022-7bit), and specify it with @samp{!} at
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246 the end for @code{coding}. (The @samp{!} turns off any possible
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247 character translation.)
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248
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249 @example
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250 ;; XXX.el -*- coding: iso-latin-2!; -*-
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251 @end example
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252 @end itemize
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253
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254 @item
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255 Indent each function with @kbd{C-M-q} (@code{indent-sexp}) using the
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256 default indentation parameters.
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257
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258 @item
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259 Don't make a habit of putting close-parentheses on lines by themselves;
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260 Lisp programmers find this disconcerting. Once in a while, when there
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261 is a sequence of many consecutive close-parentheses, it may make sense
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262 to split the sequence in one or two significant places.
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263
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264 @item
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265 Please put a copyright notice and copying permission notice on the
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266 file if you distribute copies. Use a notice like this one:
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267
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268 @smallexample
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269 ;; Copyright (C) @var{year} @var{name}
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270
95035
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271 ;; This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
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272 ;; it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
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273 ;; the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
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274 ;; (at your option) any later version.
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275
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276 ;; This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
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277 ;; but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
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278 ;; MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
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279 ;; GNU General Public License for more details.
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280
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281 ;; You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
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282 ;; along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
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283 @end smallexample
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284
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285 If you have signed papers to assign the copyright to the Foundation,
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286 then use @samp{Free Software Foundation, Inc.} as @var{name}.
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287 Otherwise, use your name. See also @xref{Library Headers}.
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288 @end itemize
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289
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290 @node Key Binding Conventions
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291 @section Key Binding Conventions
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292 @cindex key binding, conventions for
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293
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294 @itemize @bullet
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295 @item
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296 @cindex mouse-2
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297 @cindex references, following
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298 Special major modes used for read-only text should usually redefine
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299 @kbd{mouse-2} and @key{RET} to trace some sort of reference in the text.
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300 Modes such as Dired, Info, Compilation, and Occur redefine it in this
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301 way.
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302
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303 In addition, they should mark the text as a kind of ``link'' so that
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304 @kbd{mouse-1} will follow it also. @xref{Links and Mouse-1}.
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305
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306 @item
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307 @cindex reserved keys
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308 @cindex keys, reserved
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309 Please do not define @kbd{C-c @var{letter}} as a key in Lisp programs.
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310 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} and a letter (either upper or lower
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311 case) are reserved for users; they are the @strong{only} sequences
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312 reserved for users, so do not block them.
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313
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314 Changing all the Emacs major modes to respect this convention was a
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315 lot of work; abandoning this convention would make that work go to
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316 waste, and inconvenience users. Please comply with it.
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317
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318 @item
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319 Function keys @key{F5} through @key{F9} without modifier keys are
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320 also reserved for users to define.
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321
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322 @item
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323 Applications should not bind mouse events based on button 1 with the
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324 shift key held down. These events include @kbd{S-mouse-1},
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325 @kbd{M-S-mouse-1}, @kbd{C-S-mouse-1}, and so on. They are reserved for
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326 users.
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327
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328 @item
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329 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} followed by a control character or a
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330 digit are reserved for major modes.
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331
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332 @item
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333 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} followed by @kbd{@{}, @kbd{@}},
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334 @kbd{<}, @kbd{>}, @kbd{:} or @kbd{;} are also reserved for major modes.
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335
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336 @item
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337 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} followed by any other punctuation
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338 character are allocated for minor modes. Using them in a major mode is
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339 not absolutely prohibited, but if you do that, the major mode binding
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340 may be shadowed from time to time by minor modes.
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341
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342 @item
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343 Do not bind @kbd{C-h} following any prefix character (including
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344 @kbd{C-c}). If you don't bind @kbd{C-h}, it is automatically available
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345 as a help character for listing the subcommands of the prefix character.
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346
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347 @item
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348 Do not bind a key sequence ending in @key{ESC} except following
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349 another @key{ESC}. (That is, it is OK to bind a sequence ending in
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350 @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC}}.)
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351
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352 The reason for this rule is that a non-prefix binding for @key{ESC} in
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353 any context prevents recognition of escape sequences as function keys in
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354 that context.
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355
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356 @item
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357 Anything which acts like a temporary mode or state which the user can
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358 enter and leave should define @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC}} or
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359 @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC} @key{ESC}} as a way to escape.
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360
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361 For a state which accepts ordinary Emacs commands, or more generally any
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362 kind of state in which @key{ESC} followed by a function key or arrow key
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363 is potentially meaningful, then you must not define @kbd{@key{ESC}
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364 @key{ESC}}, since that would preclude recognizing an escape sequence
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365 after @key{ESC}. In these states, you should define @kbd{@key{ESC}
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366 @key{ESC} @key{ESC}} as the way to escape. Otherwise, define
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367 @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC}} instead.
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368 @end itemize
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369
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370 @node Programming Tips
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371 @section Emacs Programming Tips
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372 @cindex programming conventions
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373
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374 Following these conventions will make your program fit better
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375 into Emacs when it runs.
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376
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377 @itemize @bullet
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378 @item
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379 Don't use @code{next-line} or @code{previous-line} in programs; nearly
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380 always, @code{forward-line} is more convenient as well as more
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381 predictable and robust. @xref{Text Lines}.
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382
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383 @item
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384 Don't call functions that set the mark, unless setting the mark is one
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385 of the intended features of your program. The mark is a user-level
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386 feature, so it is incorrect to change the mark except to supply a value
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387 for the user's benefit. @xref{The Mark}.
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388
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389 In particular, don't use any of these functions:
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390
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391 @itemize @bullet
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392 @item
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393 @code{beginning-of-buffer}, @code{end-of-buffer}
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394 @item
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395 @code{replace-string}, @code{replace-regexp}
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396 @item
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397 @code{insert-file}, @code{insert-buffer}
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398 @end itemize
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399
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400 If you just want to move point, or replace a certain string, or insert
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401 a file or buffer's contents, without any of the other features
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402 intended for interactive users, you can replace these functions with
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403 one or two lines of simple Lisp code.
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404
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405 @item
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406 Use lists rather than vectors, except when there is a particular reason
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407 to use a vector. Lisp has more facilities for manipulating lists than
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408 for vectors, and working with lists is usually more convenient.
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409
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410 Vectors are advantageous for tables that are substantial in size and are
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411 accessed in random order (not searched front to back), provided there is
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412 no need to insert or delete elements (only lists allow that).
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413
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414 @item
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415 The recommended way to show a message in the echo area is with
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416 the @code{message} function, not @code{princ}. @xref{The Echo Area}.
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417
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418 @item
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419 When you encounter an error condition, call the function @code{error}
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420 (or @code{signal}). The function @code{error} does not return.
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421 @xref{Signaling Errors}.
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422
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423 Do not use @code{message}, @code{throw}, @code{sleep-for},
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424 or @code{beep} to report errors.
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425
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426 @item
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427 An error message should start with a capital letter but should not end
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428 with a period.
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429
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430 @item
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431 A question asked in the minibuffer with @code{y-or-n-p} or
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432 @code{yes-or-no-p} should start with a capital letter and end with
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433 @samp{? }.
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434
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435 @item
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436 When you mention a default value in a minibuffer prompt,
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437 put it and the word @samp{default} inside parentheses.
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438 It should look like this:
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439
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440 @example
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441 Enter the answer (default 42):
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442 @end example
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443
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444 @item
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445 In @code{interactive}, if you use a Lisp expression to produce a list
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446 of arguments, don't try to provide the ``correct'' default values for
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447 region or position arguments. Instead, provide @code{nil} for those
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448 arguments if they were not specified, and have the function body
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449 compute the default value when the argument is @code{nil}. For
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450 instance, write this:
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451
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452 @example
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453 (defun foo (pos)
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454 (interactive
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455 (list (if @var{specified} @var{specified-pos})))
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456 (unless pos (setq pos @var{default-pos}))
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457 ...)
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458 @end example
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459
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460 @noindent
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461 rather than this:
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462
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diff changeset
463 @example
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464 (defun foo (pos)
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465 (interactive
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466 (list (if @var{specified} @var{specified-pos}
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467 @var{default-pos})))
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diff changeset
468 ...)
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469 @end example
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470
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471 @noindent
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diff changeset
472 This is so that repetition of the command will recompute
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diff changeset
473 these defaults based on the current circumstances.
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474
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475 You do not need to take such precautions when you use interactive
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476 specs @samp{d}, @samp{m} and @samp{r}, because they make special
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477 arrangements to recompute the argument values on repetition of the
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478 command.
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diff changeset
479
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480 @item
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481 Many commands that take a long time to execute display a message that
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482 says something like @samp{Operating...} when they start, and change it to
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483 @samp{Operating...done} when they finish. Please keep the style of
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484 these messages uniform: @emph{no} space around the ellipsis, and
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485 @emph{no} period after @samp{done}.
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486
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diff changeset
487 @item
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488 Try to avoid using recursive edits. Instead, do what the Rmail @kbd{e}
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diff changeset
489 command does: use a new local keymap that contains one command defined
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diff changeset
490 to switch back to the old local keymap. Or do what the
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diff changeset
491 @code{edit-options} command does: switch to another buffer and let the
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diff changeset
492 user switch back at will. @xref{Recursive Editing}.
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diff changeset
493 @end itemize
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494
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diff changeset
495 @node Compilation Tips
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diff changeset
496 @section Tips for Making Compiled Code Fast
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diff changeset
497 @cindex execution speed
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diff changeset
498 @cindex speedups
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499
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diff changeset
500 Here are ways of improving the execution speed of byte-compiled
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501 Lisp programs.
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502
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503 @itemize @bullet
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diff changeset
504 @item
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505 @cindex profiling
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diff changeset
506 @cindex timing programs
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diff changeset
507 @cindex @file{elp.el}
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diff changeset
508 Profile your program with the @file{elp} library. See the file
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diff changeset
509 @file{elp.el} for instructions.
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510
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diff changeset
511 @item
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diff changeset
512 @cindex @file{benchmark.el}
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parents:
diff changeset
513 @cindex benchmarking
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diff changeset
514 Check the speed of individual Emacs Lisp forms using the
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parents:
diff changeset
515 @file{benchmark} library. See the functions @code{benchmark-run} and
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516 @code{benchmark-run-compiled} in @file{benchmark.el}.
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517
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parents:
diff changeset
518 @item
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diff changeset
519 Use iteration rather than recursion whenever possible.
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parents:
diff changeset
520 Function calls are slow in Emacs Lisp even when a compiled function
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521 is calling another compiled function.
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522
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diff changeset
523 @item
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diff changeset
524 Using the primitive list-searching functions @code{memq}, @code{member},
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
525 @code{assq}, or @code{assoc} is even faster than explicit iteration. It
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
526 can be worth rearranging a data structure so that one of these primitive
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527 search functions can be used.
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parents:
diff changeset
528
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diff changeset
529 @item
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parents:
diff changeset
530 Certain built-in functions are handled specially in byte-compiled code,
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parents:
diff changeset
531 avoiding the need for an ordinary function call. It is a good idea to
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diff changeset
532 use these functions rather than alternatives. To see whether a function
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parents:
diff changeset
533 is handled specially by the compiler, examine its @code{byte-compile}
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diff changeset
534 property. If the property is non-@code{nil}, then the function is
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diff changeset
535 handled specially.
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parents:
diff changeset
536
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diff changeset
537 For example, the following input will show you that @code{aref} is
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
538 compiled specially (@pxref{Array Functions}):
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
539
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parents:
diff changeset
540 @example
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parents:
diff changeset
541 @group
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parents:
diff changeset
542 (get 'aref 'byte-compile)
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parents:
diff changeset
543 @result{} byte-compile-two-args
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diff changeset
544 @end group
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diff changeset
545 @end example
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diff changeset
546
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diff changeset
547 @item
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diff changeset
548 If calling a small function accounts for a substantial part of your
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diff changeset
549 program's running time, make the function inline. This eliminates
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diff changeset
550 the function call overhead. Since making a function inline reduces
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diff changeset
551 the flexibility of changing the program, don't do it unless it gives
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diff changeset
552 a noticeable speedup in something slow enough that users care about
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diff changeset
553 the speed. @xref{Inline Functions}.
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diff changeset
554 @end itemize
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parents:
diff changeset
555
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diff changeset
556 @node Warning Tips
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parents:
diff changeset
557 @section Tips for Avoiding Compiler Warnings
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parents:
diff changeset
558 @cindex byte compiler warnings, how to avoid
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
559
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diff changeset
560 @itemize @bullet
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parents:
diff changeset
561 @item
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parents:
diff changeset
562 Try to avoid compiler warnings about undefined free variables, by adding
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parents:
diff changeset
563 dummy @code{defvar} definitions for these variables, like this:
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parents:
diff changeset
564
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diff changeset
565 @example
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diff changeset
566 (defvar foo)
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diff changeset
567 @end example
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parents:
diff changeset
568
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parents:
diff changeset
569 Such a definition has no effect except to tell the compiler
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diff changeset
570 not to warn about uses of the variable @code{foo} in this file.
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parents:
diff changeset
571
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parents:
diff changeset
572 @item
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parents:
diff changeset
573 If you use many functions and variables from a certain file, you can
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parents:
diff changeset
574 add a @code{require} for that package to avoid compilation warnings
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diff changeset
575 for them. For instance,
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parents:
diff changeset
576
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parents:
diff changeset
577 @example
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parents:
diff changeset
578 (eval-when-compile
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parents:
diff changeset
579 (require 'foo))
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diff changeset
580 @end example
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diff changeset
581
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parents:
diff changeset
582 @item
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parents:
diff changeset
583 If you bind a variable in one function, and use it or set it in
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
584 another function, the compiler warns about the latter function unless
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parents:
diff changeset
585 the variable has a definition. But adding a definition would be
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parents:
diff changeset
586 unclean if the variable has a short name, since Lisp packages should
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
587 not define short variable names. The right thing to do is to rename
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
588 this variable to start with the name prefix used for the other
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
589 functions and variables in your package.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
590
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parents:
diff changeset
591 @item
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parents:
diff changeset
592 The last resort for avoiding a warning, when you want to do something
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
593 that usually is a mistake but it's not a mistake in this one case,
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parents:
diff changeset
594 is to put a call to @code{with-no-warnings} around it.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
595 @end itemize
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parents:
diff changeset
596
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parents:
diff changeset
597 @node Documentation Tips
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parents:
diff changeset
598 @section Tips for Documentation Strings
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
599 @cindex documentation strings, conventions and tips
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parents:
diff changeset
600
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parents:
diff changeset
601 @findex checkdoc-minor-mode
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
602 Here are some tips and conventions for the writing of documentation
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
603 strings. You can check many of these conventions by running the command
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
604 @kbd{M-x checkdoc-minor-mode}.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
605
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parents:
diff changeset
606 @itemize @bullet
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parents:
diff changeset
607 @item
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
608 Every command, function, or variable intended for users to know about
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
609 should have a documentation string.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
610
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parents:
diff changeset
611 @item
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parents:
diff changeset
612 An internal variable or subroutine of a Lisp program might as well have
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
613 a documentation string. In earlier Emacs versions, you could save space
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
614 by using a comment instead of a documentation string, but that is no
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
615 longer the case---documentation strings now take up very little space in
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
616 a running Emacs.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
617
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
618 @item
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parents:
diff changeset
619 Format the documentation string so that it fits in an Emacs window on an
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
620 80-column screen. It is a good idea for most lines to be no wider than
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
621 60 characters. The first line should not be wider than 67 characters
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parents:
diff changeset
622 or it will look bad in the output of @code{apropos}.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
623
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
624 You can fill the text if that looks good. However, rather than blindly
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
625 filling the entire documentation string, you can often make it much more
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
626 readable by choosing certain line breaks with care. Use blank lines
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
627 between topics if the documentation string is long.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
628
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
629 @item
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
630 The first line of the documentation string should consist of one or two
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
631 complete sentences that stand on their own as a summary. @kbd{M-x
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
632 apropos} displays just the first line, and if that line's contents don't
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
633 stand on their own, the result looks bad. In particular, start the
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
634 first line with a capital letter and end with a period.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
635
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
636 For a function, the first line should briefly answer the question,
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
637 ``What does this function do?'' For a variable, the first line should
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
638 briefly answer the question, ``What does this value mean?''
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
639
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
640 Don't limit the documentation string to one line; use as many lines as
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
641 you need to explain the details of how to use the function or
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
642 variable. Please use complete sentences for the rest of the text too.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
643
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
644 @item
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
645 When the user tries to use a disabled command, Emacs displays just the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
646 first paragraph of its documentation string---everything through the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
647 first blank line. If you wish, you can choose which information to
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
648 include before the first blank line so as to make this display useful.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
649
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
650 @item
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
651 The first line should mention all the important arguments of the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
652 function, and should mention them in the order that they are written
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
653 in a function call. If the function has many arguments, then it is
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
654 not feasible to mention them all in the first line; in that case, the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
655 first line should mention the first few arguments, including the most
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
656 important arguments.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
657
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
658 @item
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
659 When a function's documentation string mentions the value of an argument
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
660 of the function, use the argument name in capital letters as if it were
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
661 a name for that value. Thus, the documentation string of the function
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
662 @code{eval} refers to its second argument as @samp{FORM}, because the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
663 actual argument name is @code{form}:
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
664
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
665 @example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
666 Evaluate FORM and return its value.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
667 @end example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
668
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
669 Also write metasyntactic variables in capital letters, such as when you
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
670 show the decomposition of a list or vector into subunits, some of which
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
671 may vary. @samp{KEY} and @samp{VALUE} in the following example
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
672 illustrate this practice:
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
673
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
674 @example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
675 The argument TABLE should be an alist whose elements
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
676 have the form (KEY . VALUE). Here, KEY is ...
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
677 @end example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
678
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
679 @item
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
680 Never change the case of a Lisp symbol when you mention it in a doc
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
681 string. If the symbol's name is @code{foo}, write ``foo,'' not
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
682 ``Foo'' (which is a different symbol).
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
683
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
684 This might appear to contradict the policy of writing function
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
685 argument values, but there is no real contradiction; the argument
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
686 @emph{value} is not the same thing as the @emph{symbol} which the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
687 function uses to hold the value.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
688
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
689 If this puts a lower-case letter at the beginning of a sentence
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
690 and that annoys you, rewrite the sentence so that the symbol
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
691 is not at the start of it.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
692
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
693 @item
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
694 Do not start or end a documentation string with whitespace.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
695
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
696 @item
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
697 @strong{Do not} indent subsequent lines of a documentation string so
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
698 that the text is lined up in the source code with the text of the first
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
699 line. This looks nice in the source code, but looks bizarre when users
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
700 view the documentation. Remember that the indentation before the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
701 starting double-quote is not part of the string!
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
702
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
703 @anchor{Docstring hyperlinks}
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
704 @item
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
705 @iftex
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
706 When a documentation string refers to a Lisp symbol, write it as it
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
707 would be printed (which usually means in lower case), with single-quotes
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
708 around it. For example: @samp{`lambda'}. There are two exceptions:
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
709 write @code{t} and @code{nil} without single-quotes.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
710 @end iftex
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
711 @ifnottex
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
712 When a documentation string refers to a Lisp symbol, write it as it
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
713 would be printed (which usually means in lower case), with single-quotes
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
714 around it. For example: @samp{lambda}. There are two exceptions: write
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
715 t and nil without single-quotes. (In this manual, we use a different
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
716 convention, with single-quotes for all symbols.)
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
717 @end ifnottex
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
718
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
719 @cindex hyperlinks in documentation strings
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
720 Help mode automatically creates a hyperlink when a documentation string
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
721 uses a symbol name inside single quotes, if the symbol has either a
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
722 function or a variable definition. You do not need to do anything
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
723 special to make use of this feature. However, when a symbol has both a
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
724 function definition and a variable definition, and you want to refer to
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
725 just one of them, you can specify which one by writing one of the words
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
726 @samp{variable}, @samp{option}, @samp{function}, or @samp{command},
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
727 immediately before the symbol name. (Case makes no difference in
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
728 recognizing these indicator words.) For example, if you write
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
729
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
730 @example
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
731 This function sets the variable `buffer-file-name'.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
732 @end example
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
733
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
734 @noindent
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
735 then the hyperlink will refer only to the variable documentation of
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
736 @code{buffer-file-name}, and not to its function documentation.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
737
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
738 If a symbol has a function definition and/or a variable definition, but
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
739 those are irrelevant to the use of the symbol that you are documenting,
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
740 you can write the words @samp{symbol} or @samp{program} before the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
741 symbol name to prevent making any hyperlink. For example,
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
742
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
743 @example
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
744 If the argument KIND-OF-RESULT is the symbol `list',
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
745 this function returns a list of all the objects
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
746 that satisfy the criterion.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
747 @end example
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
748
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
749 @noindent
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
750 does not make a hyperlink to the documentation, irrelevant here, of the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
751 function @code{list}.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
752
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
753 Normally, no hyperlink is made for a variable without variable
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
754 documentation. You can force a hyperlink for such variables by
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
755 preceding them with one of the words @samp{variable} or
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
756 @samp{option}.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
757
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
758 Hyperlinks for faces are only made if the face name is preceded or
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
759 followed by the word @samp{face}. In that case, only the face
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
760 documentation will be shown, even if the symbol is also defined as a
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
761 variable or as a function.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
762
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
763 To make a hyperlink to Info documentation, write the name of the Info
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
764 node (or anchor) in single quotes, preceded by @samp{info node},
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
765 @samp{Info node}, @samp{info anchor} or @samp{Info anchor}. The Info
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
766 file name defaults to @samp{emacs}. For example,
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
767
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
768 @smallexample
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
769 See Info node `Font Lock' and Info node `(elisp)Font Lock Basics'.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
770 @end smallexample
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
771
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
772 Finally, to create a hyperlink to URLs, write the URL in single
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
773 quotes, preceded by @samp{URL}. For example,
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
774
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
775 @smallexample
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
776 The home page for the GNU project has more information (see URL
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
777 `http://www.gnu.org/').
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
778 @end smallexample
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
779
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
780 @item
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
781 Don't write key sequences directly in documentation strings. Instead,
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
782 use the @samp{\\[@dots{}]} construct to stand for them. For example,
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
783 instead of writing @samp{C-f}, write the construct
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
784 @samp{\\[forward-char]}. When Emacs displays the documentation string,
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
785 it substitutes whatever key is currently bound to @code{forward-char}.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
786 (This is normally @samp{C-f}, but it may be some other character if the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
787 user has moved key bindings.) @xref{Keys in Documentation}.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
788
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
789 @item
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
790 In documentation strings for a major mode, you will want to refer to the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
791 key bindings of that mode's local map, rather than global ones.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
792 Therefore, use the construct @samp{\\<@dots{}>} once in the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
793 documentation string to specify which key map to use. Do this before
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
794 the first use of @samp{\\[@dots{}]}. The text inside the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
795 @samp{\\<@dots{}>} should be the name of the variable containing the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
796 local keymap for the major mode.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
797
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
798 It is not practical to use @samp{\\[@dots{}]} very many times, because
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
799 display of the documentation string will become slow. So use this to
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
800 describe the most important commands in your major mode, and then use
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
801 @samp{\\@{@dots{}@}} to display the rest of the mode's keymap.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
802
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
803 @item
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
804 For consistency, phrase the verb in the first sentence of a function's
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
805 documentation string as an imperative---for instance, use ``Return the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
806 cons of A and B.'' in preference to ``Returns the cons of A and B@.''
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
807 Usually it looks good to do likewise for the rest of the first
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
808 paragraph. Subsequent paragraphs usually look better if each sentence
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
809 is indicative and has a proper subject.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
810
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
811 @item
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
812 The documentation string for a function that is a yes-or-no predicate
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
813 should start with words such as ``Return t if,'' to indicate
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
814 explicitly what constitutes ``truth.'' The word ``return'' avoids
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
815 starting the sentence with lower-case ``t,'' which could be somewhat
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
816 distracting.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
817
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
818 @item
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
819 If a line in a documentation string begins with an open-parenthesis,
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
820 write a backslash before the open-parenthesis, like this:
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
821
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
822 @example
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
823 The argument FOO can be either a number
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
824 \(a buffer position) or a string (a file name).
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
825 @end example
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
826
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
827 This prevents the open-parenthesis from being treated as the start of a
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
828 defun (@pxref{Defuns,, Defuns, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
829
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
830 @item
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
831 Write documentation strings in the active voice, not the passive, and in
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
832 the present tense, not the future. For instance, use ``Return a list
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
833 containing A and B.'' instead of ``A list containing A and B will be
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
834 returned.''
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
835
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
836 @item
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
837 Avoid using the word ``cause'' (or its equivalents) unnecessarily.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
838 Instead of, ``Cause Emacs to display text in boldface,'' write just
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
839 ``Display text in boldface.''
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
840
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
841 @item
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
842 Avoid using ``iff'' (a mathematics term meaning ``if and only if''),
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
843 since many people are unfamiliar with it and mistake it for a typo. In
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
844 most cases, the meaning is clear with just ``if''. Otherwise, try to
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
845 find an alternate phrasing that conveys the meaning.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
846
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
847 @item
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
848 When a command is meaningful only in a certain mode or situation,
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
849 do mention that in the documentation string. For example,
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
850 the documentation of @code{dired-find-file} is:
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
851
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
852 @example
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
853 In Dired, visit the file or directory named on this line.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
854 @end example
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
855
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
856 @item
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
857 When you define a variable that users ought to set interactively, you
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
858 normally should use @code{defcustom}. However, if for some reason you
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
859 use @code{defvar} instead, start the doc string with a @samp{*}.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
860 @xref{Defining Variables}.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
861
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
862 @item
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
863 The documentation string for a variable that is a yes-or-no flag should
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
864 start with words such as ``Non-nil means,'' to make it clear that
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
865 all non-@code{nil} values are equivalent and indicate explicitly what
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
866 @code{nil} and non-@code{nil} mean.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
867 @end itemize
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
868
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
869 @node Comment Tips
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
870 @section Tips on Writing Comments
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
871 @cindex comments, Lisp convention for
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
872
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
873 We recommend these conventions for where to put comments and how to
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
874 indent them:
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
875
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
876 @table @samp
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
877 @item ;
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
878 Comments that start with a single semicolon, @samp{;}, should all be
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
879 aligned to the same column on the right of the source code. Such
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
880 comments usually explain how the code on the same line does its job. In
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
881 Lisp mode and related modes, the @kbd{M-;} (@code{indent-for-comment})
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
882 command automatically inserts such a @samp{;} in the right place, or
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
883 aligns such a comment if it is already present.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
884
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
885 This and following examples are taken from the Emacs sources.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
886
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
887 @smallexample
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
888 @group
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
889 (setq base-version-list ; there was a base
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
890 (assoc (substring fn 0 start-vn) ; version to which
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
891 file-version-assoc-list)) ; this looks like
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
892 ; a subversion
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
893 @end group
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
894 @end smallexample
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
895
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
896 @item ;;
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
897 Comments that start with two semicolons, @samp{;;}, should be aligned to
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
898 the same level of indentation as the code. Such comments usually
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
899 describe the purpose of the following lines or the state of the program
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
900 at that point. For example:
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
901
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
902 @smallexample
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
903 @group
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
904 (prog1 (setq auto-fill-function
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
905 @dots{}
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
906 @dots{}
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
907 ;; update mode line
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
908 (force-mode-line-update)))
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
909 @end group
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
910 @end smallexample
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
911
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
912 We also normally use two semicolons for comments outside functions.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
913
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
914 @smallexample
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
915 @group
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
916 ;; This Lisp code is run in Emacs
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
917 ;; when it is to operate as a server
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
918 ;; for other processes.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
919 @end group
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
920 @end smallexample
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
921
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
922 Every function that has no documentation string (presumably one that is
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
923 used only internally within the package it belongs to), should instead
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
924 have a two-semicolon comment right before the function, explaining what
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
925 the function does and how to call it properly. Explain precisely what
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
926 each argument means and how the function interprets its possible values.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
927
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
928 @item ;;;
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
929 Comments that start with three semicolons, @samp{;;;}, should start at
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
930 the left margin. These are used, occasionally, for comments within
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
931 functions that should start at the margin. We also use them sometimes
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
932 for comments that are between functions---whether to use two or three
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
933 semicolons depends on whether the comment should be considered a
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
934 ``heading'' by Outline minor mode. By default, comments starting with
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
935 at least three semicolons (followed by a single space and a
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
936 non-whitespace character) are considered headings, comments starting
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
937 with two or less are not.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
938
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
939 Another use for triple-semicolon comments is for commenting out lines
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
940 within a function. We use three semicolons for this precisely so that
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
941 they remain at the left margin. By default, Outline minor mode does
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
942 not consider a comment to be a heading (even if it starts with at
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
943 least three semicolons) if the semicolons are followed by at least two
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
944 spaces. Thus, if you add an introductory comment to the commented out
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
945 code, make sure to indent it by at least two spaces after the three
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
946 semicolons.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
947
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
948 @smallexample
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
949 (defun foo (a)
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
950 ;;; This is no longer necessary.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
951 ;;; (force-mode-line-update)
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
952 (message "Finished with %s" a))
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
953 @end smallexample
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
954
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
955 When commenting out entire functions, use two semicolons.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
956
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
957 @item ;;;;
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
958 Comments that start with four semicolons, @samp{;;;;}, should be aligned
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
959 to the left margin and are used for headings of major sections of a
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
960 program. For example:
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
961
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
962 @smallexample
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
963 ;;;; The kill ring
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
964 @end smallexample
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
965 @end table
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
966
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
967 @noindent
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
968 The indentation commands of the Lisp modes in Emacs, such as @kbd{M-;}
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
969 (@code{indent-for-comment}) and @key{TAB} (@code{lisp-indent-line}),
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
970 automatically indent comments according to these conventions,
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
971 depending on the number of semicolons. @xref{Comments,,
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
972 Manipulating Comments, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
973
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
974 @node Library Headers
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
975 @section Conventional Headers for Emacs Libraries
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
976 @cindex header comments
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
977 @cindex library header comments
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
978
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
979 Emacs has conventions for using special comments in Lisp libraries
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
980 to divide them into sections and give information such as who wrote
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
981 them. This section explains these conventions.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
982
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
983 We'll start with an example, a package that is included in the Emacs
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
984 distribution.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
985
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
986 Parts of this example reflect its status as part of Emacs; for
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
987 example, the copyright notice lists the Free Software Foundation as the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
988 copyright holder, and the copying permission says the file is part of
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
989 Emacs. When you write a package and post it, the copyright holder would
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
990 be you (unless your employer claims to own it instead), and you should
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
991 get the suggested copying permission from the end of the GNU General
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
992 Public License itself. Don't say your file is part of Emacs
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
993 if we haven't installed it in Emacs yet!
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
994
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
995 With that warning out of the way, on to the example:
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
996
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
997 @smallexample
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
998 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
999 ;;; lisp-mnt.el --- minor mode for Emacs Lisp maintainers
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1000
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1001 ;; Copyright (C) 1992 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1002 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1003
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1004 ;; Author: Eric S. Raymond <esr@@snark.thyrsus.com>
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1005 ;; Maintainer: Eric S. Raymond <esr@@snark.thyrsus.com>
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1006 ;; Created: 14 Jul 1992
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1007 ;; Version: 1.2
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1008 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1009 ;; Keywords: docs
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1010
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1011 ;; This file is part of GNU Emacs.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1012 @dots{}
95035
fde6f792a832 Switch to recommended form of GPLv3 permissions notice.
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents: 87649
diff changeset
1013 ;; along with GNU Emacs. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
84105
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1014 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1015 @end smallexample
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1016
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1017 The very first line should have this format:
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1018
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1019 @example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1020 ;;; @var{filename} --- @var{description}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1021 @end example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1022
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1023 @noindent
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1024 The description should be complete in one line. If the file
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1025 needs a @samp{-*-} specification, put it after @var{description}.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1026
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1027 After the copyright notice come several @dfn{header comment} lines,
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1028 each beginning with @samp{;; @var{header-name}:}. Here is a table of
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1029 the conventional possibilities for @var{header-name}:
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1030
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1031 @table @samp
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1032 @item Author
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1033 This line states the name and net address of at least the principal
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1034 author of the library.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1035
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1036 If there are multiple authors, you can list them on continuation lines
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1037 led by @code{;;} and a tab character, like this:
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1038
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1039 @smallexample
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1040 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1041 ;; Author: Ashwin Ram <Ram-Ashwin@@cs.yale.edu>
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1042 ;; Dave Sill <de5@@ornl.gov>
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1043 ;; Dave Brennan <brennan@@hal.com>
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1044 ;; Eric Raymond <esr@@snark.thyrsus.com>
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1045 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1046 @end smallexample
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1047
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1048 @item Maintainer
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1049 This line should contain a single name/address as in the Author line, or
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1050 an address only, or the string @samp{FSF}. If there is no maintainer
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1051 line, the person(s) in the Author field are presumed to be the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1052 maintainers. The example above is mildly bogus because the maintainer
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1053 line is redundant.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1054
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1055 The idea behind the @samp{Author} and @samp{Maintainer} lines is to make
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1056 possible a Lisp function to ``send mail to the maintainer'' without
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1057 having to mine the name out by hand.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1058
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1059 Be sure to surround the network address with @samp{<@dots{}>} if
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1060 you include the person's full name as well as the network address.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1061
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1062 @item Created
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1063 This optional line gives the original creation date of the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1064 file. For historical interest only.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1065
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1066 @item Version
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1067 If you wish to record version numbers for the individual Lisp program, put
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1068 them in this line.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1069
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1070 @item Adapted-By
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1071 In this header line, place the name of the person who adapted the
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1072 library for installation (to make it fit the style conventions, for
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1073 example).
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1074
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1075 @item Keywords
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1076 This line lists keywords for the @code{finder-by-keyword} help command.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1077 Please use that command to see a list of the meaningful keywords.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1078
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1079 This field is important; it's how people will find your package when
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1080 they're looking for things by topic area. To separate the keywords, you
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1081 can use spaces, commas, or both.
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1082 @end table
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1083
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1084 Just about every Lisp library ought to have the @samp{Author} and
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1085 @samp{Keywords} header comment lines. Use the others if they are
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1086 appropriate. You can also put in header lines with other header
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1087 names---they have no standard meanings, so they can't do any harm.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1088
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1089 We use additional stylized comments to subdivide the contents of the
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1090 library file. These should be separated by blank lines from anything
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1091 else. Here is a table of them:
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1092
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1093 @table @samp
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1094 @item ;;; Commentary:
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1095 This begins introductory comments that explain how the library works.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1096 It should come right after the copying permissions, terminated by a
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1097 @samp{Change Log}, @samp{History} or @samp{Code} comment line. This
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1098 text is used by the Finder package, so it should make sense in that
672f5b796f1a Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
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1099 context.
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1100
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1101 @item ;;; Documentation:
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1102 This was used in some files in place of @samp{;;; Commentary:},
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1103 but it is deprecated.
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1104
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1105 @item ;;; Change Log:
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1106 This begins change log information stored in the library file (if you
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1107 store the change history there). For Lisp files distributed with Emacs,
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1108 the change history is kept in the file @file{ChangeLog} and not in the
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1109 source file at all; these files generally do not have a @samp{;;; Change
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1110 Log:} line. @samp{History} is an alternative to @samp{Change Log}.
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1111
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1112 @item ;;; Code:
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1113 This begins the actual code of the program.
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1114
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1115 @item ;;; @var{filename} ends here
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1116 This is the @dfn{footer line}; it appears at the very end of the file.
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1117 Its purpose is to enable people to detect truncated versions of the file
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1118 from the lack of a footer line.
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1119 @end table
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1120
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1121 @ignore
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1122 arch-tag: 9ea911c2-6b1d-47dd-88b7-0a94e8b27c2e
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1123 @end ignore