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annotate lispref/tips.texi @ 61178:f929f1de61ac
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author | Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org> |
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date | Thu, 31 Mar 2005 21:19:34 +0000 |
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6552 | 1 @c -*-texinfo-*- |
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. | |
27189 | 3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999 |
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4 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc. |
6552 | 5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. |
6 @setfilename ../info/tips | |
30904 | 7 @node Tips, GNU Emacs Internals, GPL, Top |
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8 @appendix Tips and Conventions |
6552 | 9 @cindex tips |
10 @cindex standards of coding style | |
11 @cindex coding standards | |
12 | |
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13 This chapter describes no additional features of Emacs Lisp. Instead |
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14 it gives advice on making effective use of the features described in the |
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15 previous chapters, and describes conventions Emacs Lisp programmers |
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16 should follow. |
6552 | 17 |
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18 You can automatically check some of the conventions described below by |
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19 running the command @kbd{M-x checkdoc RET} when visiting a Lisp file. |
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20 It cannot check all of the conventions, and not all the warnings it |
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21 gives necessarily correspond to problems, but it is worth examining them |
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22 all. |
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23 |
6552 | 24 @menu |
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25 * Coding Conventions:: Conventions for clean and robust programs. |
6552 | 26 * Compilation Tips:: Making compiled code run fast. |
27 * Documentation Tips:: Writing readable documentation strings. | |
28 * Comment Tips:: Conventions for writing comments. | |
29 * Library Headers:: Standard headers for library packages. | |
30 @end menu | |
31 | |
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32 @node Coding Conventions |
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33 @section Emacs Lisp Coding Conventions |
6552 | 34 |
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35 Here are conventions that you should follow when writing Emacs Lisp |
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36 code intended for widespread use: |
6552 | 37 |
38 @itemize @bullet | |
39 @item | |
38162 | 40 Since all global variables share the same name space, and all |
41 functions share another name space, you should choose a short word to | |
42 distinguish your program from other Lisp programs.@footnote{The | |
43 benefits of a Common Lisp-style package system are considered not to | |
44 outweigh the costs.} Then take care to begin the names of all global | |
45 variables, constants, and functions in your program with the chosen | |
46 prefix. This helps avoid name conflicts. | |
6552 | 47 |
48 This recommendation applies even to names for traditional Lisp | |
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49 primitives that are not primitives in Emacs Lisp---such as |
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50 @code{copy-list}. Believe it or not, there is more than one plausible |
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51 way to define @code{copy-list}. Play it safe; append your name prefix |
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52 to produce a name like @code{foo-copy-list} or @code{mylib-copy-list} |
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53 instead. |
6552 | 54 |
55 If you write a function that you think ought to be added to Emacs under | |
56 a certain name, such as @code{twiddle-files}, don't call it by that name | |
57 in your program. Call it @code{mylib-twiddle-files} in your program, | |
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58 and send mail to @samp{bug-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org} suggesting we add |
6552 | 59 it to Emacs. If and when we do, we can change the name easily enough. |
60 | |
61 If one prefix is insufficient, your package may use two or three | |
62 alternative common prefixes, so long as they make sense. | |
63 | |
64 Separate the prefix from the rest of the symbol name with a hyphen, | |
65 @samp{-}. This will be consistent with Emacs itself and with most Emacs | |
66 Lisp programs. | |
67 | |
68 @item | |
69 It is often useful to put a call to @code{provide} in each separate | |
70 library program, at least if there is more than one entry point to the | |
71 program. | |
72 | |
73 @item | |
12098 | 74 If a file requires certain other library programs to be loaded |
75 beforehand, then the comments at the beginning of the file should say | |
76 so. Also, use @code{require} to make sure they are loaded. | |
77 | |
78 @item | |
6552 | 79 If one file @var{foo} uses a macro defined in another file @var{bar}, |
12098 | 80 @var{foo} should contain this expression before the first use of the |
81 macro: | |
82 | |
83 @example | |
84 (eval-when-compile (require '@var{bar})) | |
85 @end example | |
86 | |
87 @noindent | |
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88 (And the library @var{bar} should contain @code{(provide '@var{bar})}, |
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89 to make the @code{require} work.) This will cause @var{bar} to be |
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90 loaded when you byte-compile @var{foo}. Otherwise, you risk compiling |
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91 @var{foo} without the necessary macro loaded, and that would produce |
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92 compiled code that won't work right. @xref{Compiling Macros}. |
12098 | 93 |
94 Using @code{eval-when-compile} avoids loading @var{bar} when | |
95 the compiled version of @var{foo} is @emph{used}. | |
6552 | 96 |
97 @item | |
24799 | 98 Please don't require the @code{cl} package of Common Lisp extensions at |
99 run time. Use of this package is optional, and it is not part of the | |
100 standard Emacs namespace. If your package loads @code{cl} at run time, | |
101 that could cause name clashes for users who don't use that package. | |
102 | |
103 However, there is no problem with using the @code{cl} package at compile | |
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104 time, with @code{(eval-when-compile (require 'cl))}. |
24799 | 105 |
106 @item | |
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107 When defining a major mode, please follow the major mode |
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108 conventions. @xref{Major Mode Conventions}. |
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109 |
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110 @item |
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111 When defining a minor mode, please follow the minor mode |
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112 conventions. @xref{Minor Mode Conventions}. |
6552 | 113 |
114 @item | |
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115 If the purpose of a function is to tell you whether a certain condition |
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116 is true or false, give the function a name that ends in @samp{p}. If |
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117 the name is one word, add just @samp{p}; if the name is multiple words, |
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118 add @samp{-p}. Examples are @code{framep} and @code{frame-live-p}. |
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119 |
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120 @item |
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121 If a user option variable records a true-or-false condition, give it a |
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122 name that ends in @samp{-flag}. |
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123 |
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124 @item |
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125 If the purpose of a variable is to store a single function, give it a |
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126 name that ends in @samp{-function}. If the purpose of a variable is |
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127 to store a list of functions (i.e., the variable is a hook), please |
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128 follow the naming conventions for hooks. @xref{Hooks}. |
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129 |
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130 @item |
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131 @cindex reserved keys |
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132 @cindex keys, reserved |
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133 Please do not define @kbd{C-c @var{letter}} as a key in Lisp programs. |
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134 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} and a letter (either upper or lower |
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135 case) are reserved for users; they are the @strong{only} sequences |
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136 reserved for users, so do not block them. |
6552 | 137 |
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138 Changing all the Emacs major modes to respect this convention was a |
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139 lot of work; abandoning this convention would make that work go to |
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140 waste, and inconvenience users. Please comply with it. |
6552 | 141 |
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142 @item |
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143 Function keys @key{F5} through @key{F9} without modifier keys are |
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144 also reserved for users to define. |
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145 |
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146 @item |
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147 Applications should not bind mouse events based on button 1 with the |
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148 shift key held down. These events include @kbd{S-mouse-1}, |
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149 @kbd{M-S-mouse-1}, @kbd{C-S-mouse-1}, and so on. They are reserved for |
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150 users. |
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151 |
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152 @item |
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153 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} followed by a control character or a |
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154 digit are reserved for major modes. |
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155 |
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156 @item |
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157 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} followed by @kbd{@{}, @kbd{@}}, |
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158 @kbd{<}, @kbd{>}, @kbd{:} or @kbd{;} are also reserved for major modes. |
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159 |
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160 @item |
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161 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} followed by any other punctuation |
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162 character are allocated for minor modes. Using them in a major mode is |
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163 not absolutely prohibited, but if you do that, the major mode binding |
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164 may be shadowed from time to time by minor modes. |
6552 | 165 |
166 @item | |
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167 Do not bind @kbd{C-h} following any prefix character (including |
6552 | 168 @kbd{C-c}). If you don't bind @kbd{C-h}, it is automatically available |
169 as a help character for listing the subcommands of the prefix character. | |
170 | |
171 @item | |
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172 Do not bind a key sequence ending in @key{ESC} except following |
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173 another @key{ESC}. (That is, it is OK to bind a sequence ending in |
6552 | 174 @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC}}.) |
175 | |
176 The reason for this rule is that a non-prefix binding for @key{ESC} in | |
177 any context prevents recognition of escape sequences as function keys in | |
178 that context. | |
179 | |
180 @item | |
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181 Anything which acts like a temporary mode or state which the user can |
24862 | 182 enter and leave should define @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC}} or |
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183 @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC} @key{ESC}} as a way to escape. |
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184 |
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185 For a state which accepts ordinary Emacs commands, or more generally any |
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186 kind of state in which @key{ESC} followed by a function key or arrow key |
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187 is potentially meaningful, then you must not define @kbd{@key{ESC} |
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188 @key{ESC}}, since that would preclude recognizing an escape sequence |
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189 after @key{ESC}. In these states, you should define @kbd{@key{ESC} |
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190 @key{ESC} @key{ESC}} as the way to escape. Otherwise, define |
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191 @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC}} instead. |
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192 |
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193 @item |
34305 | 194 @cindex mouse-2 |
195 @cindex references, following | |
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196 Special major modes used for read-only text should usually redefine |
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197 @kbd{mouse-2} and @key{RET} to trace some sort of reference in the text. |
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198 Modes such as Dired, Info, Compilation, and Occur redefine it in this |
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199 way. |
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200 |
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201 In addition, they should mark the text as a kind of ``link'' so that |
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202 @kbd{mouse-1} will follow it also. @xref{Links and Mouse-1}. |
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203 |
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204 @item |
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205 When a package provides a modification of ordinary Emacs behavior, it is |
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206 good to include a command to enable and disable the feature, provide a |
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207 command named @code{@var{whatever}-mode} which turns the feature on or |
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208 off, and make it autoload (@pxref{Autoload}). Design the package so |
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209 that simply loading it has no visible effect---that should not enable |
34305 | 210 the feature.@footnote{Consider that the package may be loaded |
211 arbitrarily by Custom for instance.} Users will request the feature by | |
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212 invoking the command. It is a good idea to define this command |
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213 as a minor mode. |
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214 |
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215 @cindex unloading packages |
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216 If loading the file adds functions to hooks, define a function |
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217 @code{@var{feature}-unload-hook}, where @var{feature} is the name of |
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218 the feature the package provides, and make it undo any such changes. |
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219 Using @code{unload-feature} to unload the file will run this function. |
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220 @xref{Unloading}. |
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221 |
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222 @item |
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223 It is a bad idea to define aliases for the Emacs primitives. Use the |
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224 standard names instead. |
6552 | 225 |
226 @item | |
34305 | 227 If a package needs to define an alias or a new function for |
38344 | 228 compatibility with some other version of Emacs, name it with the package |
34305 | 229 prefix, not with the raw name with which it occurs in the other version. |
230 Here is an example from Gnus, which provides many examples of such | |
231 compatibility issues. | |
232 | |
233 @example | |
234 (defalias 'gnus-point-at-bol | |
235 (if (fboundp 'point-at-bol) | |
236 'point-at-bol | |
237 'line-beginning-position)) | |
238 @end example | |
239 | |
240 @item | |
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241 Redefining (or advising) an Emacs primitive is discouraged. It may do |
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242 the right thing for a particular program, but there is no telling what |
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243 other programs might break as a result. |
6552 | 244 |
245 @item | |
246 If a file does replace any of the functions or library programs of | |
247 standard Emacs, prominent comments at the beginning of the file should | |
248 say which functions are replaced, and how the behavior of the | |
249 replacements differs from that of the originals. | |
250 | |
251 @item | |
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252 Avoid using macros that define functions and variables with names that |
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253 are constructed. It is best for maintenance when the name of the |
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254 function or variable being defined is given explicitly in the source |
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255 code, as the second element of the list---as it is when you use |
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256 @code{defun}, @code{defalias}, @code{defvar} and @code{defcustom}. |
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257 |
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258 @item |
6552 | 259 Please keep the names of your Emacs Lisp source files to 13 characters |
260 or less. This way, if the files are compiled, the compiled files' names | |
261 will be 14 characters or less, which is short enough to fit on all kinds | |
262 of Unix systems. | |
263 | |
264 @item | |
265 Don't use @code{next-line} or @code{previous-line} in programs; nearly | |
266 always, @code{forward-line} is more convenient as well as more | |
267 predictable and robust. @xref{Text Lines}. | |
268 | |
269 @item | |
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270 Don't call functions that set the mark, unless setting the mark is one |
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271 of the intended features of your program. The mark is a user-level |
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272 feature, so it is incorrect to change the mark except to supply a value |
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273 for the user's benefit. @xref{The Mark}. |
6552 | 274 |
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275 In particular, don't use any of these functions: |
6552 | 276 |
277 @itemize @bullet | |
278 @item | |
279 @code{beginning-of-buffer}, @code{end-of-buffer} | |
280 @item | |
281 @code{replace-string}, @code{replace-regexp} | |
282 @end itemize | |
283 | |
284 If you just want to move point, or replace a certain string, without any | |
285 of the other features intended for interactive users, you can replace | |
286 these functions with one or two lines of simple Lisp code. | |
287 | |
288 @item | |
8669 | 289 Use lists rather than vectors, except when there is a particular reason |
290 to use a vector. Lisp has more facilities for manipulating lists than | |
291 for vectors, and working with lists is usually more convenient. | |
292 | |
293 Vectors are advantageous for tables that are substantial in size and are | |
294 accessed in random order (not searched front to back), provided there is | |
295 no need to insert or delete elements (only lists allow that). | |
296 | |
297 @item | |
6552 | 298 The recommended way to print a message in the echo area is with |
299 the @code{message} function, not @code{princ}. @xref{The Echo Area}. | |
300 | |
301 @item | |
302 When you encounter an error condition, call the function @code{error} | |
303 (or @code{signal}). The function @code{error} does not return. | |
304 @xref{Signaling Errors}. | |
305 | |
306 Do not use @code{message}, @code{throw}, @code{sleep-for}, | |
307 or @code{beep} to report errors. | |
308 | |
309 @item | |
12098 | 310 An error message should start with a capital letter but should not end |
311 with a period. | |
312 | |
313 @item | |
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314 In @code{interactive}, if you use a Lisp expression to produce a list |
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315 of arguments, don't try to provide the ``correct'' default values for |
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316 region or position arguments. Instead, provide @code{nil} for those |
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317 arguments if they were not specified, and have the function body |
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318 compute the default value when the argument is @code{nil}. For |
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319 instance, write this: |
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320 |
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321 @example |
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322 (defun foo (pos) |
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323 (interactive |
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324 (list (if @var{specified} @var{specified-pos}))) |
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325 (unless pos (setq pos @var{default-pos})) |
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326 ...) |
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327 @end example |
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328 |
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329 @noindent |
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330 rather than this: |
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331 |
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332 @example |
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333 (defun foo (pos) |
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334 (interactive |
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335 (list (if @var{specified} @var{specified-pos} |
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336 @var{default-pos}))) |
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337 ...) |
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338 @end example |
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339 |
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340 @noindent |
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341 This is so that repetition of the command will recompute |
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342 these defaults based on the current circumstances. |
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343 |
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344 You do not need to take such precautions when you use interactive |
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345 specs @samp{d}, @samp{m} and @samp{r}, because they make special |
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346 arrangements to recompute the argument values on repetition of the |
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347 command. |
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348 |
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349 @item |
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350 Many commands that take a long time to execute display a message that |
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351 says something like @samp{Operating...} when they start, and change it to |
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352 @samp{Operating...done} when they finish. Please keep the style of |
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353 these messages uniform: @emph{no} space around the ellipsis, and |
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354 @emph{no} period after @samp{done}. |
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355 |
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356 @item |
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357 Try to avoid using recursive edits. Instead, do what the Rmail @kbd{e} |
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358 command does: use a new local keymap that contains one command defined |
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359 to switch back to the old local keymap. Or do what the |
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360 @code{edit-options} command does: switch to another buffer and let the |
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361 user switch back at will. @xref{Recursive Editing}. |
6552 | 362 |
363 @item | |
364 In some other systems there is a convention of choosing variable names | |
365 that begin and end with @samp{*}. We don't use that convention in Emacs | |
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366 Lisp, so please don't use it in your programs. (Emacs uses such names |
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367 only for special-purpose buffers.) The users will find Emacs more |
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368 coherent if all libraries use the same conventions. |
6552 | 369 |
370 @item | |
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371 Try to avoid compiler warnings about undefined free variables, by adding |
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372 dummy @code{defvar} definitions for these variables, like this: |
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373 |
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374 @example |
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375 (defvar foo) |
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376 @end example |
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377 |
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378 Such a definition has no effect except to tell the compiler |
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379 not to warn about uses of the variable @code{foo} in this file. |
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380 |
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381 @item |
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382 If you use many functions and variables from a certain file, you can |
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383 add a @code{require} for that package to avoid compilation warnings |
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384 for them. For instance, |
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385 |
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386 @example |
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387 (eval-when-compile |
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388 (require 'foo)) |
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389 @end example |
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390 |
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391 @item |
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392 If you bind a variable in one function, and use it or set it in |
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393 another function, the compiler warns about the latter function unless |
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394 the variable has a definition. But adding a definition would be |
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395 unclean if the variable has a short name, since Lisp packages should |
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396 not define short variable names. The right thing to do is to rename |
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397 this variable to start with the name prefix used for the other |
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398 functions and variables in your package. |
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399 |
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400 @item |
6552 | 401 Indent each function with @kbd{C-M-q} (@code{indent-sexp}) using the |
402 default indentation parameters. | |
403 | |
404 @item | |
405 Don't make a habit of putting close-parentheses on lines by themselves; | |
406 Lisp programmers find this disconcerting. Once in a while, when there | |
407 is a sequence of many consecutive close-parentheses, it may make sense | |
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408 to split the sequence in one or two significant places. |
6552 | 409 |
410 @item | |
411 Please put a copyright notice on the file if you give copies to anyone. | |
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412 Use a message like this one: |
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413 |
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414 @smallexample |
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415 ;; Copyright (C) @var{year} @var{name} |
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416 |
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417 ;; This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or |
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418 ;; modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as |
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419 ;; published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of |
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420 ;; the License, or (at your option) any later version. |
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421 |
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422 ;; This program is distributed in the hope that it will be |
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423 ;; useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied |
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424 ;; warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR |
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425 ;; PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details. |
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426 |
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427 ;; You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public |
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428 ;; License along with this program; if not, write to the Free |
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429 ;; Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, |
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430 ;; MA 02111-1307 USA |
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431 @end smallexample |
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432 |
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433 If you have signed papers to assign the copyright to the Foundation, |
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434 then use @samp{Free Software Foundation, Inc.} as @var{name}. |
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435 Otherwise, use your name. See also @xref{Library Headers}. |
6552 | 436 @end itemize |
437 | |
438 @node Compilation Tips | |
439 @section Tips for Making Compiled Code Fast | |
440 @cindex execution speed | |
441 @cindex speedups | |
442 | |
443 Here are ways of improving the execution speed of byte-compiled | |
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444 Lisp programs. |
6552 | 445 |
446 @itemize @bullet | |
447 @item | |
448 @cindex profiling | |
449 @cindex timing programs | |
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450 @cindex @file{elp.el} |
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451 Profile your program with the @file{elp} library. See the file |
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452 @file{elp.el} for instructions. |
6552 | 453 |
454 @item | |
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455 @cindex @file{benchmark.el} |
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456 @cindex benchmarking |
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457 Check the speed of individual Emacs Lisp forms using the |
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458 @file{benchmark} library. See the functions @code{benchmark-run} and |
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459 @code{benchmark-run-compiled} in @file{benchmark.el}. |
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460 |
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461 @item |
6552 | 462 Use iteration rather than recursion whenever possible. |
463 Function calls are slow in Emacs Lisp even when a compiled function | |
464 is calling another compiled function. | |
465 | |
466 @item | |
12098 | 467 Using the primitive list-searching functions @code{memq}, @code{member}, |
468 @code{assq}, or @code{assoc} is even faster than explicit iteration. It | |
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469 can be worth rearranging a data structure so that one of these primitive |
12098 | 470 search functions can be used. |
6552 | 471 |
472 @item | |
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473 Certain built-in functions are handled specially in byte-compiled code, |
6552 | 474 avoiding the need for an ordinary function call. It is a good idea to |
475 use these functions rather than alternatives. To see whether a function | |
476 is handled specially by the compiler, examine its @code{byte-compile} | |
477 property. If the property is non-@code{nil}, then the function is | |
478 handled specially. | |
479 | |
480 For example, the following input will show you that @code{aref} is | |
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481 compiled specially (@pxref{Array Functions}): |
6552 | 482 |
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483 @example |
6552 | 484 @group |
485 (get 'aref 'byte-compile) | |
486 @result{} byte-compile-two-args | |
487 @end group | |
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488 @end example |
6552 | 489 |
490 @item | |
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491 If calling a small function accounts for a substantial part of your |
6552 | 492 program's running time, make the function inline. This eliminates |
493 the function call overhead. Since making a function inline reduces | |
494 the flexibility of changing the program, don't do it unless it gives | |
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495 a noticeable speedup in something slow enough that users care about |
6552 | 496 the speed. @xref{Inline Functions}. |
497 @end itemize | |
498 | |
499 @node Documentation Tips | |
500 @section Tips for Documentation Strings | |
501 | |
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502 @findex checkdoc-minor-mode |
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503 Here are some tips and conventions for the writing of documentation |
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504 strings. You can check many of these conventions by running the command |
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505 @kbd{M-x checkdoc-minor-mode}. |
6552 | 506 |
507 @itemize @bullet | |
508 @item | |
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509 Every command, function, or variable intended for users to know about |
6552 | 510 should have a documentation string. |
511 | |
512 @item | |
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513 An internal variable or subroutine of a Lisp program might as well have |
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514 a documentation string. In earlier Emacs versions, you could save space |
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515 by using a comment instead of a documentation string, but that is no |
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516 longer the case---documentation strings now take up very little space in |
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517 a running Emacs. |
6552 | 518 |
519 @item | |
42979 | 520 Format the documentation string so that it fits in an Emacs window on an |
521 80-column screen. It is a good idea for most lines to be no wider than | |
522 60 characters. The first line should not be wider than 67 characters | |
523 or it will look bad in the output of @code{apropos}. | |
524 | |
525 You can fill the text if that looks good. However, rather than blindly | |
526 filling the entire documentation string, you can often make it much more | |
527 readable by choosing certain line breaks with care. Use blank lines | |
528 between topics if the documentation string is long. | |
529 | |
530 @item | |
6552 | 531 The first line of the documentation string should consist of one or two |
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532 complete sentences that stand on their own as a summary. @kbd{M-x |
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533 apropos} displays just the first line, and if that line's contents don't |
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534 stand on their own, the result looks bad. In particular, start the |
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535 first line with a capital letter and end with a period. |
6552 | 536 |
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537 For a function, the first line should briefly answer the question, |
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538 ``What does this function do?'' For a variable, the first line should |
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539 briefly answer the question, ``What does this value mean?'' |
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540 |
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541 Don't limit the documentation string to one line; use as many lines as |
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542 you need to explain the details of how to use the function or |
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543 variable. Please use complete sentences for the rest of the text too. |
6552 | 544 |
545 @item | |
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546 The first line should mention all the important arguments of the |
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547 function, and should mention them in the order that they are written |
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548 in a function call. If the function has many arguments, then it is |
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549 not feasible to mention them all in the first line; in that case, the |
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550 first line should mention the first few arguments, including the most |
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551 important arguments. |
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552 |
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553 @item |
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554 For consistency, phrase the verb in the first sentence of a function's |
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555 documentation string as an imperative---for instance, use ``Return the |
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556 cons of A and B.'' in preference to ``Returns the cons of A and B@.'' |
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557 Usually it looks good to do likewise for the rest of the first |
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558 paragraph. Subsequent paragraphs usually look better if each sentence |
42979 | 559 is indicative and has a proper subject. |
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560 |
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561 @item |
6552 | 562 Write documentation strings in the active voice, not the passive, and in |
563 the present tense, not the future. For instance, use ``Return a list | |
564 containing A and B.'' instead of ``A list containing A and B will be | |
565 returned.'' | |
566 | |
567 @item | |
568 Avoid using the word ``cause'' (or its equivalents) unnecessarily. | |
569 Instead of, ``Cause Emacs to display text in boldface,'' write just | |
570 ``Display text in boldface.'' | |
571 | |
572 @item | |
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573 When a command is meaningful only in a certain mode or situation, |
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574 do mention that in the documentation string. For example, |
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575 the documentation of @code{dired-find-file} is: |
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576 |
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577 @example |
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578 In Dired, visit the file or directory named on this line. |
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579 @end example |
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580 |
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581 @item |
6552 | 582 Do not start or end a documentation string with whitespace. |
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583 |
6552 | 584 @item |
585 @strong{Do not} indent subsequent lines of a documentation string so | |
586 that the text is lined up in the source code with the text of the first | |
587 line. This looks nice in the source code, but looks bizarre when users | |
588 view the documentation. Remember that the indentation before the | |
589 starting double-quote is not part of the string! | |
590 | |
591 @item | |
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592 When the user tries to use a disabled command, Emacs displays just the |
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593 first paragraph of its documentation string---everything through the |
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594 first blank line. If you wish, you can choose which information to |
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595 include before the first blank line so as to make this display useful. |
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596 |
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597 @item |
6552 | 598 A variable's documentation string should start with @samp{*} if the |
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599 variable is one that users would often want to set interactively. If |
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600 the value is a long list, or a function, or if the variable would be set |
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601 only in init files, then don't start the documentation string with |
6552 | 602 @samp{*}. @xref{Defining Variables}. |
603 | |
604 @item | |
605 The documentation string for a variable that is a yes-or-no flag should | |
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606 start with words such as ``Non-nil means@dots{}'', to make it clear that |
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607 all non-@code{nil} values are equivalent and indicate explicitly what |
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608 @code{nil} and non-@code{nil} mean. |
6552 | 609 |
610 @item | |
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611 The documentation string for a function that is a yes-or-no predicate |
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612 should start with words such as ``Return t if @dots{}'', to indicate |
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613 explicitly what constitutes ``truth''. The word ``return'' avoids |
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614 starting the sentence with lower-case ``t'', which is somewhat |
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615 distracting. |
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616 |
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617 @item |
6552 | 618 When a function's documentation string mentions the value of an argument |
619 of the function, use the argument name in capital letters as if it were | |
620 a name for that value. Thus, the documentation string of the function | |
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621 @code{eval} refers to its second argument as @samp{FORM}, because the |
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622 actual argument name is @code{form}: |
6552 | 623 |
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624 @example |
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625 Evaluate FORM and return its value. |
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626 @end example |
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627 |
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628 Also write metasyntactic variables in capital letters, such as when you |
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629 show the decomposition of a list or vector into subunits, some of which |
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630 may vary. @samp{KEY} and @samp{VALUE} in the following example |
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631 illustrate this practice: |
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632 |
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633 @example |
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634 The argument TABLE should be an alist whose elements |
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635 have the form (KEY . VALUE). Here, KEY is ... |
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636 @end example |
6552 | 637 |
638 @item | |
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639 Never change the case of a Lisp symbol when you mention it in a doc |
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640 string. If the symbol's name is @code{foo}, write ``foo'', not |
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641 ``Foo'' (which is a different symbol). |
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642 |
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643 This might appear to contradict the policy of writing function |
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644 argument values, but there is no real contradiction; the argument |
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645 @emph{value} is not the same thing as the @emph{symbol} which the |
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646 function uses to hold the value. |
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647 |
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648 If this puts a lower-case letter at the beginning of a sentence |
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649 and that annoys you, rewrite the sentence so that the symbol |
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650 is not at the start of it. |
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651 |
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652 @item |
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653 If a line in a documentation string begins with an open-parenthesis, |
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654 write a backslash before the open-parenthesis, like this: |
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655 |
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656 @example |
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657 The argument FOO can be either a number |
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658 \(a buffer position) or a string (a file name). |
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659 @end example |
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660 |
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661 This prevents the open-parenthesis from being treated as the start of a |
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662 defun (@pxref{Defuns,, Defuns, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). |
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663 |
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664 @anchor{Docstring hyperlinks} |
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665 @item |
6552 | 666 @iftex |
667 When a documentation string refers to a Lisp symbol, write it as it | |
668 would be printed (which usually means in lower case), with single-quotes | |
669 around it. For example: @samp{`lambda'}. There are two exceptions: | |
670 write @code{t} and @code{nil} without single-quotes. | |
671 @end iftex | |
27193 | 672 @ifnottex |
6552 | 673 When a documentation string refers to a Lisp symbol, write it as it |
674 would be printed (which usually means in lower case), with single-quotes | |
675 around it. For example: @samp{lambda}. There are two exceptions: write | |
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676 t and nil without single-quotes. (In this manual, we use a different |
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677 convention, with single-quotes for all symbols.) |
27193 | 678 @end ifnottex |
6552 | 679 |
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680 Help mode automatically creates a hyperlink when a documentation string |
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681 uses a symbol name inside single quotes, if the symbol has either a |
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682 function or a variable definition. You do not need to do anything |
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683 special to make use of this feature. However, when a symbol has both a |
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684 function definition and a variable definition, and you want to refer to |
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685 just one of them, you can specify which one by writing one of the words |
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686 @samp{variable}, @samp{option}, @samp{function}, or @samp{command}, |
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687 immediately before the symbol name. (Case makes no difference in |
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688 recognizing these indicator words.) For example, if you write |
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689 |
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690 @example |
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691 This function sets the variable `buffer-file-name'. |
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692 @end example |
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693 |
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694 @noindent |
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695 then the hyperlink will refer only to the variable documentation of |
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696 @code{buffer-file-name}, and not to its function documentation. |
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697 |
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698 If a symbol has a function definition and/or a variable definition, but |
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699 those are irrelevant to the use of the symbol that you are documenting, |
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700 you can write the word @samp{symbol} before the symbol name to prevent |
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701 making any hyperlink. For example, |
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702 |
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703 @example |
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704 If the argument KIND-OF-RESULT is the symbol `list', |
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705 this function returns a list of all the objects |
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706 that satisfy the criterion. |
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707 @end example |
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708 |
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709 @noindent |
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710 does not make a hyperlink to the documentation, irrelevant here, of the |
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711 function @code{list}. |
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712 |
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713 Normally, no hyperlink is made for a variable without variable |
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714 documentation. You can force a hyperlink for such variables by |
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715 preceding them with one of the words @samp{variable} or |
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716 @samp{option}. |
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717 |
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718 Hyperlinks for faces are only made if the face name is preceded or |
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719 followed by the word @samp{face}. In that case, only the face |
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720 documentation will be shown, even if the symbol is also defined as a |
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721 variable or as a function. |
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722 |
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723 To make a hyperlink to Info documentation, write the name of the Info |
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724 node (or anchor) in single quotes, preceded by @samp{info node}, |
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725 @samp{Info node}, @samp{info anchor} or @samp{Info anchor}. The Info |
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726 file name defaults to @samp{emacs}. For example, |
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727 |
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728 @smallexample |
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729 See Info node `Font Lock' and Info node `(elisp)Font Lock Basics'. |
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730 @end smallexample |
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731 |
6552 | 732 @item |
733 Don't write key sequences directly in documentation strings. Instead, | |
734 use the @samp{\\[@dots{}]} construct to stand for them. For example, | |
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735 instead of writing @samp{C-f}, write the construct |
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736 @samp{\\[forward-char]}. When Emacs displays the documentation string, |
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737 it substitutes whatever key is currently bound to @code{forward-char}. |
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738 (This is normally @samp{C-f}, but it may be some other character if the |
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739 user has moved key bindings.) @xref{Keys in Documentation}. |
6552 | 740 |
741 @item | |
742 In documentation strings for a major mode, you will want to refer to the | |
743 key bindings of that mode's local map, rather than global ones. | |
744 Therefore, use the construct @samp{\\<@dots{}>} once in the | |
745 documentation string to specify which key map to use. Do this before | |
746 the first use of @samp{\\[@dots{}]}. The text inside the | |
747 @samp{\\<@dots{}>} should be the name of the variable containing the | |
748 local keymap for the major mode. | |
749 | |
750 It is not practical to use @samp{\\[@dots{}]} very many times, because | |
751 display of the documentation string will become slow. So use this to | |
752 describe the most important commands in your major mode, and then use | |
753 @samp{\\@{@dots{}@}} to display the rest of the mode's keymap. | |
754 @end itemize | |
755 | |
756 @node Comment Tips | |
757 @section Tips on Writing Comments | |
758 | |
759 We recommend these conventions for where to put comments and how to | |
760 indent them: | |
761 | |
762 @table @samp | |
763 @item ; | |
764 Comments that start with a single semicolon, @samp{;}, should all be | |
765 aligned to the same column on the right of the source code. Such | |
766 comments usually explain how the code on the same line does its job. In | |
767 Lisp mode and related modes, the @kbd{M-;} (@code{indent-for-comment}) | |
768 command automatically inserts such a @samp{;} in the right place, or | |
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769 aligns such a comment if it is already present. |
6552 | 770 |
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771 This and following examples are taken from the Emacs sources. |
6552 | 772 |
773 @smallexample | |
774 @group | |
775 (setq base-version-list ; there was a base | |
776 (assoc (substring fn 0 start-vn) ; version to which | |
777 file-version-assoc-list)) ; this looks like | |
778 ; a subversion | |
779 @end group | |
780 @end smallexample | |
781 | |
782 @item ;; | |
783 Comments that start with two semicolons, @samp{;;}, should be aligned to | |
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784 the same level of indentation as the code. Such comments usually |
6552 | 785 describe the purpose of the following lines or the state of the program |
786 at that point. For example: | |
787 | |
788 @smallexample | |
789 @group | |
790 (prog1 (setq auto-fill-function | |
791 @dots{} | |
792 @dots{} | |
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793 ;; update mode line |
6552 | 794 (force-mode-line-update))) |
795 @end group | |
796 @end smallexample | |
797 | |
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798 We also normally use two semicolons for comments outside functions. |
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799 |
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800 @smallexample |
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801 @group |
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802 ;; This Lisp code is run in Emacs |
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803 ;; when it is to operate as a server |
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804 ;; for other processes. |
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805 @end group |
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806 @end smallexample |
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807 |
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808 Every function that has no documentation string (presumably one that is |
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809 used only internally within the package it belongs to), should instead |
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810 have a two-semicolon comment right before the function, explaining what |
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811 the function does and how to call it properly. Explain precisely what |
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812 each argument means and how the function interprets its possible values. |
6552 | 813 |
814 @item ;;; | |
815 Comments that start with three semicolons, @samp{;;;}, should start at | |
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816 the left margin. These are used, occasionally, for comments within |
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817 functions that should start at the margin. We also use them sometimes |
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818 for comments that are between functions---whether to use two or three |
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819 semicolons depends on whether the comment should be considered a |
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820 ``heading'' by Outline minor mode. By default, comments starting with |
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821 at least three semicolons (followed by a single space and a |
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822 non-whitespace character) are considered headings, comments starting |
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823 with two or less are not. |
6552 | 824 |
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825 Another use for triple-semicolon comments is for commenting out lines |
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826 within a function. We use three semicolons for this precisely so that |
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827 they remain at the left margin. By default, Outline minor mode does |
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828 not consider a comment to be a heading (even if it starts with at |
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829 least three semicolons) if the semicolons are followed by at least two |
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830 spaces. Thus, if you add an introductory comment to the commented out |
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831 code, make sure to indent it by at least two spaces after the three |
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832 semicolons. |
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833 |
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834 @smallexample |
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835 (defun foo (a) |
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836 ;;; This is no longer necessary. |
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837 ;;; (force-mode-line-update) |
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838 (message "Finished with %s" a)) |
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839 @end smallexample |
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840 |
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841 When commenting out entire functions, use two semicolons. |
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842 |
6552 | 843 @item ;;;; |
844 Comments that start with four semicolons, @samp{;;;;}, should be aligned | |
845 to the left margin and are used for headings of major sections of a | |
846 program. For example: | |
847 | |
848 @smallexample | |
849 ;;;; The kill ring | |
850 @end smallexample | |
851 @end table | |
852 | |
853 @noindent | |
854 The indentation commands of the Lisp modes in Emacs, such as @kbd{M-;} | |
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855 (@code{indent-for-comment}) and @key{TAB} (@code{lisp-indent-line}), |
6552 | 856 automatically indent comments according to these conventions, |
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857 depending on the number of semicolons. @xref{Comments,, |
6552 | 858 Manipulating Comments, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
859 | |
860 @node Library Headers | |
861 @section Conventional Headers for Emacs Libraries | |
862 @cindex header comments | |
863 @cindex library header comments | |
864 | |
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865 Emacs has conventions for using special comments in Lisp libraries |
6552 | 866 to divide them into sections and give information such as who wrote |
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867 them. This section explains these conventions. |
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868 |
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869 We'll start with an example, a package that is included in the Emacs |
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870 distribution. |
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871 |
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872 Parts of this example reflect its status as part of Emacs; for |
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873 example, the copyright notice lists the Free Software Foundation as the |
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874 copyright holder, and the copying permission says the file is part of |
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875 Emacs. When you write a package and post it, the copyright holder would |
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876 be you (unless your employer claims to own it instead), and you should |
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877 get the suggested copying permission from the end of the GNU General |
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878 Public License itself. Don't say your file is part of Emacs |
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879 if we haven't installed it in Emacs yet! |
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880 |
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881 With that warning out of the way, on to the example: |
6552 | 882 |
883 @smallexample | |
884 @group | |
885 ;;; lisp-mnt.el --- minor mode for Emacs Lisp maintainers | |
886 | |
887 ;; Copyright (C) 1992 Free Software Foundation, Inc. | |
888 @end group | |
889 | |
890 ;; Author: Eric S. Raymond <esr@@snark.thyrsus.com> | |
891 ;; Maintainer: Eric S. Raymond <esr@@snark.thyrsus.com> | |
892 ;; Created: 14 Jul 1992 | |
893 ;; Version: 1.2 | |
894 @group | |
895 ;; Keywords: docs | |
896 | |
897 ;; This file is part of GNU Emacs. | |
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898 @dots{} |
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899 ;; Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, |
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900 ;; Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA. |
6552 | 901 @end group |
902 @end smallexample | |
903 | |
904 The very first line should have this format: | |
905 | |
906 @example | |
907 ;;; @var{filename} --- @var{description} | |
908 @end example | |
909 | |
910 @noindent | |
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911 The description should be complete in one line. If the file |
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912 needs a @samp{-*-} specification, put it after @var{description}. |
6552 | 913 |
914 After the copyright notice come several @dfn{header comment} lines, | |
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915 each beginning with @samp{;; @var{header-name}:}. Here is a table of |
6552 | 916 the conventional possibilities for @var{header-name}: |
917 | |
918 @table @samp | |
919 @item Author | |
920 This line states the name and net address of at least the principal | |
921 author of the library. | |
922 | |
923 If there are multiple authors, you can list them on continuation lines | |
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924 led by @code{;;} and a tab character, like this: |
6552 | 925 |
926 @smallexample | |
927 @group | |
928 ;; Author: Ashwin Ram <Ram-Ashwin@@cs.yale.edu> | |
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929 ;; Dave Sill <de5@@ornl.gov> |
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930 ;; Dave Brennan <brennan@@hal.com> |
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931 ;; Eric Raymond <esr@@snark.thyrsus.com> |
6552 | 932 @end group |
933 @end smallexample | |
934 | |
935 @item Maintainer | |
936 This line should contain a single name/address as in the Author line, or | |
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937 an address only, or the string @samp{FSF}. If there is no maintainer |
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938 line, the person(s) in the Author field are presumed to be the |
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939 maintainers. The example above is mildly bogus because the maintainer |
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940 line is redundant. |
6552 | 941 |
942 The idea behind the @samp{Author} and @samp{Maintainer} lines is to make | |
943 possible a Lisp function to ``send mail to the maintainer'' without | |
944 having to mine the name out by hand. | |
945 | |
946 Be sure to surround the network address with @samp{<@dots{}>} if | |
947 you include the person's full name as well as the network address. | |
948 | |
949 @item Created | |
950 This optional line gives the original creation date of the | |
951 file. For historical interest only. | |
952 | |
953 @item Version | |
954 If you wish to record version numbers for the individual Lisp program, put | |
955 them in this line. | |
956 | |
957 @item Adapted-By | |
958 In this header line, place the name of the person who adapted the | |
959 library for installation (to make it fit the style conventions, for | |
960 example). | |
961 | |
962 @item Keywords | |
963 This line lists keywords for the @code{finder-by-keyword} help command. | |
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964 Please use that command to see a list of the meaningful keywords. |
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965 |
6552 | 966 This field is important; it's how people will find your package when |
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967 they're looking for things by topic area. To separate the keywords, you |
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968 can use spaces, commas, or both. |
6552 | 969 @end table |
970 | |
971 Just about every Lisp library ought to have the @samp{Author} and | |
972 @samp{Keywords} header comment lines. Use the others if they are | |
973 appropriate. You can also put in header lines with other header | |
974 names---they have no standard meanings, so they can't do any harm. | |
975 | |
976 We use additional stylized comments to subdivide the contents of the | |
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977 library file. These should be separated by blank lines from anything |
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978 else. Here is a table of them: |
6552 | 979 |
980 @table @samp | |
981 @item ;;; Commentary: | |
982 This begins introductory comments that explain how the library works. | |
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983 It should come right after the copying permissions, terminated by a |
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984 @samp{Change Log}, @samp{History} or @samp{Code} comment line. This |
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985 text is used by the Finder package, so it should make sense in that |
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986 context. |
6552 | 987 |
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988 @item ;;; Documentation: |
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989 This was used in some files in place of @samp{;;; Commentary:}, |
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990 but it is deprecated. |
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991 |
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992 @item ;;; Change Log: |
6552 | 993 This begins change log information stored in the library file (if you |
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994 store the change history there). For Lisp files distributed with Emacs, |
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995 the change history is kept in the file @file{ChangeLog} and not in the |
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996 source file at all; these files generally do not have a @samp{;;; Change |
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997 Log:} line. @samp{History} is an alternative to @samp{Change Log}. |
6552 | 998 |
999 @item ;;; Code: | |
1000 This begins the actual code of the program. | |
1001 | |
1002 @item ;;; @var{filename} ends here | |
1003 This is the @dfn{footer line}; it appears at the very end of the file. | |
1004 Its purpose is to enable people to detect truncated versions of the file | |
1005 from the lack of a footer line. | |
1006 @end table | |
52401 | 1007 |
1008 @ignore | |
1009 arch-tag: 9ea911c2-6b1d-47dd-88b7-0a94e8b27c2e | |
1010 @end ignore |