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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, 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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4 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
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5 @setfilename ../info/debugging
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6 @node Debugging, Read and Print, Byte Compilation, Top
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7 @chapter Debugging Lisp Programs
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8
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9 There are three ways to investigate a problem in an Emacs Lisp program,
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10 depending on what you are doing with the program when the problem appears.
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11
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12 @itemize @bullet
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13 @item
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14 If the problem occurs when you run the program, you can use a Lisp
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15 debugger (either the default debugger or Edebug) to investigate what is
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16 happening during execution.
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17
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18 @item
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19 If the problem is syntactic, so that Lisp cannot even read the program,
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20 you can use the Emacs facilities for editing Lisp to localize it.
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21
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22 @item
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23 If the problem occurs when trying to compile the program with the byte
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24 compiler, you need to know how to examine the compiler's input buffer.
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25 @end itemize
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26
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27 @menu
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28 * Debugger:: How the Emacs Lisp debugger is implemented.
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29 * Syntax Errors:: How to find syntax errors.
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30 * Compilation Errors:: How to find errors that show up in byte compilation.
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31 * Edebug:: A source-level Emacs Lisp debugger.
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32 @end menu
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33
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34 Another useful debugging tool is the dribble file. When a dribble
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35 file is open, Emacs copies all keyboard input characters to that file.
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36 Afterward, you can examine the file to find out what input was used.
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37 @xref{Terminal Input}.
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38
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39 For debugging problems in terminal descriptions, the
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40 @code{open-termscript} function can be useful. @xref{Terminal Output}.
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41
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42 @node Debugger
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43 @section The Lisp Debugger
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44 @cindex debugger
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45 @cindex Lisp debugger
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46 @cindex break
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47
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48 The @dfn{Lisp debugger} provides the ability to suspend evaluation of
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49 a form. While evaluation is suspended (a state that is commonly known
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50 as a @dfn{break}), you may examine the run time stack, examine the
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51 values of local or global variables, or change those values. Since a
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52 break is a recursive edit, all the usual editing facilities of Emacs are
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53 available; you can even run programs that will enter the debugger
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54 recursively. @xref{Recursive Editing}.
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55
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56 @menu
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57 * Error Debugging:: Entering the debugger when an error happens.
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58 * Infinite Loops:: Stopping and debugging a program that doesn't exit.
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59 * Function Debugging:: Entering it when a certain function is called.
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60 * Explicit Debug:: Entering it at a certain point in the program.
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61 * Using Debugger:: What the debugger does; what you see while in it.
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62 * Debugger Commands:: Commands used while in the debugger.
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63 * Invoking the Debugger:: How to call the function @code{debug}.
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64 * Internals of Debugger:: Subroutines of the debugger, and global variables.
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65 @end menu
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66
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67 @node Error Debugging
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68 @subsection Entering the Debugger on an Error
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69 @cindex error debugging
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70 @cindex debugging errors
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71
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72 The most important time to enter the debugger is when a Lisp error
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73 happens. This allows you to investigate the immediate causes of the
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74 error.
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75
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76 However, entry to the debugger is not a normal consequence of an
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77 error. Many commands frequently get Lisp errors when invoked in
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78 inappropriate contexts (such as @kbd{C-f} at the end of the buffer) and
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79 during ordinary editing it would be very unpleasant to enter the
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80 debugger each time this happens. If you want errors to enter the
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81 debugger, set the variable @code{debug-on-error} to non-@code{nil}.
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82
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83 @defopt debug-on-error
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84 This variable determines whether the debugger is called when an error is
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85 signaled and not handled. If @code{debug-on-error} is @code{t}, all
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86 errors call the debugger. If it is @code{nil}, none call the debugger.
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87
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88 The value can also be a list of error conditions that should call the
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89 debugger. For example, if you set it to the list
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90 @code{(void-variable)}, then only errors about a variable that has no
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91 value invoke the debugger.
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92
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93 When this variable is non-@code{nil}, Emacs does not catch errors that
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94 happen in process filter functions and sentinels. Therefore, these
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95 errors also can invoke the debugger. @xref{Processes}.
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96 @end defopt
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97
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98 @defopt debug-ignored-errors
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99 This variable specifies certain kinds of errors that should not enter
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100 the debugger. Its value is a list of error condition symbols and/or
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101 regular expressions. If the error has any of those condition symbols,
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102 or if the error message matches any of the regular expressions, then
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103 that error does not enter the debugger, regardless of the value of
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104 @code{debug-on-error}.
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105
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106 The normal value of this variable lists several errors that happen often
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107 during editing but rarely result from bugs in Lisp programs.
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108 @end defopt
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109
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110 To debug an error that happens during loading of the @file{.emacs}
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111 file, use the option @samp{-debug-init}, which binds
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112 @code{debug-on-error} to @code{t} while @file{.emacs} is loaded and
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113 inhibits use of @code{condition-case} to catch init file errors.
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114
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115 If your @file{.emacs} file sets @code{debug-on-error}, the effect may
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116 not last past the end of loading @file{.emacs}. (This is an undesirable
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117 byproduct of the code that implements the @samp{-debug-init} command
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118 line option.) The best way to make @file{.emacs} set
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119 @code{debug-on-error} permanently is with @code{after-init-hook}, like
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120 this:
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121
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122 @example
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123 (add-hook 'after-init-hook
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124 '(lambda () (setq debug-on-error t)))
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125 @end example
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126
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127 @node Infinite Loops
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128 @subsection Debugging Infinite Loops
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129 @cindex infinite loops
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130 @cindex loops, infinite
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131 @cindex quitting from infinite loop
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132 @cindex stopping an infinite loop
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133
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134 When a program loops infinitely and fails to return, your first
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135 problem is to stop the loop. On most operating systems, you can do this
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136 with @kbd{C-g}, which causes quit.
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137
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138 Ordinary quitting gives no information about why the program was
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139 looping. To get more information, you can set the variable
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140 @code{debug-on-quit} to non-@code{nil}. Quitting with @kbd{C-g} is not
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141 considered an error, and @code{debug-on-error} has no effect on the
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142 handling of @kbd{C-g}. Likewise, @code{debug-on-quit} has no effect on
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143 errors.
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144
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145 Once you have the debugger running in the middle of the infinite loop,
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146 you can proceed from the debugger using the stepping commands. If you
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147 step through the entire loop, you will probably get enough information
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148 to solve the problem.
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149
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150 @defopt debug-on-quit
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151 This variable determines whether the debugger is called when @code{quit}
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152 is signaled and not handled. If @code{debug-on-quit} is non-@code{nil},
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153 then the debugger is called whenever you quit (that is, type @kbd{C-g}).
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154 If @code{debug-on-quit} is @code{nil}, then the debugger is not called
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155 when you quit. @xref{Quitting}.
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156 @end defopt
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157
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158 @node Function Debugging
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159 @subsection Entering the Debugger on a Function Call
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160 @cindex function call debugging
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161 @cindex debugging specific functions
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162
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163 To investigate a problem that happens in the middle of a program, one
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164 useful technique is to enter the debugger whenever a certain function is
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165 called. You can do this to the function in which the problem occurs,
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166 and then step through the function, or you can do this to a function
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167 called shortly before the problem, step quickly over the call to that
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168 function, and then step through its caller.
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169
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170 @deffn Command debug-on-entry function-name
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171 This function requests @var{function-name} to invoke the debugger each time
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172 it is called. It works by inserting the form @code{(debug 'debug)} into
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173 the function definition as the first form.
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174
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175 Any function defined as Lisp code may be set to break on entry,
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176 regardless of whether it is interpreted code or compiled code. If the
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177 function is a command, it will enter the debugger when called from Lisp
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178 and when called interactively (after the reading of the arguments). You
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179 can't debug primitive functions (i.e., those written in C) this way.
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180
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181 When @code{debug-on-entry} is called interactively, it prompts
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182 for @var{function-name} in the minibuffer.
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183
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184 If the function is already set up to invoke the debugger on entry,
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185 @code{debug-on-entry} does nothing.
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186
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187 @strong{Note:} if you redefine a function after using
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188 @code{debug-on-entry} on it, the code to enter the debugger is lost.
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189
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190 @code{debug-on-entry} returns @var{function-name}.
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191
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192 @example
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193 @group
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194 (defun fact (n)
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195 (if (zerop n) 1
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196 (* n (fact (1- n)))))
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197 @result{} fact
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198 @end group
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199 @group
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200 (debug-on-entry 'fact)
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201 @result{} fact
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202 @end group
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203 @group
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204 (fact 3)
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205 @end group
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206
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207 @group
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208 ------ Buffer: *Backtrace* ------
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209 Entering:
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210 * fact(3)
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211 eval-region(4870 4878 t)
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212 byte-code("...")
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213 eval-last-sexp(nil)
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214 (let ...)
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215 eval-insert-last-sexp(nil)
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216 * call-interactively(eval-insert-last-sexp)
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217 ------ Buffer: *Backtrace* ------
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218 @end group
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219
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220 @group
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221 (symbol-function 'fact)
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222 @result{} (lambda (n)
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223 (debug (quote debug))
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224 (if (zerop n) 1 (* n (fact (1- n)))))
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225 @end group
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226 @end example
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227 @end deffn
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228
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229 @deffn Command cancel-debug-on-entry function-name
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230 This function undoes the effect of @code{debug-on-entry} on
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231 @var{function-name}. When called interactively, it prompts for
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232 @var{function-name} in the minibuffer. If @var{function-name} is
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233 @code{nil} or the empty string, it cancels debugging for all functions.
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234
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235 If @code{cancel-debug-on-entry} is called more than once on the same
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236 function, the second call does nothing. @code{cancel-debug-on-entry}
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237 returns @var{function-name}.
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238 @end deffn
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239
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240 @node Explicit Debug
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241 @subsection Explicit Entry to the Debugger
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242
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243 You can cause the debugger to be called at a certain point in your
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244 program by writing the expression @code{(debug)} at that point. To do
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245 this, visit the source file, insert the text @samp{(debug)} at the
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246 proper place, and type @kbd{C-M-x}. Be sure to undo this insertion
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247 before you save the file!
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248
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249 The place where you insert @samp{(debug)} must be a place where an
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250 additional form can be evaluated and its value ignored. (If the value
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251 of @code{(debug)} isn't ignored, it will alter the execution of the
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252 program!) The most common suitable places are inside a @code{progn} or
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253 an implicit @code{progn} (@pxref{Sequencing}).
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254
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255 @node Using Debugger
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256 @subsection Using the Debugger
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257
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258 When the debugger is entered, it displays the previously selected
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259 buffer in one window and a buffer named @samp{*Backtrace*} in another
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260 window. The backtrace buffer contains one line for each level of Lisp
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261 function execution currently going on. At the beginning of this buffer
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262 is a message describing the reason that the debugger was invoked (such
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263 as the error message and associated data, if it was invoked due to an
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264 error).
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265
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266 The backtrace buffer is read-only and uses a special major mode,
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267 Debugger mode, in which letters are defined as debugger commands. The
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268 usual Emacs editing commands are available; thus, you can switch windows
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269 to examine the buffer that was being edited at the time of the error,
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270 switch buffers, visit files, or do any other sort of editing. However,
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271 the debugger is a recursive editing level (@pxref{Recursive Editing})
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272 and it is wise to go back to the backtrace buffer and exit the debugger
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273 (with the @kbd{q} command) when you are finished with it. Exiting
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274 the debugger gets out of the recursive edit and kills the backtrace
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275 buffer.
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276
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277 @cindex current stack frame
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278 The backtrace buffer shows you the functions that are executing and
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279 their argument values. It also allows you to specify a stack frame by
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280 moving point to the line describing that frame. (A stack frame is the
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281 place where the Lisp interpreter records information about a particular
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282 invocation of a function.) The frame whose line point is on is
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283 considered the @dfn{current frame}. Some of the debugger commands
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284 operate on the current frame.
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285
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286 The debugger itself must be run byte-compiled, since it makes
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287 assumptions about how many stack frames are used for the debugger
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288 itself. These assumptions are false if the debugger is running
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289 interpreted.
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290
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291 @need 3000
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292
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293 @node Debugger Commands
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294 @subsection Debugger Commands
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295 @cindex debugger command list
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296
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297 Inside the debugger (in Debugger mode), these special commands are
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298 available in addition to the usual cursor motion commands. (Keep in
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299 mind that all the usual facilities of Emacs, such as switching windows
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300 or buffers, are still available.)
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301
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302 The most important use of debugger commands is for stepping through
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303 code, so that you can see how control flows. The debugger can step
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304 through the control structures of an interpreted function, but cannot do
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305 so in a byte-compiled function. If you would like to step through a
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306 byte-compiled function, replace it with an interpreted definition of the
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307 same function. (To do this, visit the source file for the function and
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308 type @kbd{C-M-x} on its definition.)
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309
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310 Here is a list of Debugger mode commands:
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311
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312 @table @kbd
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313 @item c
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314 Exit the debugger and continue execution. When continuing is possible,
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315 it resumes execution of the program as if the debugger had never been
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316 entered (aside from the effect of any variables or data structures you
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317 may have changed while inside the debugger).
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318
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319 Continuing is possible after entry to the debugger due to function entry
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320 or exit, explicit invocation, or quitting. You cannot continue if the
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321 debugger was entered because of an error.
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322
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323 @item d
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324 Continue execution, but enter the debugger the next time any Lisp
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325 function is called. This allows you to step through the
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326 subexpressions of an expression, seeing what values the subexpressions
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327 compute, and what else they do.
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328
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329 The stack frame made for the function call which enters the debugger in
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330 this way will be flagged automatically so that the debugger will be
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331 called again when the frame is exited. You can use the @kbd{u} command
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332 to cancel this flag.
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333
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334 @item b
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335 Flag the current frame so that the debugger will be entered when the
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336 frame is exited. Frames flagged in this way are marked with stars
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337 in the backtrace buffer.
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338
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339 @item u
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340 Don't enter the debugger when the current frame is exited. This
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341 cancels a @kbd{b} command on that frame.
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342
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343 @item e
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344 Read a Lisp expression in the minibuffer, evaluate it, and print the
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345 value in the echo area. The debugger alters certain important
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346 variables, and the current buffer, as part of its operation; @kbd{e}
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347 temporarily restores their outside-the-debugger values so you can
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348 examine them. This makes the debugger more transparent. By contrast,
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349 @kbd{M-:} does nothing special in the debugger; it shows you the
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350 variable values within the debugger.
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351
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352 @item q
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353 Terminate the program being debugged; return to top-level Emacs
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354 command execution.
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355
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356 If the debugger was entered due to a @kbd{C-g} but you really want
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357 to quit, and not debug, use the @kbd{q} command.
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358
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359 @item r
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360 Return a value from the debugger. The value is computed by reading an
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361 expression with the minibuffer and evaluating it.
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362
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363 The @kbd{r} command is useful when the debugger was invoked due to exit
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364 from a Lisp call frame (as requested with @kbd{b}); then the value
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365 specified in the @kbd{r} command is used as the value of that frame. It
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366 is also useful if you call @code{debug} and use its return value.
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367 Otherwise, @kbd{r} has the same effect as @kbd{c}, and the specified
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368 return value does not matter.
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369
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370 You can't use @kbd{r} when the debugger was entered due to an error.
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371 @end table
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372
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373 @node Invoking the Debugger
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374 @subsection Invoking the Debugger
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375
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376 Here we describe fully the function used to invoke the debugger.
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377
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378 @defun debug &rest debugger-args
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379 This function enters the debugger. It switches buffers to a buffer
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380 named @samp{*Backtrace*} (or @samp{*Backtrace*<2>} if it is the second
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381 recursive entry to the debugger, etc.), and fills it with information
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382 about the stack of Lisp function calls. It then enters a recursive
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383 edit, showing the backtrace buffer in Debugger mode.
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384
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385 The Debugger mode @kbd{c} and @kbd{r} commands exit the recursive edit;
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386 then @code{debug} switches back to the previous buffer and returns to
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387 whatever called @code{debug}. This is the only way the function
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388 @code{debug} can return to its caller.
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389
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390 If the first of the @var{debugger-args} passed to @code{debug} is
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391 @code{nil} (or if it is not one of the special values in the table
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392 below), then @code{debug} displays the rest of its arguments at the
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393 top of the @samp{*Backtrace*} buffer. This mechanism is used to display
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394 a message to the user.
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395
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396 However, if the first argument passed to @code{debug} is one of the
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397 following special values, then it has special significance. Normally,
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398 these values are passed to @code{debug} only by the internals of Emacs
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399 and the debugger, and not by programmers calling @code{debug}.
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400
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401 The special values are:
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402
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403 @table @code
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404 @item lambda
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405 @cindex @code{lambda} in debug
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406 A first argument of @code{lambda} means @code{debug} was called because
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407 of entry to a function when @code{debug-on-next-call} was
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408 non-@code{nil}. The debugger displays @samp{Entering:} as a line of
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409 text at the top of the buffer.
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410
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411 @item debug
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412 @code{debug} as first argument indicates a call to @code{debug} because
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413 of entry to a function that was set to debug on entry. The debugger
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414 displays @samp{Entering:}, just as in the @code{lambda} case. It also
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415 marks the stack frame for that function so that it will invoke the
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416 debugger when exited.
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417
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418 @item t
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419 When the first argument is @code{t}, this indicates a call to
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420 @code{debug} due to evaluation of a list form when
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421 @code{debug-on-next-call} is non-@code{nil}. The debugger displays the
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422 following as the top line in the buffer:
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423
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424 @smallexample
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425 Beginning evaluation of function call form:
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426 @end smallexample
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427
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428 @item exit
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429 When the first argument is @code{exit}, it indicates the exit of a
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430 stack frame previously marked to invoke the debugger on exit. The
|
|
431 second argument given to @code{debug} in this case is the value being
|
|
432 returned from the frame. The debugger displays @samp{Return value:} on
|
|
433 the top line of the buffer, followed by the value being returned.
|
|
434
|
|
435 @item error
|
|
436 @cindex @code{error} in debug
|
|
437 When the first argument is @code{error}, the debugger indicates that
|
|
438 it is being entered because an error or @code{quit} was signaled and not
|
|
439 handled, by displaying @samp{Signaling:} followed by the error signaled
|
|
440 and any arguments to @code{signal}. For example,
|
|
441
|
|
442 @example
|
|
443 @group
|
|
444 (let ((debug-on-error t))
|
|
445 (/ 1 0))
|
|
446 @end group
|
|
447
|
|
448 @group
|
|
449 ------ Buffer: *Backtrace* ------
|
|
450 Signaling: (arith-error)
|
|
451 /(1 0)
|
|
452 ...
|
|
453 ------ Buffer: *Backtrace* ------
|
|
454 @end group
|
|
455 @end example
|
|
456
|
|
457 If an error was signaled, presumably the variable
|
|
458 @code{debug-on-error} is non-@code{nil}. If @code{quit} was signaled,
|
|
459 then presumably the variable @code{debug-on-quit} is non-@code{nil}.
|
|
460
|
|
461 @item nil
|
|
462 Use @code{nil} as the first of the @var{debugger-args} when you want
|
|
463 to enter the debugger explicitly. The rest of the @var{debugger-args}
|
|
464 are printed on the top line of the buffer. You can use this feature to
|
|
465 display messages---for example, to remind yourself of the conditions
|
|
466 under which @code{debug} is called.
|
|
467 @end table
|
|
468 @end defun
|
|
469
|
|
470 @node Internals of Debugger
|
|
471 @subsection Internals of the Debugger
|
|
472
|
|
473 This section describes functions and variables used internally by the
|
|
474 debugger.
|
|
475
|
|
476 @defvar debugger
|
|
477 The value of this variable is the function to call to invoke the
|
|
478 debugger. Its value must be a function of any number of arguments (or,
|
|
479 more typically, the name of a function). Presumably this function will
|
|
480 enter some kind of debugger. The default value of the variable is
|
|
481 @code{debug}.
|
|
482
|
|
483 The first argument that Lisp hands to the function indicates why it
|
|
484 was called. The convention for arguments is detailed in the description
|
|
485 of @code{debug}.
|
|
486 @end defvar
|
|
487
|
|
488 @deffn Command backtrace
|
|
489 @cindex run time stack
|
|
490 @cindex call stack
|
|
491 This function prints a trace of Lisp function calls currently active.
|
|
492 This is the function used by @code{debug} to fill up the
|
|
493 @samp{*Backtrace*} buffer. It is written in C, since it must have access
|
|
494 to the stack to determine which function calls are active. The return
|
|
495 value is always @code{nil}.
|
|
496
|
|
497 In the following example, a Lisp expression calls @code{backtrace}
|
|
498 explicitly. This prints the backtrace to the stream
|
|
499 @code{standard-output}: in this case, to the buffer
|
|
500 @samp{backtrace-output}. Each line of the backtrace represents one
|
|
501 function call. The line shows the values of the function's arguments if
|
|
502 they are all known. If they are still being computed, the line says so.
|
|
503 The arguments of special forms are elided.
|
|
504
|
|
505 @smallexample
|
|
506 @group
|
|
507 (with-output-to-temp-buffer "backtrace-output"
|
|
508 (let ((var 1))
|
|
509 (save-excursion
|
|
510 (setq var (eval '(progn
|
|
511 (1+ var)
|
|
512 (list 'testing (backtrace))))))))
|
|
513
|
|
514 @result{} nil
|
|
515 @end group
|
|
516
|
|
517 @group
|
|
518 ----------- Buffer: backtrace-output ------------
|
|
519 backtrace()
|
|
520 (list ...computing arguments...)
|
|
521 (progn ...)
|
|
522 eval((progn (1+ var) (list (quote testing) (backtrace))))
|
|
523 (setq ...)
|
|
524 (save-excursion ...)
|
|
525 (let ...)
|
|
526 (with-output-to-temp-buffer ...)
|
|
527 eval-region(1973 2142 #<buffer *scratch*>)
|
|
528 byte-code("... for eval-print-last-sexp ...")
|
|
529 eval-print-last-sexp(nil)
|
|
530 * call-interactively(eval-print-last-sexp)
|
|
531 ----------- Buffer: backtrace-output ------------
|
|
532 @end group
|
|
533 @end smallexample
|
|
534
|
|
535 The character @samp{*} indicates a frame whose debug-on-exit flag is
|
|
536 set.
|
|
537 @end deffn
|
|
538
|
|
539 @ignore @c Not worth mentioning
|
|
540 @defopt stack-trace-on-error
|
|
541 @cindex stack trace
|
|
542 This variable controls whether Lisp automatically displays a
|
|
543 backtrace buffer after every error that is not handled. A quit signal
|
|
544 counts as an error for this variable. If it is non-@code{nil} then a
|
|
545 backtrace is shown in a pop-up buffer named @samp{*Backtrace*} on every
|
|
546 error. If it is @code{nil}, then a backtrace is not shown.
|
|
547
|
|
548 When a backtrace is shown, that buffer is not selected. If either
|
|
549 @code{debug-on-quit} or @code{debug-on-error} is also non-@code{nil}, then
|
|
550 a backtrace is shown in one buffer, and the debugger is popped up in
|
|
551 another buffer with its own backtrace.
|
|
552
|
|
553 We consider this feature to be obsolete and superseded by the debugger
|
|
554 itself.
|
|
555 @end defopt
|
|
556 @end ignore
|
|
557
|
|
558 @defvar debug-on-next-call
|
|
559 @cindex @code{eval}, and debugging
|
|
560 @cindex @code{apply}, and debugging
|
|
561 @cindex @code{funcall}, and debugging
|
|
562 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, it says to call the debugger before
|
|
563 the next @code{eval}, @code{apply} or @code{funcall}. Entering the
|
|
564 debugger sets @code{debug-on-next-call} to @code{nil}.
|
|
565
|
|
566 The @kbd{d} command in the debugger works by setting this variable.
|
|
567 @end defvar
|
|
568
|
|
569 @defun backtrace-debug level flag
|
|
570 This function sets the debug-on-exit flag of the stack frame @var{level}
|
7214
|
571 levels down the stack, giving it the value @var{flag}. If @var{flag} is
|
6558
|
572 non-@code{nil}, this will cause the debugger to be entered when that
|
|
573 frame later exits. Even a nonlocal exit through that frame will enter
|
|
574 the debugger.
|
|
575
|
7214
|
576 This function is used only by the debugger.
|
6558
|
577 @end defun
|
|
578
|
|
579 @defvar command-debug-status
|
12098
|
580 This variable records the debugging status of the current interactive
|
6558
|
581 command. Each time a command is called interactively, this variable is
|
|
582 bound to @code{nil}. The debugger can set this variable to leave
|
|
583 information for future debugger invocations during the same command.
|
|
584
|
7214
|
585 The advantage, for the debugger, of using this variable rather than
|
|
586 another global variable is that the data will never carry over to a
|
|
587 subsequent command invocation.
|
6558
|
588 @end defvar
|
|
589
|
|
590 @defun backtrace-frame frame-number
|
|
591 The function @code{backtrace-frame} is intended for use in Lisp
|
|
592 debuggers. It returns information about what computation is happening
|
|
593 in the stack frame @var{frame-number} levels down.
|
|
594
|
|
595 If that frame has not evaluated the arguments yet (or is a special
|
|
596 form), the value is @code{(nil @var{function} @var{arg-forms}@dots{})}.
|
|
597
|
|
598 If that frame has evaluated its arguments and called its function
|
|
599 already, the value is @code{(t @var{function}
|
|
600 @var{arg-values}@dots{})}.
|
|
601
|
7214
|
602 In the return value, @var{function} is whatever was supplied as the
|
|
603 @sc{car} of the evaluated list, or a @code{lambda} expression in the
|
|
604 case of a macro call. If the function has a @code{&rest} argument, that
|
|
605 is represented as the tail of the list @var{arg-values}.
|
6558
|
606
|
7214
|
607 If @var{frame-number} is out of range, @code{backtrace-frame} returns
|
6558
|
608 @code{nil}.
|
|
609 @end defun
|
|
610
|
|
611 @node Syntax Errors
|
|
612 @section Debugging Invalid Lisp Syntax
|
|
613
|
|
614 The Lisp reader reports invalid syntax, but cannot say where the real
|
|
615 problem is. For example, the error ``End of file during parsing'' in
|
|
616 evaluating an expression indicates an excess of open parentheses (or
|
|
617 square brackets). The reader detects this imbalance at the end of the
|
|
618 file, but it cannot figure out where the close parenthesis should have
|
|
619 been. Likewise, ``Invalid read syntax: ")"'' indicates an excess close
|
|
620 parenthesis or missing open parenthesis, but does not say where the
|
|
621 missing parenthesis belongs. How, then, to find what to change?
|
|
622
|
|
623 If the problem is not simply an imbalance of parentheses, a useful
|
|
624 technique is to try @kbd{C-M-e} at the beginning of each defun, and see
|
|
625 if it goes to the place where that defun appears to end. If it does
|
|
626 not, there is a problem in that defun.
|
|
627
|
|
628 However, unmatched parentheses are the most common syntax errors in
|
|
629 Lisp, and we can give further advice for those cases.
|
|
630
|
|
631 @menu
|
|
632 * Excess Open:: How to find a spurious open paren or missing close.
|
|
633 * Excess Close:: How to find a spurious close paren or missing open.
|
|
634 @end menu
|
|
635
|
|
636 @node Excess Open
|
|
637 @subsection Excess Open Parentheses
|
|
638
|
|
639 The first step is to find the defun that is unbalanced. If there is
|
|
640 an excess open parenthesis, the way to do this is to insert a
|
|
641 close parenthesis at the end of the file and type @kbd{C-M-b}
|
|
642 (@code{backward-sexp}). This will move you to the beginning of the
|
|
643 defun that is unbalanced. (Then type @kbd{C-@key{SPC} C-_ C-u
|
|
644 C-@key{SPC}} to set the mark there, undo the insertion of the
|
|
645 close parenthesis, and finally return to the mark.)
|
|
646
|
|
647 The next step is to determine precisely what is wrong. There is no
|
|
648 way to be sure of this except to study the program, but often the
|
|
649 existing indentation is a clue to where the parentheses should have
|
|
650 been. The easiest way to use this clue is to reindent with @kbd{C-M-q}
|
|
651 and see what moves.
|
|
652
|
|
653 Before you do this, make sure the defun has enough close parentheses.
|
|
654 Otherwise, @kbd{C-M-q} will get an error, or will reindent all the rest
|
|
655 of the file until the end. So move to the end of the defun and insert a
|
|
656 close parenthesis there. Don't use @kbd{C-M-e} to move there, since
|
|
657 that too will fail to work until the defun is balanced.
|
|
658
|
|
659 Now you can go to the beginning of the defun and type @kbd{C-M-q}.
|
|
660 Usually all the lines from a certain point to the end of the function
|
|
661 will shift to the right. There is probably a missing close parenthesis,
|
|
662 or a superfluous open parenthesis, near that point. (However, don't
|
|
663 assume this is true; study the code to make sure.) Once you have found
|
7214
|
664 the discrepancy, undo the @kbd{C-M-q} with @kbd{C-_}, since the old
|
|
665 indentation is probably appropriate to the intended parentheses.
|
6558
|
666
|
|
667 After you think you have fixed the problem, use @kbd{C-M-q} again. If
|
|
668 the old indentation actually fit the intended nesting of parentheses,
|
|
669 and you have put back those parentheses, @kbd{C-M-q} should not change
|
|
670 anything.
|
|
671
|
|
672 @node Excess Close
|
|
673 @subsection Excess Close Parentheses
|
|
674
|
7214
|
675 To deal with an excess close parenthesis, first insert an open
|
|
676 parenthesis at the beginning of the file, back up over it, and type
|
|
677 @kbd{C-M-f} to find the end of the unbalanced defun. (Then type
|
|
678 @kbd{C-@key{SPC} C-_ C-u C-@key{SPC}} to set the mark there, undo the
|
|
679 insertion of the open parenthesis, and finally return to the mark.)
|
6558
|
680
|
|
681 Then find the actual matching close parenthesis by typing @kbd{C-M-f}
|
|
682 at the beginning of the defun. This will leave you somewhere short of
|
|
683 the place where the defun ought to end. It is possible that you will
|
|
684 find a spurious close parenthesis in that vicinity.
|
|
685
|
|
686 If you don't see a problem at that point, the next thing to do is to
|
|
687 type @kbd{C-M-q} at the beginning of the defun. A range of lines will
|
|
688 probably shift left; if so, the missing open parenthesis or spurious
|
|
689 close parenthesis is probably near the first of those lines. (However,
|
|
690 don't assume this is true; study the code to make sure.) Once you have
|
7214
|
691 found the discrepancy, undo the @kbd{C-M-q} with @kbd{C-_}, since the
|
|
692 old indentation is probably appropriate to the intended parentheses.
|
6558
|
693
|
7214
|
694 After you think you have fixed the problem, use @kbd{C-M-q} again. If
|
|
695 the old indentation actually fit the intended nesting of parentheses,
|
|
696 and you have put back those parentheses, @kbd{C-M-q} should not change
|
|
697 anything.
|
|
698
|
|
699 @node Compilation Errors, Edebug, Syntax Errors, Debugging
|
6558
|
700 @section Debugging Problems in Compilation
|
|
701
|
|
702 When an error happens during byte compilation, it is normally due to
|
|
703 invalid syntax in the program you are compiling. The compiler prints a
|
|
704 suitable error message in the @samp{*Compile-Log*} buffer, and then
|
|
705 stops. The message may state a function name in which the error was
|
|
706 found, or it may not. Either way, here is how to find out where in the
|
|
707 file the error occurred.
|
|
708
|
|
709 What you should do is switch to the buffer @w{@samp{ *Compiler Input*}}.
|
|
710 (Note that the buffer name starts with a space, so it does not show
|
|
711 up in @kbd{M-x list-buffers}.) This buffer contains the program being
|
|
712 compiled, and point shows how far the byte compiler was able to read.
|
|
713
|
|
714 If the error was due to invalid Lisp syntax, point shows exactly where
|
|
715 the invalid syntax was @emph{detected}. The cause of the error is not
|
|
716 necessarily near by! Use the techniques in the previous section to find
|
|
717 the error.
|
|
718
|
|
719 If the error was detected while compiling a form that had been read
|
|
720 successfully, then point is located at the end of the form. In this
|
7214
|
721 case, this technique can't localize the error precisely, but can still
|
|
722 show you which function to check.
|
6558
|
723
|
|
724 @include edebug.texi
|