comparison man/building.texi @ 28431:315d6e79ea38

Overlay arrow in margin. eval-expression variables.

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  When you run a debugger with GUD, the debugger uses an Emacs buffer
for its ordinary input and output.  This is called the GUD buffer.  The
debugger displays the source files of the program by visiting them in
Emacs buffers.  An arrow (@samp{=>}) in one of these buffers indicates
the current execution line.  Moving point in this buffer does not move
the arrow.

  You can start editing these source files at any time in the buffers
that were made to display them.  The arrow is not part of the file's
text; it appears only on the screen.  If you do modify a source file,
keep in mind that inserting or deleting lines will throw off the arrow's

  @kbd{C-M-x} treats @code{defvar} expressions specially.  Normally,
evaluating a @code{defvar} expression does nothing if the variable it
defines already has a value.  But @kbd{C-M-x} unconditionally resets the
variable to the initial value specified in the @code{defvar} expression.
This special feature is convenient for debugging Lisp programs.

@kindex C-x C-e
@findex eval-last-sexp
  The command @kbd{C-x C-e} (@code{eval-last-sexp}) evaluates the Lisp

@kbd{M-x eval-current-buffer} is similar but evaluates the entire
buffer.  This is a reasonable way to install the contents of a file of
Lisp code that you are just ready to test.  Later, as you find bugs and
change individual functions, use @kbd{C-M-x} on each function that you
change.  This keeps the Lisp world in step with the source file.

@node Lisp Interaction
@section Lisp Interaction Buffers

  The buffer @samp{*scratch*} which is selected when Emacs starts up is

28431:315d6e79ea38

  When you run a debugger with GUD, the debugger uses an Emacs buffer
for its ordinary input and output.  This is called the GUD buffer.  The
debugger displays the source files of the program by visiting them in
Emacs buffers.  An arrow (@samp{=>}) in one of these buffers indicates
the current execution line.@footnote{Under a window system the arrow is
displayed in the marginal area of the Emacs window.}  Moving point in
this buffer does not move the arrow.

  You can start editing these source files at any time in the buffers
that were made to display them.  The arrow is not part of the file's
text; it appears only on the screen.  If you do modify a source file,
keep in mind that inserting or deleting lines will throw off the arrow's

  @kbd{C-M-x} treats @code{defvar} expressions specially.  Normally,
evaluating a @code{defvar} expression does nothing if the variable it
defines already has a value.  But @kbd{C-M-x} unconditionally resets the
variable to the initial value specified in the @code{defvar} expression.
@code{defcustom} expressions are treated similarly.
This special feature is convenient for debugging Lisp programs.

@kindex C-x C-e
@findex eval-last-sexp
  The command @kbd{C-x C-e} (@code{eval-last-sexp}) evaluates the Lisp

@kbd{M-x eval-current-buffer} is similar but evaluates the entire
buffer.  This is a reasonable way to install the contents of a file of
Lisp code that you are just ready to test.  Later, as you find bugs and
change individual functions, use @kbd{C-M-x} on each function that you
change.  This keeps the Lisp world in step with the source file.

@vindex eval-expression-print-level
@vindex eval-expression-print-length
@vindex eval-expression-debug-on-error
The customizable variables @code{eval-expression-print-level} and
@code{eval-expression-print-length} control the maximum depth and length
of lists to print in the result of the evaluation commands before
abbreviating them.  @code{eval-expression-debug-on-error} controls
whether evaluation errors invoke the debugger when these commands are
used.

@node Lisp Interaction
@section Lisp Interaction Buffers

  The buffer @samp{*scratch*} which is selected when Emacs starts up is