Mercurial > emacs
diff doc/lispref/loading.texi @ 84081:5900ca94f0ce
Move here from ../../lispref
author | Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org> |
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date | Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:21:24 +0000 |
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children | 0ba80d073e27 |
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--- /dev/null Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000 +++ b/doc/lispref/loading.texi Thu Sep 06 04:21:24 2007 +0000 @@ -0,0 +1,968 @@ +@c -*-texinfo-*- +@c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. +@c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, +@c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc. +@c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. +@setfilename ../info/loading +@node Loading, Byte Compilation, Customization, Top +@chapter Loading +@cindex loading +@cindex library +@cindex Lisp library + + Loading a file of Lisp code means bringing its contents into the Lisp +environment in the form of Lisp objects. Emacs finds and opens the +file, reads the text, evaluates each form, and then closes the file. + + The load functions evaluate all the expressions in a file just +as the @code{eval-buffer} function evaluates all the +expressions in a buffer. The difference is that the load functions +read and evaluate the text in the file as found on disk, not the text +in an Emacs buffer. + +@cindex top-level form + The loaded file must contain Lisp expressions, either as source code +or as byte-compiled code. Each form in the file is called a +@dfn{top-level form}. There is no special format for the forms in a +loadable file; any form in a file may equally well be typed directly +into a buffer and evaluated there. (Indeed, most code is tested this +way.) Most often, the forms are function definitions and variable +definitions. + + A file containing Lisp code is often called a @dfn{library}. Thus, +the ``Rmail library'' is a file containing code for Rmail mode. +Similarly, a ``Lisp library directory'' is a directory of files +containing Lisp code. + +@menu +* How Programs Do Loading:: The @code{load} function and others. +* Load Suffixes:: Details about the suffixes that @code{load} tries. +* Library Search:: Finding a library to load. +* Loading Non-ASCII:: Non-@acronym{ASCII} characters in Emacs Lisp files. +* Autoload:: Setting up a function to autoload. +* Repeated Loading:: Precautions about loading a file twice. +* Named Features:: Loading a library if it isn't already loaded. +* Where Defined:: Finding which file defined a certain symbol. +* Unloading:: How to "unload" a library that was loaded. +* Hooks for Loading:: Providing code to be run when + particular libraries are loaded. +@end menu + +@node How Programs Do Loading +@section How Programs Do Loading + + Emacs Lisp has several interfaces for loading. For example, +@code{autoload} creates a placeholder object for a function defined in a +file; trying to call the autoloading function loads the file to get the +function's real definition (@pxref{Autoload}). @code{require} loads a +file if it isn't already loaded (@pxref{Named Features}). Ultimately, +all these facilities call the @code{load} function to do the work. + +@defun load filename &optional missing-ok nomessage nosuffix must-suffix +This function finds and opens a file of Lisp code, evaluates all the +forms in it, and closes the file. + +To find the file, @code{load} first looks for a file named +@file{@var{filename}.elc}, that is, for a file whose name is +@var{filename} with the extension @samp{.elc} appended. If such a +file exists, it is loaded. If there is no file by that name, then +@code{load} looks for a file named @file{@var{filename}.el}. If that +file exists, it is loaded. Finally, if neither of those names is +found, @code{load} looks for a file named @var{filename} with nothing +appended, and loads it if it exists. (The @code{load} function is not +clever about looking at @var{filename}. In the perverse case of a +file named @file{foo.el.el}, evaluation of @code{(load "foo.el")} will +indeed find it.) + +If Auto Compression mode is enabled, as it is by default, then if +@code{load} can not find a file, it searches for a compressed version +of the file before trying other file names. It decompresses and loads +it if it exists. It looks for compressed versions by appending each +of the suffixes in @code{jka-compr-load-suffixes} to the file name. +The value of this variable must be a list of strings. Its standard +value is @code{(".gz")}. + +If the optional argument @var{nosuffix} is non-@code{nil}, then +@code{load} does not try the suffixes @samp{.elc} and @samp{.el}. In +this case, you must specify the precise file name you want, except +that, if Auto Compression mode is enabled, @code{load} will still use +@code{jka-compr-load-suffixes} to find compressed versions. By +specifying the precise file name and using @code{t} for +@var{nosuffix}, you can prevent perverse file names such as +@file{foo.el.el} from being tried. + +If the optional argument @var{must-suffix} is non-@code{nil}, then +@code{load} insists that the file name used must end in either +@samp{.el} or @samp{.elc} (possibly extended with a compression +suffix), unless it contains an explicit directory name. + +If @var{filename} is a relative file name, such as @file{foo} or +@file{baz/foo.bar}, @code{load} searches for the file using the variable +@code{load-path}. It appends @var{filename} to each of the directories +listed in @code{load-path}, and loads the first file it finds whose name +matches. The current default directory is tried only if it is specified +in @code{load-path}, where @code{nil} stands for the default directory. +@code{load} tries all three possible suffixes in the first directory in +@code{load-path}, then all three suffixes in the second directory, and +so on. @xref{Library Search}. + +If you get a warning that @file{foo.elc} is older than @file{foo.el}, it +means you should consider recompiling @file{foo.el}. @xref{Byte +Compilation}. + +When loading a source file (not compiled), @code{load} performs +character set translation just as Emacs would do when visiting the file. +@xref{Coding Systems}. + +Messages like @samp{Loading foo...} and @samp{Loading foo...done} appear +in the echo area during loading unless @var{nomessage} is +non-@code{nil}. + +@cindex load errors +Any unhandled errors while loading a file terminate loading. If the +load was done for the sake of @code{autoload}, any function definitions +made during the loading are undone. + +@kindex file-error +If @code{load} can't find the file to load, then normally it signals the +error @code{file-error} (with @samp{Cannot open load file +@var{filename}}). But if @var{missing-ok} is non-@code{nil}, then +@code{load} just returns @code{nil}. + +You can use the variable @code{load-read-function} to specify a function +for @code{load} to use instead of @code{read} for reading expressions. +See below. + +@code{load} returns @code{t} if the file loads successfully. +@end defun + +@deffn Command load-file filename +This command loads the file @var{filename}. If @var{filename} is a +relative file name, then the current default directory is assumed. +This command does not use @code{load-path}, and does not append +suffixes. However, it does look for compressed versions (if Auto +Compression Mode is enabled). Use this command if you wish to specify +precisely the file name to load. +@end deffn + +@deffn Command load-library library +This command loads the library named @var{library}. It is equivalent to +@code{load}, except in how it reads its argument interactively. +@end deffn + +@defvar load-in-progress +This variable is non-@code{nil} if Emacs is in the process of loading a +file, and it is @code{nil} otherwise. +@end defvar + +@defvar load-read-function +@anchor{Definition of load-read-function} +@c do not allow page break at anchor; work around Texinfo deficiency. +This variable specifies an alternate expression-reading function for +@code{load} and @code{eval-region} to use instead of @code{read}. +The function should accept one argument, just as @code{read} does. + +Normally, the variable's value is @code{nil}, which means those +functions should use @code{read}. + +Instead of using this variable, it is cleaner to use another, newer +feature: to pass the function as the @var{read-function} argument to +@code{eval-region}. @xref{Definition of eval-region,, Eval}. +@end defvar + + For information about how @code{load} is used in building Emacs, see +@ref{Building Emacs}. + +@node Load Suffixes +@section Load Suffixes +We now describe some technical details about the exact suffixes that +@code{load} tries. + +@defvar load-suffixes +This is a list of suffixes indicating (compiled or source) Emacs Lisp +files. It should not include the empty string. @code{load} uses +these suffixes in order when it appends Lisp suffixes to the specified +file name. The standard value is @code{(".elc" ".el")} which produces +the behavior described in the previous section. +@end defvar + +@defvar load-file-rep-suffixes +This is a list of suffixes that indicate representations of the same +file. This list should normally start with the empty string. +When @code{load} searches for a file it appends the suffixes in this +list, in order, to the file name, before searching for another file. + +Enabling Auto Compression mode appends the suffixes in +@code{jka-compr-load-suffixes} to this list and disabling Auto +Compression mode removes them again. The standard value of +@code{load-file-rep-suffixes} if Auto Compression mode is disabled is +@code{("")}. Given that the standard value of +@code{jka-compr-load-suffixes} is @code{(".gz")}, the standard value +of @code{load-file-rep-suffixes} if Auto Compression mode is enabled +is @code{("" ".gz")}. +@end defvar + +@defun get-load-suffixes +This function returns the list of all suffixes that @code{load} should +try, in order, when its @var{must-suffix} argument is non-@code{nil}. +This takes both @code{load-suffixes} and @code{load-file-rep-suffixes} +into account. If @code{load-suffixes}, @code{jka-compr-load-suffixes} +and @code{load-file-rep-suffixes} all have their standard values, this +function returns @code{(".elc" ".elc.gz" ".el" ".el.gz")} if Auto +Compression mode is enabled and @code{(".elc" ".el")} if Auto +Compression mode is disabled. +@end defun + +To summarize, @code{load} normally first tries the suffixes in the +value of @code{(get-load-suffixes)} and then those in +@code{load-file-rep-suffixes}. If @var{nosuffix} is non-@code{nil}, +it skips the former group, and if @var{must-suffix} is non-@code{nil}, +it skips the latter group. + +@node Library Search +@section Library Search +@cindex library search +@cindex find library + + When Emacs loads a Lisp library, it searches for the library +in a list of directories specified by the variable @code{load-path}. + +@defopt load-path +@cindex @code{EMACSLOADPATH} environment variable +The value of this variable is a list of directories to search when +loading files with @code{load}. Each element is a string (which must be +a directory name) or @code{nil} (which stands for the current working +directory). +@end defopt + + The value of @code{load-path} is initialized from the environment +variable @code{EMACSLOADPATH}, if that exists; otherwise its default +value is specified in @file{emacs/src/epaths.h} when Emacs is built. +Then the list is expanded by adding subdirectories of the directories +in the list. + + The syntax of @code{EMACSLOADPATH} is the same as used for @code{PATH}; +@samp{:} (or @samp{;}, according to the operating system) separates +directory names, and @samp{.} is used for the current default directory. +Here is an example of how to set your @code{EMACSLOADPATH} variable from +a @code{csh} @file{.login} file: + +@smallexample +setenv EMACSLOADPATH .:/user/bil/emacs:/usr/local/share/emacs/20.3/lisp +@end smallexample + + Here is how to set it using @code{sh}: + +@smallexample +export EMACSLOADPATH +EMACSLOADPATH=.:/user/bil/emacs:/usr/local/share/emacs/20.3/lisp +@end smallexample + + Here is an example of code you can place in your init file (@pxref{Init +File}) to add several directories to the front of your default +@code{load-path}: + +@smallexample +@group +(setq load-path + (append (list nil "/user/bil/emacs" + "/usr/local/lisplib" + "~/emacs") + load-path)) +@end group +@end smallexample + +@c Wordy to rid us of an overfull hbox. --rjc 15mar92 +@noindent +In this example, the path searches the current working directory first, +followed then by the @file{/user/bil/emacs} directory, the +@file{/usr/local/lisplib} directory, and the @file{~/emacs} directory, +which are then followed by the standard directories for Lisp code. + + Dumping Emacs uses a special value of @code{load-path}. If the value of +@code{load-path} at the end of dumping is unchanged (that is, still the +same special value), the dumped Emacs switches to the ordinary +@code{load-path} value when it starts up, as described above. But if +@code{load-path} has any other value at the end of dumping, that value +is used for execution of the dumped Emacs also. + + Therefore, if you want to change @code{load-path} temporarily for +loading a few libraries in @file{site-init.el} or @file{site-load.el}, +you should bind @code{load-path} locally with @code{let} around the +calls to @code{load}. + + The default value of @code{load-path}, when running an Emacs which has +been installed on the system, includes two special directories (and +their subdirectories as well): + +@smallexample +"/usr/local/share/emacs/@var{version}/site-lisp" +@end smallexample + +@noindent +and + +@smallexample +"/usr/local/share/emacs/site-lisp" +@end smallexample + +@noindent +The first one is for locally installed packages for a particular Emacs +version; the second is for locally installed packages meant for use with +all installed Emacs versions. + + There are several reasons why a Lisp package that works well in one +Emacs version can cause trouble in another. Sometimes packages need +updating for incompatible changes in Emacs; sometimes they depend on +undocumented internal Emacs data that can change without notice; +sometimes a newer Emacs version incorporates a version of the package, +and should be used only with that version. + + Emacs finds these directories' subdirectories and adds them to +@code{load-path} when it starts up. Both immediate subdirectories and +subdirectories multiple levels down are added to @code{load-path}. + + Not all subdirectories are included, though. Subdirectories whose +names do not start with a letter or digit are excluded. Subdirectories +named @file{RCS} or @file{CVS} are excluded. Also, a subdirectory which +contains a file named @file{.nosearch} is excluded. You can use these +methods to prevent certain subdirectories of the @file{site-lisp} +directories from being searched. + + If you run Emacs from the directory where it was built---that is, an +executable that has not been formally installed---then @code{load-path} +normally contains two additional directories. These are the @code{lisp} +and @code{site-lisp} subdirectories of the main build directory. (Both +are represented as absolute file names.) + +@deffn Command locate-library library &optional nosuffix path interactive-call +This command finds the precise file name for library @var{library}. It +searches for the library in the same way @code{load} does, and the +argument @var{nosuffix} has the same meaning as in @code{load}: don't +add suffixes @samp{.elc} or @samp{.el} to the specified name +@var{library}. + +If the @var{path} is non-@code{nil}, that list of directories is used +instead of @code{load-path}. + +When @code{locate-library} is called from a program, it returns the file +name as a string. When the user runs @code{locate-library} +interactively, the argument @var{interactive-call} is @code{t}, and this +tells @code{locate-library} to display the file name in the echo area. +@end deffn + +@node Loading Non-ASCII +@section Loading Non-@acronym{ASCII} Characters + + When Emacs Lisp programs contain string constants with non-@acronym{ASCII} +characters, these can be represented within Emacs either as unibyte +strings or as multibyte strings (@pxref{Text Representations}). Which +representation is used depends on how the file is read into Emacs. If +it is read with decoding into multibyte representation, the text of the +Lisp program will be multibyte text, and its string constants will be +multibyte strings. If a file containing Latin-1 characters (for +example) is read without decoding, the text of the program will be +unibyte text, and its string constants will be unibyte strings. +@xref{Coding Systems}. + + To make the results more predictable, Emacs always performs decoding +into the multibyte representation when loading Lisp files, even if it +was started with the @samp{--unibyte} option. This means that string +constants with non-@acronym{ASCII} characters translate into multibyte +strings. The only exception is when a particular file specifies no +decoding. + + The reason Emacs is designed this way is so that Lisp programs give +predictable results, regardless of how Emacs was started. In addition, +this enables programs that depend on using multibyte text to work even +in a unibyte Emacs. Of course, such programs should be designed to +notice whether the user prefers unibyte or multibyte text, by checking +@code{default-enable-multibyte-characters}, and convert representations +appropriately. + + In most Emacs Lisp programs, the fact that non-@acronym{ASCII} strings are +multibyte strings should not be noticeable, since inserting them in +unibyte buffers converts them to unibyte automatically. However, if +this does make a difference, you can force a particular Lisp file to be +interpreted as unibyte by writing @samp{-*-unibyte: t;-*-} in a +comment on the file's first line. With that designator, the file will +unconditionally be interpreted as unibyte, even in an ordinary +multibyte Emacs session. This can matter when making keybindings to +non-@acronym{ASCII} characters written as @code{?v@var{literal}}. + +@node Autoload +@section Autoload +@cindex autoload + + The @dfn{autoload} facility allows you to make a function or macro +known in Lisp, but put off loading the file that defines it. The first +call to the function automatically reads the proper file to install the +real definition and other associated code, then runs the real definition +as if it had been loaded all along. + + There are two ways to set up an autoloaded function: by calling +@code{autoload}, and by writing a special ``magic'' comment in the +source before the real definition. @code{autoload} is the low-level +primitive for autoloading; any Lisp program can call @code{autoload} at +any time. Magic comments are the most convenient way to make a function +autoload, for packages installed along with Emacs. These comments do +nothing on their own, but they serve as a guide for the command +@code{update-file-autoloads}, which constructs calls to @code{autoload} +and arranges to execute them when Emacs is built. + +@defun autoload function filename &optional docstring interactive type +This function defines the function (or macro) named @var{function} so as +to load automatically from @var{filename}. The string @var{filename} +specifies the file to load to get the real definition of @var{function}. + +If @var{filename} does not contain either a directory name, or the +suffix @code{.el} or @code{.elc}, then @code{autoload} insists on adding +one of these suffixes, and it will not load from a file whose name is +just @var{filename} with no added suffix. (The variable +@code{load-suffixes} specifies the exact required suffixes.) + +The argument @var{docstring} is the documentation string for the +function. Specifying the documentation string in the call to +@code{autoload} makes it possible to look at the documentation without +loading the function's real definition. Normally, this should be +identical to the documentation string in the function definition +itself. If it isn't, the function definition's documentation string +takes effect when it is loaded. + +If @var{interactive} is non-@code{nil}, that says @var{function} can be +called interactively. This lets completion in @kbd{M-x} work without +loading @var{function}'s real definition. The complete interactive +specification is not given here; it's not needed unless the user +actually calls @var{function}, and when that happens, it's time to load +the real definition. + +You can autoload macros and keymaps as well as ordinary functions. +Specify @var{type} as @code{macro} if @var{function} is really a macro. +Specify @var{type} as @code{keymap} if @var{function} is really a +keymap. Various parts of Emacs need to know this information without +loading the real definition. + +An autoloaded keymap loads automatically during key lookup when a prefix +key's binding is the symbol @var{function}. Autoloading does not occur +for other kinds of access to the keymap. In particular, it does not +happen when a Lisp program gets the keymap from the value of a variable +and calls @code{define-key}; not even if the variable name is the same +symbol @var{function}. + +@cindex function cell in autoload +If @var{function} already has a non-void function definition that is not +an autoload object, @code{autoload} does nothing and returns @code{nil}. +If the function cell of @var{function} is void, or is already an autoload +object, then it is defined as an autoload object like this: + +@example +(autoload @var{filename} @var{docstring} @var{interactive} @var{type}) +@end example + +For example, + +@example +@group +(symbol-function 'run-prolog) + @result{} (autoload "prolog" 169681 t nil) +@end group +@end example + +@noindent +In this case, @code{"prolog"} is the name of the file to load, 169681 +refers to the documentation string in the +@file{emacs/etc/DOC-@var{version}} file (@pxref{Documentation Basics}), +@code{t} means the function is interactive, and @code{nil} that it is +not a macro or a keymap. +@end defun + +@cindex autoload errors + The autoloaded file usually contains other definitions and may require +or provide one or more features. If the file is not completely loaded +(due to an error in the evaluation of its contents), any function +definitions or @code{provide} calls that occurred during the load are +undone. This is to ensure that the next attempt to call any function +autoloading from this file will try again to load the file. If not for +this, then some of the functions in the file might be defined by the +aborted load, but fail to work properly for the lack of certain +subroutines not loaded successfully because they come later in the file. + + If the autoloaded file fails to define the desired Lisp function or +macro, then an error is signaled with data @code{"Autoloading failed to +define function @var{function-name}"}. + +@findex update-file-autoloads +@findex update-directory-autoloads +@cindex magic autoload comment +@cindex autoload cookie +@anchor{autoload cookie} + A magic autoload comment (often called an @dfn{autoload cookie}) +consists of @samp{;;;###autoload}, on a line by itself, +just before the real definition of the function in its +autoloadable source file. The command @kbd{M-x update-file-autoloads} +writes a corresponding @code{autoload} call into @file{loaddefs.el}. +Building Emacs loads @file{loaddefs.el} and thus calls @code{autoload}. +@kbd{M-x update-directory-autoloads} is even more powerful; it updates +autoloads for all files in the current directory. + + The same magic comment can copy any kind of form into +@file{loaddefs.el}. If the form following the magic comment is not a +function-defining form or a @code{defcustom} form, it is copied +verbatim. ``Function-defining forms'' include @code{define-skeleton}, +@code{define-derived-mode}, @code{define-generic-mode} and +@code{define-minor-mode} as well as @code{defun} and +@code{defmacro}. To save space, a @code{defcustom} form is converted to +a @code{defvar} in @file{loaddefs.el}, with some additional information +if it uses @code{:require}. + + You can also use a magic comment to execute a form at build time +@emph{without} executing it when the file itself is loaded. To do this, +write the form @emph{on the same line} as the magic comment. Since it +is in a comment, it does nothing when you load the source file; but +@kbd{M-x update-file-autoloads} copies it to @file{loaddefs.el}, where +it is executed while building Emacs. + + The following example shows how @code{doctor} is prepared for +autoloading with a magic comment: + +@smallexample +;;;###autoload +(defun doctor () + "Switch to *doctor* buffer and start giving psychotherapy." + (interactive) + (switch-to-buffer "*doctor*") + (doctor-mode)) +@end smallexample + +@noindent +Here's what that produces in @file{loaddefs.el}: + +@smallexample +(autoload (quote doctor) "doctor" "\ +Switch to *doctor* buffer and start giving psychotherapy. + +\(fn)" t nil) +@end smallexample + +@noindent +@cindex @code{fn} in function's documentation string +The backslash and newline immediately following the double-quote are a +convention used only in the preloaded uncompiled Lisp files such as +@file{loaddefs.el}; they tell @code{make-docfile} to put the +documentation string in the @file{etc/DOC} file. @xref{Building Emacs}. +See also the commentary in @file{lib-src/make-docfile.c}. @samp{(fn)} +in the usage part of the documentation string is replaced with the +function's name when the various help functions (@pxref{Help +Functions}) display it. + + If you write a function definition with an unusual macro that is not +one of the known and recognized function definition methods, use of an +ordinary magic autoload comment would copy the whole definition into +@code{loaddefs.el}. That is not desirable. You can put the desired +@code{autoload} call into @code{loaddefs.el} instead by writing this: + +@smallexample +;;;###autoload (autoload 'foo "myfile") +(mydefunmacro foo + ...) +@end smallexample + +@node Repeated Loading +@section Repeated Loading +@cindex repeated loading + + You can load a given file more than once in an Emacs session. For +example, after you have rewritten and reinstalled a function definition +by editing it in a buffer, you may wish to return to the original +version; you can do this by reloading the file it came from. + + When you load or reload files, bear in mind that the @code{load} and +@code{load-library} functions automatically load a byte-compiled file +rather than a non-compiled file of similar name. If you rewrite a file +that you intend to save and reinstall, you need to byte-compile the new +version; otherwise Emacs will load the older, byte-compiled file instead +of your newer, non-compiled file! If that happens, the message +displayed when loading the file includes, @samp{(compiled; note, source is +newer)}, to remind you to recompile it. + + When writing the forms in a Lisp library file, keep in mind that the +file might be loaded more than once. For example, think about whether +each variable should be reinitialized when you reload the library; +@code{defvar} does not change the value if the variable is already +initialized. (@xref{Defining Variables}.) + + The simplest way to add an element to an alist is like this: + +@example +(push '(leif-mode " Leif") minor-mode-alist) +@end example + +@noindent +But this would add multiple elements if the library is reloaded. +To avoid the problem, write this: + +@example +(or (assq 'leif-mode minor-mode-alist) + (push '(leif-mode " Leif") minor-mode-alist)) +@end example + +@noindent +or this: + +@example +(add-to-list '(leif-mode " Leif") minor-mode-alist) +@end example + + Occasionally you will want to test explicitly whether a library has +already been loaded. Here's one way to test, in a library, whether it +has been loaded before: + +@example +(defvar foo-was-loaded nil) + +(unless foo-was-loaded + @var{execute-first-time-only} + (setq foo-was-loaded t)) +@end example + +@noindent +If the library uses @code{provide} to provide a named feature, you can +use @code{featurep} earlier in the file to test whether the +@code{provide} call has been executed before. +@ifnottex +@xref{Named Features}. +@end ifnottex + +@node Named Features +@section Features +@cindex features +@cindex requiring features +@cindex providing features + + @code{provide} and @code{require} are an alternative to +@code{autoload} for loading files automatically. They work in terms of +named @dfn{features}. Autoloading is triggered by calling a specific +function, but a feature is loaded the first time another program asks +for it by name. + + A feature name is a symbol that stands for a collection of functions, +variables, etc. The file that defines them should @dfn{provide} the +feature. Another program that uses them may ensure they are defined by +@dfn{requiring} the feature. This loads the file of definitions if it +hasn't been loaded already. + + To require the presence of a feature, call @code{require} with the +feature name as argument. @code{require} looks in the global variable +@code{features} to see whether the desired feature has been provided +already. If not, it loads the feature from the appropriate file. This +file should call @code{provide} at the top level to add the feature to +@code{features}; if it fails to do so, @code{require} signals an error. +@cindex load error with require + + For example, in @file{emacs/lisp/prolog.el}, +the definition for @code{run-prolog} includes the following code: + +@smallexample +(defun run-prolog () + "Run an inferior Prolog process, with I/O via buffer *prolog*." + (interactive) + (require 'comint) + (switch-to-buffer (make-comint "prolog" prolog-program-name)) + (inferior-prolog-mode)) +@end smallexample + +@noindent +The expression @code{(require 'comint)} loads the file @file{comint.el} +if it has not yet been loaded. This ensures that @code{make-comint} is +defined. Features are normally named after the files that provide them, +so that @code{require} need not be given the file name. + +The @file{comint.el} file contains the following top-level expression: + +@smallexample +(provide 'comint) +@end smallexample + +@noindent +This adds @code{comint} to the global @code{features} list, so that +@code{(require 'comint)} will henceforth know that nothing needs to be +done. + +@cindex byte-compiling @code{require} + When @code{require} is used at top level in a file, it takes effect +when you byte-compile that file (@pxref{Byte Compilation}) as well as +when you load it. This is in case the required package contains macros +that the byte compiler must know about. It also avoids byte-compiler +warnings for functions and variables defined in the file loaded with +@code{require}. + + Although top-level calls to @code{require} are evaluated during +byte compilation, @code{provide} calls are not. Therefore, you can +ensure that a file of definitions is loaded before it is byte-compiled +by including a @code{provide} followed by a @code{require} for the same +feature, as in the following example. + +@smallexample +@group +(provide 'my-feature) ; @r{Ignored by byte compiler,} + ; @r{evaluated by @code{load}.} +(require 'my-feature) ; @r{Evaluated by byte compiler.} +@end group +@end smallexample + +@noindent +The compiler ignores the @code{provide}, then processes the +@code{require} by loading the file in question. Loading the file does +execute the @code{provide} call, so the subsequent @code{require} call +does nothing when the file is loaded. + +@defun provide feature &optional subfeatures +This function announces that @var{feature} is now loaded, or being +loaded, into the current Emacs session. This means that the facilities +associated with @var{feature} are or will be available for other Lisp +programs. + +The direct effect of calling @code{provide} is to add @var{feature} to +the front of the list @code{features} if it is not already in the list. +The argument @var{feature} must be a symbol. @code{provide} returns +@var{feature}. + +If provided, @var{subfeatures} should be a list of symbols indicating +a set of specific subfeatures provided by this version of +@var{feature}. You can test the presence of a subfeature using +@code{featurep}. The idea of subfeatures is that you use them when a +package (which is one @var{feature}) is complex enough to make it +useful to give names to various parts or functionalities of the +package, which might or might not be loaded, or might or might not be +present in a given version. @xref{Network Feature Testing}, for +an example. + +@smallexample +features + @result{} (bar bish) + +(provide 'foo) + @result{} foo +features + @result{} (foo bar bish) +@end smallexample + +When a file is loaded to satisfy an autoload, and it stops due to an +error in the evaluation of its contents, any function definitions or +@code{provide} calls that occurred during the load are undone. +@xref{Autoload}. +@end defun + +@defun require feature &optional filename noerror +This function checks whether @var{feature} is present in the current +Emacs session (using @code{(featurep @var{feature})}; see below). The +argument @var{feature} must be a symbol. + +If the feature is not present, then @code{require} loads @var{filename} +with @code{load}. If @var{filename} is not supplied, then the name of +the symbol @var{feature} is used as the base file name to load. +However, in this case, @code{require} insists on finding @var{feature} +with an added @samp{.el} or @samp{.elc} suffix (possibly extended with +a compression suffix); a file whose name is just @var{feature} won't +be used. (The variable @code{load-suffixes} specifies the exact +required Lisp suffixes.) + +If @var{noerror} is non-@code{nil}, that suppresses errors from actual +loading of the file. In that case, @code{require} returns @code{nil} +if loading the file fails. Normally, @code{require} returns +@var{feature}. + +If loading the file succeeds but does not provide @var{feature}, +@code{require} signals an error, @samp{Required feature @var{feature} +was not provided}. +@end defun + +@defun featurep feature &optional subfeature +This function returns @code{t} if @var{feature} has been provided in +the current Emacs session (i.e.@:, if @var{feature} is a member of +@code{features}.) If @var{subfeature} is non-@code{nil}, then the +function returns @code{t} only if that subfeature is provided as well +(i.e.@: if @var{subfeature} is a member of the @code{subfeature} +property of the @var{feature} symbol.) +@end defun + +@defvar features +The value of this variable is a list of symbols that are the features +loaded in the current Emacs session. Each symbol was put in this list +with a call to @code{provide}. The order of the elements in the +@code{features} list is not significant. +@end defvar + +@node Where Defined +@section Which File Defined a Certain Symbol + +@defun symbol-file symbol &optional type +This function returns the name of the file that defined @var{symbol}. +If @var{type} is @code{nil}, then any kind of definition is +acceptable. If @var{type} is @code{defun} or @code{defvar}, that +specifies function definition only or variable definition only. + +The value is normally an absolute file name. It can also be +@code{nil}, if the definition is not associated with any file. +@end defun + + The basis for @code{symbol-file} is the data in the variable +@code{load-history}. + +@defvar load-history +This variable's value is an alist connecting library file names with the +names of functions and variables they define, the features they provide, +and the features they require. + +Each element is a list and describes one library. The @sc{car} of the +list is the absolute file name of the library, as a string. The rest +of the list elements have these forms: + +@table @code +@item @var{var} +The symbol @var{var} was defined as a variable. +@item (defun . @var{fun}) +The function @var{fun} was defined. +@item (t . @var{fun}) +The function @var{fun} was previously an autoload before this library +redefined it as a function. The following element is always +@code{(defun . @var{fun})}, which represents defining @var{fun} as a +function. +@item (autoload . @var{fun}) +The function @var{fun} was defined as an autoload. +@item (require . @var{feature}) +The feature @var{feature} was required. +@item (provide . @var{feature}) +The feature @var{feature} was provided. +@end table + +The value of @code{load-history} may have one element whose @sc{car} is +@code{nil}. This element describes definitions made with +@code{eval-buffer} on a buffer that is not visiting a file. +@end defvar + + The command @code{eval-region} updates @code{load-history}, but does so +by adding the symbols defined to the element for the file being visited, +rather than replacing that element. @xref{Eval}. + +@node Unloading +@section Unloading +@cindex unloading packages + +@c Emacs 19 feature + You can discard the functions and variables loaded by a library to +reclaim memory for other Lisp objects. To do this, use the function +@code{unload-feature}: + +@deffn Command unload-feature feature &optional force +This command unloads the library that provided feature @var{feature}. +It undefines all functions, macros, and variables defined in that +library with @code{defun}, @code{defalias}, @code{defsubst}, +@code{defmacro}, @code{defconst}, @code{defvar}, and @code{defcustom}. +It then restores any autoloads formerly associated with those symbols. +(Loading saves these in the @code{autoload} property of the symbol.) + +@vindex unload-feature-special-hooks +Before restoring the previous definitions, @code{unload-feature} runs +@code{remove-hook} to remove functions in the library from certain +hooks. These hooks include variables whose names end in @samp{hook} +or @samp{-hooks}, plus those listed in +@code{unload-feature-special-hooks}. This is to prevent Emacs from +ceasing to function because important hooks refer to functions that +are no longer defined. + +@vindex @var{feature}-unload-hook +If these measures are not sufficient to prevent malfunction, a library +can define an explicit unload hook. If @code{@var{feature}-unload-hook} +is defined, it is run as a normal hook before restoring the previous +definitions, @emph{instead of} the usual hook-removing actions. The +unload hook ought to undo all the global state changes made by the +library that might cease to work once the library is unloaded. +@code{unload-feature} can cause problems with libraries that fail to do +this, so it should be used with caution. + +Ordinarily, @code{unload-feature} refuses to unload a library on which +other loaded libraries depend. (A library @var{a} depends on library +@var{b} if @var{a} contains a @code{require} for @var{b}.) If the +optional argument @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, dependencies are +ignored and you can unload any library. +@end deffn + + The @code{unload-feature} function is written in Lisp; its actions are +based on the variable @code{load-history}. + +@defvar unload-feature-special-hooks +This variable holds a list of hooks to be scanned before unloading a +library, to remove functions defined in the library. +@end defvar + +@node Hooks for Loading +@section Hooks for Loading +@cindex loading hooks +@cindex hooks for loading + +You can ask for code to be executed if and when a particular library is +loaded, by calling @code{eval-after-load}. + +@defun eval-after-load library form +This function arranges to evaluate @var{form} at the end of loading +the file @var{library}, each time @var{library} is loaded. If +@var{library} is already loaded, it evaluates @var{form} right away. +Don't forget to quote @var{form}! + +You don't need to give a directory or extension in the file name +@var{library}---normally you just give a bare file name, like this: + +@example +(eval-after-load "edebug" '(def-edebug-spec c-point t)) +@end example + +To restrict which files can trigger the evaluation, include a +directory or an extension or both in @var{library}. Only a file whose +absolute true name (i.e., the name with all symbolic links chased out) +matches all the given name components will match. In the following +example, @file{my_inst.elc} or @file{my_inst.elc.gz} in some directory +@code{..../foo/bar} will trigger the evaluation, but not +@file{my_inst.el}: + +@example +(eval-after-load "foo/bar/my_inst.elc" @dots{}) +@end example + +@var{library} can also be a feature (i.e.@: a symbol), in which case +@var{form} is evaluated when @code{(provide @var{library})} is called. + +An error in @var{form} does not undo the load, but does prevent +execution of the rest of @var{form}. +@end defun + +In general, well-designed Lisp programs should not use this feature. +The clean and modular ways to interact with a Lisp library are (1) +examine and set the library's variables (those which are meant for +outside use), and (2) call the library's functions. If you wish to +do (1), you can do it immediately---there is no need to wait for when +the library is loaded. To do (2), you must load the library (preferably +with @code{require}). + +But it is OK to use @code{eval-after-load} in your personal +customizations if you don't feel they must meet the design standards for +programs meant for wider use. + +@defvar after-load-alist +This variable, an alist built by @code{eval-after-load}, holds the +expressions to evaluate when particular libraries are loaded. Each +element looks like this: + +@example +(@var{regexp-or-feature} @var{forms}@dots{}) +@end example + +The key @var{regexp-or-feature} is either a regular expression or a +symbol, and the value is a list of forms. The forms are evaluated when +the key matches the absolute true name of the file being +@code{load}ed or the symbol being @code{provide}d. +@end defvar + +@ignore + arch-tag: df731f89-0900-4389-a436-9105241b6f7a +@end ignore