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author | Andreas Schwab <schwab@suse.de> |
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date | Wed, 29 Mar 2000 21:32:12 +0000 |
parents | ac1bc60cf0b4 |
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@c This is part of the Emacs manual. @c Copyright (C) 1985, 86, 87, 93, 94, 95, 97, 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc. @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions. @node Building, Abbrevs, Programs, Top @chapter Compiling and Testing Programs @cindex building programs @cindex program building @cindex running Lisp functions The previous chapter discusses the Emacs commands that are useful for making changes in programs. This chapter deals with commands that assist in the larger process of developing and maintaining programs. @menu * Compilation:: Compiling programs in languages other than Lisp (C, Pascal, etc.). * Grep Searching:: Running grep as if it were a compiler. * Compilation Mode:: The mode for visiting compiler errors. * Compilation Shell:: Customizing your shell properly for use in the compilation buffer. * Debuggers:: Running symbolic debuggers for non-Lisp programs. * Executing Lisp:: Various modes for editing Lisp programs, with different facilities for running the Lisp programs. * Libraries: Lisp Libraries. Creating Lisp programs to run in Emacs. * Interaction: Lisp Interaction. Executing Lisp in an Emacs buffer. * Eval: Lisp Eval. Executing a single Lisp expression in Emacs. * External Lisp:: Communicating through Emacs with a separate Lisp. @end menu @node Compilation @section Running Compilations under Emacs @cindex inferior process @cindex make @cindex compilation errors @cindex error log Emacs can run compilers for noninteractive languages such as C and Fortran as inferior processes, feeding the error log into an Emacs buffer. It can also parse the error messages and show you the source lines where compilation errors occurred. @table @kbd @item M-x compile Run a compiler asynchronously under Emacs, with error messages to @samp{*compilation*} buffer. @item M-x grep Run @code{grep} asynchronously under Emacs, with matching lines listed in the buffer named @samp{*grep*}. @item M-x grep-find Run @code{grep} via @code{find}, with user-specified arguments, and collect output in the buffer named @samp{*grep*}. @item M-x kill-compilation @itemx M-x kill-grep Kill the running compilation or @code{grep} subprocess. @end table @findex compile To run @code{make} or another compilation command, do @kbd{M-x compile}. This command reads a shell command line using the minibuffer, and then executes the command in an inferior shell, putting output in the buffer named @samp{*compilation*}. The current buffer's default directory is used as the working directory for the execution of the command; normally, therefore, the compilation happens in this directory. @vindex compile-command When the shell command line is read, the minibuffer appears containing a default command line, which is the command you used the last time you did @kbd{M-x compile}. If you type just @key{RET}, the same command line is used again. For the first @kbd{M-x compile}, the default is @samp{make -k}. The default compilation command comes from the variable @code{compile-command}; if the appropriate compilation command for a file is something other than @samp{make -k}, it can be useful for the file to specify a local value for @code{compile-command} (@pxref{File Variables}). Starting a compilation displays the buffer @samp{*compilation*} in another window but does not select it. The buffer's mode line tells you whether compilation is finished, with the word @samp{run} or @samp{exit} inside the parentheses. You do not have to keep this buffer visible; compilation continues in any case. While a compilation is going on, the string @samp{Compiling} appears in the mode lines of all windows. When this string disappears, the compilation is finished. If you want to watch the compilation transcript as it appears, switch to the @samp{*compilation*} buffer and move point to the end of the buffer. When point is at the end, new compilation output is inserted above point, which remains at the end. If point is not at the end of the buffer, it remains fixed while more compilation output is added at the end of the buffer. @vindex compilation-scroll-output If you set the variable @code{compilation-scroll-output} to a non-@code{nil} value, then the compilation buffer always scrolls to follow output as it comes in. @findex kill-compilation To kill the compilation process, do @kbd{M-x kill-compilation}. When the compiler process terminates, the mode line of the @samp{*compilation*} buffer changes to say @samp{signal} instead of @samp{run}. Starting a new compilation also kills any running compilation, as only one can exist at any time. However, @kbd{M-x compile} asks for confirmation before actually killing a compilation that is running. @node Grep Searching @section Searching with Grep under Emacs @findex grep Just as you can run a compiler from Emacs and then visit the lines where there were compilation errors, you can also run @code{grep} and then visit the lines on which matches were found. This works by treating the matches reported by @code{grep} as if they were ``errors.'' To do this, type @kbd{M-x grep}, then enter a command line that specifies how to run @code{grep}. Use the same arguments you would give @code{grep} when running it normally: a @code{grep}-style regexp (usually in single-quotes to quote the shell's special characters) followed by file names, which may use wildcards. The output from @code{grep} goes in the @samp{*grep*} buffer. You can find the corresponding lines in the original files using @kbd{C-x `} and @key{RET}, as with compilation errors. If you specify a prefix argument for @kbd{M-x grep}, it figures out the tag (@pxref{Tags}) around point, and puts that into the default @code{grep} command. @findex grep-find The command @kbd{M-x grep-find} is similar to @kbd{M-x grep}, but it supplies a different initial default for the command---one that runs both @code{find} and @code{grep}, so as to search every file in a directory tree. See also the @code{find-grep-dired} command, in @ref{Dired and Find}. @node Compilation Mode @section Compilation Mode @findex compile-goto-error @cindex Compilation mode @cindex mode, Compilation The @samp{*compilation*} buffer uses a special major mode, Compilation mode, whose main feature is to provide a convenient way to look at the source line where the error happened. @table @kbd @item C-x ` Visit the locus of the next compiler error message or @code{grep} match. @item @key{RET} Visit the locus of the error message that point is on. This command is used in the compilation buffer. @item Mouse-2 Visit the locus of the error message that you click on. @end table @kindex C-x ` @findex next-error You can visit the source for any particular error message by moving point in @samp{*compilation*} to that error message and typing @key{RET} (@code{compile-goto-error}). Or click @kbd{Mouse-2} on the error message; you need not switch to the @samp{*compilation*} buffer first. To parse the compiler error messages sequentially, type @kbd{C-x `} (@code{next-error}). The character following the @kbd{C-x} is the backquote or ``grave accent,'' not the single-quote. This command is available in all buffers, not just in @samp{*compilation*}; it displays the next error message at the top of one window and source location of the error in another window. The first time @kbd{C-x `} is used after the start of a compilation, it moves to the first error's location. Subsequent uses of @kbd{C-x `} advance down to subsequent errors. If you visit a specific error message with @key{RET} or @kbd{Mouse-2}, subsequent @kbd{C-x `} commands advance from there. When @kbd{C-x `} gets to the end of the buffer and finds no more error messages to visit, it fails and signals an Emacs error. @kbd{C-u C-x `} starts scanning from the beginning of the compilation buffer. This is one way to process the same set of errors again. Compilation mode also redefines the keys @key{SPC} and @key{DEL} to scroll by screenfuls, and @kbd{M-n} and @kbd{M-p} to move to the next or previous error message. You can also use @kbd{M-@{} and @kbd{M-@}} to move up or down to an error message for a different source file. The features of Compilation mode are also available in a minor mode called Compilation Minor mode. This lets you parse error messages in any buffer, not just a normal compilation output buffer. Type @kbd{M-x compilation-minor-mode} to enable the minor mode. This defines the keys @key{RET} and @kbd{Mouse-2}, as in the Compilation major mode. Compilation minor mode works in any buffer, as long as the contents are in a format that it understands. In an Rlogin buffer (@pxref{Remote Host}), Compilation minor mode automatically accesses remote source files by FTP (@pxref{File Names}). @node Compilation Shell @section Subshells for Compilation Emacs uses a shell to run the compilation command, but specifies the option for a noninteractive shell. This means, in particular, that the shell should start with no prompt. If you find your usual shell prompt making an unsightly appearance in the @samp{*compilation*} buffer, it means you have made a mistake in your shell's init file by setting the prompt unconditionally. (This init file's name may be @file{.bashrc}, @file{.profile}, @file{.cshrc}, @file{.shrc}, or various other things, depending on the shell you use.) The shell init file should set the prompt only if there already is a prompt. In csh, here is how to do it: @example if ($?prompt) set prompt = @dots{} @end example @noindent And here's how to do it in bash: @example if [ "$@{PS1+set@}" = set ] then PS1=@dots{} fi @end example There may well be other things that your shell's init file ought to do only for an interactive shell. You can use the same method to conditionalize them. The MS-DOS ``operating system'' does not support asynchronous subprocesses; to work around this lack, @kbd{M-x compile} runs the compilation command synchronously on MS-DOS. As a consequence, you must wait until the command finishes before you can do anything else in Emacs. @xref{MS-DOS}. @node Debuggers @section Running Debuggers Under Emacs @cindex debuggers @cindex GUD library @cindex GDB @cindex DBX @cindex SDB @cindex XDB @cindex Perldb @cindex JDB @cindex PDB @c Do you believe in GUD? The GUD (Grand Unified Debugger) library provides an interface to various symbolic debuggers from within Emacs. We recommend the debugger GDB, which is free software, but you can also run DBX, SDB or XDB if you have them. GUD can also serve as an interface to the Perl's debugging mode, the Python debugger PDB, and to JDB, the Java Debugger. @menu * Starting GUD:: How to start a debugger subprocess. * Debugger Operation:: Connection between the debugger and source buffers. * Commands of GUD:: Key bindings for common commands. * GUD Customization:: Defining your own commands for GUD. * GUD Tooltips:: Showing variable values by pointing with the mouse. @end menu @node Starting GUD @subsection Starting GUD There are several commands for starting a debugger, each corresponding to a particular debugger program. @table @kbd @item M-x gdb @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET} @findex gdb Run GDB as a subprocess of Emacs. This command creates a buffer for input and output to GDB, and switches to it. If a GDB buffer already exists, it just switches to that buffer. @item M-x dbx @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET} @findex dbx Similar, but run DBX instead of GDB. @item M-x xdb @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET} @findex xdb @vindex gud-xdb-directories Similar, but run XDB instead of GDB. Use the variable @code{gud-xdb-directories} to specify directories to search for source files. @item M-x sdb @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET} @findex sdb Similar, but run SDB instead of GDB. Some versions of SDB do not mention source file names in their messages. When you use them, you need to have a valid tags table (@pxref{Tags}) in order for GUD to find functions in the source code. If you have not visited a tags table or the tags table doesn't list one of the functions, you get a message saying @samp{The sdb support requires a valid tags table to work}. If this happens, generate a valid tags table in the working directory and try again. @item M-x perldb @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET} @findex perldb Run the Perl interpreter in debug mode to debug @var{file}, a Perl program. @item M-x jdb @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET} @findex jdb Run the Java debugger to debug @var{file}. @item M-x pdb @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET} @findex pdb Run the Python debugger to debug @var{file}. @end table Each of these commands takes one argument: a command line to invoke the debugger. In the simplest case, specify just the name of the executable file you want to debug. You may also use options that the debugger supports. However, shell wildcards and variables are not allowed. GUD assumes that the first argument not starting with a @samp{-} is the executable file name. Emacs can only run one debugger process at a time. @node Debugger Operation @subsection Debugger Operation 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 positioning; GUD has no way of figuring out which line corresponded before your changes to the line number in a debugger message. Also, you'll typically have to recompile and restart the program for your changes to be reflected in the debugger's tables. If you wish, you can control your debugger process entirely through the debugger buffer, which uses a variant of Shell mode. All the usual commands for your debugger are available, and you can use the Shell mode history commands to repeat them. @xref{Shell Mode}. @node Commands of GUD @subsection Commands of GUD The GUD interaction buffer uses a variant of Shell mode, so the commands of Shell mode are available (@pxref{Shell Mode}). GUD mode also provides commands for setting and clearing breakpoints, for selecting stack frames, and for stepping through the program. These commands are available both in the GUD buffer and globally, but with different key bindings. The breakpoint commands are usually used in source file buffers, because that is the way to specify where to set or clear the breakpoint. Here's the global command to set a breakpoint: @table @kbd @item C-x @key{SPC} @kindex C-x SPC Set a breakpoint on the source line that point is on. @end table @kindex C-x C-a @r{(GUD)} Here are the other special commands provided by GUD. The keys starting with @kbd{C-c} are available only in the GUD interaction buffer. The key bindings that start with @kbd{C-x C-a} are available in the GUD interaction buffer and also in source files. @table @kbd @item C-c C-l @kindex C-c C-l @r{(GUD)} @itemx C-x C-a C-l @findex gud-refresh Display in another window the last line referred to in the GUD buffer (that is, the line indicated in the last location message). This runs the command @code{gud-refresh}. @item C-c C-s @kindex C-c C-s @r{(GUD)} @itemx C-x C-a C-s @findex gud-step Execute a single line of code (@code{gud-step}). If the line contains a function call, execution stops after entering the called function. @item C-c C-n @kindex C-c C-n @r{(GUD)} @itemx C-x C-a C-n @findex gud-next Execute a single line of code, stepping across entire function calls at full speed (@code{gud-next}). @item C-c C-i @kindex C-c C-i @r{(GUD)} @itemx C-x C-a C-i @findex gud-stepi Execute a single machine instruction (@code{gud-stepi}). @need 3000 @item C-c C-r @kindex C-c C-r @r{(GUD)} @itemx C-x C-a C-r @findex gud-cont Continue execution without specifying any stopping point. The program will run until it hits a breakpoint, terminates, or gets a signal that the debugger is checking for (@code{gud-cont}). @need 1000 @item C-c C-d @kindex C-c C-d @r{(GUD)} @itemx C-x C-a C-d @findex gud-remove Delete the breakpoint(s) on the current source line, if any (@code{gud-remove}). If you use this command in the GUD interaction buffer, it applies to the line where the program last stopped. @item C-c C-t @kindex C-c C-t @r{(GUD)} @itemx C-x C-a C-t @findex gud-tbreak Set a temporary breakpoint on the current source line, if any. If you use this command in the GUD interaction buffer, it applies to the line where the program last stopped. @end table The above commands are common to all supported debuggers. If you are using GDB or (some versions of) DBX, these additional commands are available: @table @kbd @item C-c < @kindex C-c < @r{(GUD)} @itemx C-x C-a < @findex gud-up Select the next enclosing stack frame (@code{gud-up}). This is equivalent to the @samp{up} command. @item C-c > @kindex C-c > @r{(GUD)} @itemx C-x C-a > @findex gud-down Select the next inner stack frame (@code{gud-down}). This is equivalent to the @samp{down} command. @end table If you are using GDB, these additional key bindings are available: @table @kbd @item @key{TAB} @kindex TAB @r{(GUD)} @findex gud-gdb-complete-command With GDB, complete a symbol name (@code{gud-gdb-complete-command}). This key is available only in the GUD interaction buffer, and requires GDB versions 4.13 and later. @item C-c C-f @kindex C-c C-f @r{(GUD)} @itemx C-x C-a C-f @findex gud-finish Run the program until the selected stack frame returns (or until it stops for some other reason). @end table These commands interpret a numeric argument as a repeat count, when that makes sense. Because @key{TAB} serves as a completion command, you can't use it to enter a tab as input to the program you are debugging with GDB. Instead, type @kbd{C-q @key{TAB}} to enter a tab. @node GUD Customization @subsection GUD Customization @vindex gdb-mode-hook @vindex dbx-mode-hook @vindex sdb-mode-hook @vindex xdb-mode-hook @vindex perldb-mode-hook @vindex pdb-mode-hook @vindex jdb-mode-hook On startup, GUD runs one of the following hooks: @code{gdb-mode-hook}, if you are using GDB; @code{dbx-mode-hook}, if you are using DBX; @code{sdb-mode-hook}, if you are using SDB; @code{xdb-mode-hook}, if you are using XDB; @code{perldb-mode-hook}, for Perl debugging mode; @code{jdb-mode-hook}, for PDB; @code{jdb-mode-hook}, for JDB. You can use these hooks to define custom key bindings for the debugger interaction buffer. @xref{Hooks}. Here is a convenient way to define a command that sends a particular command string to the debugger, and set up a key binding for it in the debugger interaction buffer: @findex gud-def @example (gud-def @var{function} @var{cmdstring} @var{binding} @var{docstring}) @end example This defines a command named @var{function} which sends @var{cmdstring} to the debugger process, and gives it the documentation string @var{docstring}. You can use the command thus defined in any buffer. If @var{binding} is non-@code{nil}, @code{gud-def} also binds the command to @kbd{C-c @var{binding}} in the GUD buffer's mode and to @kbd{C-x C-a @var{binding}} generally. The command string @var{cmdstring} may contain certain @samp{%}-sequences that stand for data to be filled in at the time @var{function} is called: @table @samp @item %f The name of the current source file. If the current buffer is the GUD buffer, then the ``current source file'' is the file that the program stopped in. @c This said, ``the name of the file the program counter was in at the last breakpoint.'' @c But I suspect it is really the last stop file. @item %l The number of the current source line. If the current buffer is the GUD buffer, then the ``current source line'' is the line that the program stopped in. @item %e The text of the C lvalue or function-call expression at or adjacent to point. @item %a The text of the hexadecimal address at or adjacent to point. @item %p The numeric argument of the called function, as a decimal number. If the command is used without a numeric argument, @samp{%p} stands for the empty string. If you don't use @samp{%p} in the command string, the command you define ignores any numeric argument. @end table @node GUD Tooltips @subsection GUD Tooltips @cindex tooltips with GUD The Tooltip facility (@pxref{Tooltips}) provides support for GUD@. If GUD support is activated by customizing the @code{tooltip} group, variable values can be displayed in tooltips by pointing at them with the mouse in the GUD buffer or in source buffers with major modes in the customizable list @code{tooltip-gud-modes}. @node Executing Lisp @section Executing Lisp Expressions Emacs has several different major modes for Lisp and Scheme. They are the same in terms of editing commands, but differ in the commands for executing Lisp expressions. Each mode has its own purpose. @table @asis @item Emacs-Lisp mode The mode for editing source files of programs to run in Emacs Lisp. This mode defines @kbd{C-M-x} to evaluate the current defun. @xref{Lisp Libraries}. @item Lisp Interaction mode The mode for an interactive session with Emacs Lisp. It defines @kbd{C-j} to evaluate the sexp before point and insert its value in the buffer. @xref{Lisp Interaction}. @item Lisp mode The mode for editing source files of programs that run in Lisps other than Emacs Lisp. This mode defines @kbd{C-M-x} to send the current defun to an inferior Lisp process. @xref{External Lisp}. @item Inferior Lisp mode The mode for an interactive session with an inferior Lisp process. This mode combines the special features of Lisp mode and Shell mode (@pxref{Shell Mode}). @item Scheme mode Like Lisp mode but for Scheme programs. @item Inferior Scheme mode The mode for an interactive session with an inferior Scheme process. @end table Most editing commands for working with Lisp programs are in fact available globally. @xref{Programs}. @node Lisp Libraries @section Libraries of Lisp Code for Emacs @cindex libraries @cindex loading Lisp code Lisp code for Emacs editing commands is stored in files whose names conventionally end in @file{.el}. This ending tells Emacs to edit them in Emacs-Lisp mode (@pxref{Executing Lisp}). @findex load-file To execute a file of Emacs Lisp code, use @kbd{M-x load-file}. This command reads a file name using the minibuffer and then executes the contents of that file as Lisp code. It is not necessary to visit the file first; in any case, this command reads the file as found on disk, not text in an Emacs buffer. @findex load @findex load-library Once a file of Lisp code is installed in the Emacs Lisp library directories, users can load it using @kbd{M-x load-library}. Programs can load it by calling @code{load-library}, or with @code{load}, a more primitive function that is similar but accepts some additional arguments. @kbd{M-x load-library} differs from @kbd{M-x load-file} in that it searches a sequence of directories and tries three file names in each directory. Suppose your argument is @var{lib}; the three names are @file{@var{lib}.elc}, @file{@var{lib}.el}, and lastly just @file{@var{lib}}. If @file{@var{lib}.elc} exists, it is by convention the result of compiling @file{@var{lib}.el}; it is better to load the compiled file, since it will load and run faster. If @code{load-library} finds that @file{@var{lib}.el} is newer than @file{@var{lib}.elc} file, it prints a warning, because it's likely that somebody made changes to the @file{.el} file and forgot to recompile it. Because the argument to @code{load-library} is usually not in itself a valid file name, file name completion is not available. Indeed, when using this command, you usually do not know exactly what file name will be used. @vindex load-path The sequence of directories searched by @kbd{M-x load-library} is specified by the variable @code{load-path}, a list of strings that are directory names. The default value of the list contains the directory where the Lisp code for Emacs itself is stored. If you have libraries of your own, put them in a single directory and add that directory to @code{load-path}. @code{nil} in this list stands for the current default directory, but it is probably not a good idea to put @code{nil} in the list. If you find yourself wishing that @code{nil} were in the list, most likely what you really want to do is use @kbd{M-x load-file} this once. @cindex autoload Often you do not have to give any command to load a library, because the commands defined in the library are set up to @dfn{autoload} that library. Trying to run any of those commands calls @code{load} to load the library; this replaces the autoload definitions with the real ones from the library. @cindex byte code Emacs Lisp code can be compiled into byte-code which loads faster, takes up less space when loaded, and executes faster. @xref{Byte Compilation,, Byte Compilation, elisp, the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}. By convention, the compiled code for a library goes in a separate file whose name consists of the library source file with @samp{c} appended. Thus, the compiled code for @file{foo.el} goes in @file{foo.elc}. That's why @code{load-library} searches for @samp{.elc} files first. @node Lisp Eval @section Evaluating Emacs-Lisp Expressions @cindex Emacs-Lisp mode @cindex mode, Emacs-Lisp @findex emacs-lisp-mode Lisp programs intended to be run in Emacs should be edited in Emacs-Lisp mode; this happens automatically for file names ending in @file{.el}. By contrast, Lisp mode itself is used for editing Lisp programs intended for other Lisp systems. To switch to Emacs-Lisp mode explicitly, use the command @kbd{M-x emacs-lisp-mode}. For testing of Lisp programs to run in Emacs, it is often useful to evaluate part of the program as it is found in the Emacs buffer. For example, after changing the text of a Lisp function definition, evaluating the definition installs the change for future calls to the function. Evaluation of Lisp expressions is also useful in any kind of editing, for invoking noninteractive functions (functions that are not commands). @table @kbd @item M-: Read a single Lisp expression in the minibuffer, evaluate it, and print the value in the echo area (@code{eval-expression}). @item C-x C-e Evaluate the Lisp expression before point, and print the value in the echo area (@code{eval-last-sexp}). @item C-M-x Evaluate the defun containing or after point, and print the value in the echo area (@code{eval-defun}). @item M-x eval-region Evaluate all the Lisp expressions in the region. @item M-x eval-current-buffer Evaluate all the Lisp expressions in the buffer. @end table @kindex M-: @findex eval-expression @kbd{M-:} (@code{eval-expression}) is the most basic command for evaluating a Lisp expression interactively. It reads the expression using the minibuffer, so you can execute any expression on a buffer regardless of what the buffer contains. When the expression is evaluated, the current buffer is once again the buffer that was current when @kbd{M-:} was typed. @kindex C-M-x @r{(Emacs-Lisp mode)} @findex eval-defun In Emacs-Lisp mode, the key @kbd{C-M-x} is bound to the command @code{eval-defun}, which parses the defun containing or following point as a Lisp expression and evaluates it. The value is printed in the echo area. This command is convenient for installing in the Lisp environment changes that you have just made in the text of a function definition. @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 expression preceding point in the buffer, and displays the value in the echo area. It is available in all major modes, not just Emacs-Lisp mode. It does not treat @code{defvar} specially. If @kbd{C-M-x}, @kbd{C-x C-e}, or @kbd{M-:} is given a numeric argument, it inserts the value into the current buffer at point, rather than displaying it in the echo area. The argument's value does not matter. @findex eval-region @findex eval-current-buffer The most general command for evaluating Lisp expressions from a buffer is @code{eval-region}. @kbd{M-x eval-region} parses the text of the region as one or more Lisp expressions, evaluating them one by one. @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 provided for evaluating Lisp expressions interactively inside Emacs. The simplest way to use the @samp{*scratch*} buffer is to insert Lisp expressions and type @kbd{C-j} after each expression. This command reads the Lisp expression before point, evaluates it, and inserts the value in printed representation before point. The result is a complete typescript of the expressions you have evaluated and their values. The @samp{*scratch*} buffer's major mode is Lisp Interaction mode, which is the same as Emacs-Lisp mode except for the binding of @kbd{C-j}. @findex lisp-interaction-mode The rationale for this feature is that Emacs must have a buffer when it starts up, but that buffer is not useful for editing files since a new buffer is made for every file that you visit. The Lisp interpreter typescript is the most useful thing I can think of for the initial buffer to do. Type @kbd{M-x lisp-interaction-mode} to put the current buffer in Lisp Interaction mode. @findex ielm An alternative way of evaluating Emacs Lisp expressions interactively is to use Inferior Emacs-Lisp mode, which provides an interface rather like Shell mode (@pxref{Shell Mode}) for evaluating Emacs Lisp expressions. Type @kbd{M-x ielm} to create an @samp{*ielm*} buffer which uses this mode. @node External Lisp @section Running an External Lisp Emacs has facilities for running programs in other Lisp systems. You can run a Lisp process as an inferior of Emacs, and pass expressions to it to be evaluated. You can also pass changed function definitions directly from the Emacs buffers in which you edit the Lisp programs to the inferior Lisp process. @findex run-lisp @vindex inferior-lisp-program @kindex C-x C-z To run an inferior Lisp process, type @kbd{M-x run-lisp}. This runs the program named @code{lisp}, the same program you would run by typing @code{lisp} as a shell command, with both input and output going through an Emacs buffer named @samp{*lisp*}. That is to say, any ``terminal output'' from Lisp will go into the buffer, advancing point, and any ``terminal input'' for Lisp comes from text in the buffer. (You can change the name of the Lisp executable file by setting the variable @code{inferior-lisp-program}.) To give input to Lisp, go to the end of the buffer and type the input, terminated by @key{RET}. The @samp{*lisp*} buffer is in Inferior Lisp mode, which combines the special characteristics of Lisp mode with most of the features of Shell mode (@pxref{Shell Mode}). The definition of @key{RET} to send a line to a subprocess is one of the features of Shell mode. @findex lisp-mode For the source files of programs to run in external Lisps, use Lisp mode. This mode can be selected with @kbd{M-x lisp-mode}, and is used automatically for files whose names end in @file{.l}, @file{.lsp}, or @file{.lisp}, as most Lisp systems usually expect. @kindex C-M-x @r{(Lisp mode)} @findex lisp-eval-defun When you edit a function in a Lisp program you are running, the easiest way to send the changed definition to the inferior Lisp process is the key @kbd{C-M-x}. In Lisp mode, this runs the function @code{lisp-eval-defun}, which finds the defun around or following point and sends it as input to the Lisp process. (Emacs can send input to any inferior process regardless of what buffer is current.) Contrast the meanings of @kbd{C-M-x} in Lisp mode (for editing programs to be run in another Lisp system) and Emacs-Lisp mode (for editing Lisp programs to be run in Emacs): in both modes it has the effect of installing the function definition that point is in, but the way of doing so is different according to where the relevant Lisp environment is found. @xref{Executing Lisp}.