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author | Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org> |
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date | Sun, 25 Nov 2001 10:09:09 +0000 |
parents | 730f77edf073 |
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\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*- @c "@(#)$Name: $:$Id: eshell.texi,v 1.11 2001/04/19 15:07:55 gerd Exp $" @c Documentation for Eshell: The Emacs Shell. @c Copyright (C) 1999, 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc. @c This file is part of GNU Emacs @c GNU Emacs is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it @c under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the @c Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at @c your option) any later version. @c GNU Emacs is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but @c WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warraonty of @c MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU @c General Public License for more details. @c You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License @c along with Eshell; see the file COPYING. If not, write to the Free @c Software Foundation, 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. @c %**start of header @setfilename ../info/eshell @settitle Eshell: The Emacs Shell @c %**end of header @dircategory Emacs @direntry * Eshell: (eshell). A command shell implemented in Emacs Lisp. @end direntry @setchapternewpage on @ifinfo Copyright @copyright{} 1999, 2000, 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual'', and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License'' in the Emacs manual. (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.'' This document is part of a collection distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License. If you want to distribute this document separately from the collection, you can do so by adding a copy of the license to the document, as described in section 6 of the license. @end ifinfo @synindex vr fn @c The titlepage section does not appear in the Info file. @titlepage @sp 4 @c The title is printed in a large font. @center @titlefont{User's Guide} @sp @center @titlefont{to} @sp @center @titlefont{Eshell: The Emacs Shell} @ignore @sp 2 @center release 2.4 @c -release- @end ignore @sp 3 @center John Wiegley @c -date- @c The following two commands start the copyright page for the printed @c manual. This will not appear in the Info file. @page @vskip 0pt plus 1filll Copyright @copyright{} 1999, 2000, 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual'', and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License'' in the Emacs manual. (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.'' This document is part of a collection distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License. If you want to distribute this document separately from the collection, you can do so by adding a copy of the license to the document, as described in section 6 of the license. @end titlepage @contents @c ================================================================ @c The real text starts here @c ================================================================ @node Top, What is Eshell?, (dir), (dir) @ifinfo @top Eshell This manual documents Eshell, a shell-like command interpretor implemented in Emacs Lisp. It invokes no external processes except for those requested by the user. It is intended to be a functional replacement for command shells such as @command{bash}, @command{zsh}, @command{rc}, or @command{4dos}; since Emacs itself is capable of handling the sort of tasks accomplished by those tools. @c This manual is updated to release 2.4 of Eshell. @end ifinfo @menu * What is Eshell?:: A brief introduction to the Emacs Shell. * Installation:: For users of Emacs 20 and XEmacs. * Command basics:: The basics of command usage. * Commands:: * Arguments:: * Input/Output:: * Process control:: * Extension modules:: * Extras and Goodies:: * Bugs and ideas:: Known problems, and future ideas. * Concept Index:: * Function and Variable Index:: * Key Index:: @end menu @node What is Eshell?, Installation, Top, Top @chapter What is Eshell? @cindex what is Eshell? @cindex Eshell, what it is Eshell is a @dfn{command shell} written in Emacs Lisp. Everything it does, it uses Emacs' facilities to do. This means that Eshell is as portable as Emacs itself. It also means that cooperation with Lisp code is natural and seamless. What is a command shell? To properly understand the role of a shell, it's necessary to visualize what a computer does for you. Basically, a computer is a tool; in order to use that tool, you must tell it what to do---or give it ``commands.'' These commands take many forms, such as clicking with a mouse on certain parts of the screen. But that is only one form of command input. By far the most versatile way to express what you want the computer to do is by using an abbreviated language called @dfn{script}. In script, instead of telling the computer, ``list my files, please'', one writes a standard abbreviated command word---@samp{ls}. Typing @samp{ls} in a command shell is a script way of telling the computer to list your files.@footnote{This is comparable to viewing the contents of a folder using a graphical display.} The real flexibility of this approach is apparent only when you realize that there are many, many different ways to list files. Perhaps you want them sorted by name, sorted by date, in reverse order, or grouped by type. Most graphical browsers have simple ways to express this. But what about showing only a few files, or only files that meet a certain criteria? In very complex and specific situations, the request becomes too difficult to express using a mouse or pointing device. It is just these kinds of requests that are easily solved using a command shell. For example, what if you want to list every Word file on your hard drive, larger than 100 kilobytes in size, and which hasn't been looked at in over six months? That is a good candidate list for deletion, when you go to clean up your hard drive. But have you ever tried asking your computer for such a list? There is no way to do it! At least, not without using a command shell. The role of a command shell is to give you more control over what your computer does for you. Not everyone needs this amount of control, and it does come at a cost: Learning the necessary script commands to express what you want done. A complicated query, such as the example above, takes time to learn. But if you find yourself using your computer frequently enough, it is more than worthwhile in the long run. Any tool you use often deserves the time spent learning to master it. @footnote{For the understandably curious, here is what that command looks like: But don't let it fool you; once you know what's going on, it's easier than it looks: @code{ls -lt **/*.doc(Lk+50aM+5)}.} As of Emacs 21, Eshell is part of the standard Emacs distribution. @menu * Contributors to Eshell:: People who have helped out! @end menu @node Contributors to Eshell, , What is Eshell?, What is Eshell? @section Contributors to Eshell @cindex contributors @cindex authors Contributions to Eshell are welcome. I have limited time to work on this project, but I will gladly add any code you contribute to me to this package. The following persons have made contributions to Eshell. @itemize @bullet @item Eli Zaretskii made it possible for Eshell to run without requiring asynchronous subprocess support. This is important for MS-DOS, which does not have such support.@refill @item Miles Bader contributed many fixes during the port to Emacs 21.@refill @item Stefan Monnier fixed the things which bothered him, which of course made things better for all.@refill @item Gerd Moellmann also helped to contribute bug fixes during the initial integration with Emacs 21.@refill @item Alex Schroeder contributed code for interactively querying the user before overwriting files.@refill @item Sudish Joseph helped with some XEmacs compatibility issues.@refill @end itemize Apart from these, a lot of people have sent suggestions, ideas, requests, bug reports and encouragement. Thanks a lot! Without you there would be no new releases of Eshell. @node Installation, Command basics, What is Eshell?, Top @chapter Installation @cindex installation As mentioned above, Eshell comes preinstalled as of Emacs 21. If you're using Emacs 20.4 or later, or XEmacs 21, you can download the most recent version of Eshell from @url{http://www.gci-net.com/users/j/johnw/Emacs/eshell.tar.gz}. However, if you are using Emacs 21, you may skip this section. @section Short Form Here's exactly what to do, with no explanation why: @enumerate @item @samp{M-x load-file RET eshell-auto.el RET}. @item @samp{ESC : (add-to-list 'load-path "<path where Eshell resides>") RET}. @item @samp{ESC : (add-to-list 'load-path "<path where Pcomplete resides>") RET}. @item @samp{M-x eshell RET}. You should see a version banner displayed. @item @samp{ls RET}. Confirm that you see a file listing. @item @samp{eshell-test RET}. Confirm that everything runs correctly. Use @kbd{M-x eshell-report-bug} if not. @item @samp{cd $@{dirname (locate-library "eshell-auto")@} RET}. @item @samp{find-file Makefile RET}. @item Edit the Makefile to reflect your site. @item @samp{M-x eshell RET}. @item @samp{make install RET}. @item @samp{find-file $user-init-file RET}. @item Add the following lines to your @file{.emacs} file: @example (add-to-list 'load-path "<directory where you install Eshell>") (load "eshell-auto") @end example @item @samp{M-x eshell RET}. @item @samp{customize-option #'eshell-modules-list RET}. @item Select the extension modules you prefer. @item Restart Emacs! @item @samp{M-x info RET m Eshell RET}. Read the manual and enjoy! @end enumerate @section Long Form @enumerate @item Before building and installing Eshell, it is important to test that it will work properly on your system. To do this, first load the file @file{eshell-auto}, which will define certain autoloads required to run Eshell. This can be done using the command @kbd{M-x load-file}, and then selecting the file @file{eshell-auto.el}. @item In order for Emacs to find Eshell's files, the Eshell directory must be added to the @code{load-path} variable. This can be done within Emacs by typing: @example ESC : (add-to-list 'load-path "<path where Eshell resides>") RET ESC : (add-to-list 'load-path "<path where Pcomplete resides>") RET @end example @item Start Eshell from the distributed sources, using default settings, by typing @kbd{M-x eshell}. @item Verify that Eshell is functional by typing @command{ls} followed by @key{RET}. You should have already seen a version banner announcing the version number of this release, followed by a prompt. @item Run the test suite by typing @command{eshell-test} followed by @key{RET} in the Eshell buffer. It is important that Emacs be left alone while the tests are running, since extraneous command input may cause some of the tests to fail (they were never intended to run in the background). If all of the tests pass, Eshell should work just fine on your system. If any of the tests fail, please send e-mail to the Eshell maintainer using the command @kbd{M-x eshell-report-bug}. @item Edit the file @file{Makefile} in the directory containing the Eshell sources to reflect the location of certain Emacs directories at your site. The only things you really have to change are the definitions of @code{lispdir} and @code{infodir}. The elisp files will be copied to @code{lispdir}, and the info file to @code{infodir}. @item Type @kbd{make install} in the directory containing the Eshell sources. This will byte-compile all of the @file{*.el} files and copy both the source and compiled versions to the directories specified in the previous step. It will also copy the info file, and add a corresponding entry to your @file{dir} file----if the program @code{install-info} can be found on your system. If you only want to create the compiled elisp files, but don't want to install them, you can type just @kbd{make} instead. @item Add the directory into which Eshell was installed to your @code{load-path} variable. This can be done by adding the following line to your @file{.emacs} file: @example (add-to-list 'load-path "/usr/local/share/emacs/site-lisp/eshell") @end example The actual directory on your system may differ. @item To install Eshell privately, edit your @file{.emacs} file; to install Eshell site-wide, edit the file @file{site-start.el} in your @file{site-lisp} directory (usually @file{/usr/local/share/emacs/site-lisp} or something similar). In either case enter the following line into the appropriate file: @example (load "eshell-auto") @end example @item Restart Emacs. After restarting, customize the variable @code{eshell-modules-list}. This variable selects which Eshell extension modules you want to use. You will find documentation on each of those modules in the Info manual. @end enumerate @cindex documentation, printed version @cindex printed version of documentation If you have @TeX{} installed at your site, you can make a typeset manual from @file{eshell.texi}. @enumerate @item Run @TeX{} by typing @kbd{texi2dvi eshell.texi}. (With Emacs 21.1 or later, typing @kbd{make eshell.dvi} in the @file{man/} subdirectory of the Emacs source distribution will do that.) @item Convert the resulting device independent file @file{eshell.dvi} to a form which your printer can output and print it. If you have a postscript printer, there is a program, @code{dvi2ps}, which does that; there is also a program which comes together with @TeX{}, @code{dvips}, which you can use. For other printers, use a suitable DVI driver, e.g., @code{dvilj4} for LaserJet-compatible printers. @end enumerate @node Command basics, Commands, Installation, Top @chapter Basic overview A command shell is a means of entering verbally-formed commands. This is really all that it does, and every feature described in this manual is a means to that end. Therefore, it's important to take firm hold on exactly what a command is, and how it fits in the overall picture of things. @menu * Commands verbs:: Commands always begin with a verb. * Command arguments:: Some verbs require arguments. @end menu @node Commands verbs, Command arguments, Command basics, Command basics @section Commands verbs Commands are expressed using @dfn{script}, a special shorthand language computers can understand with no trouble. Script is an extremely simple language; oddly enough, this is what makes it look so complicated! Whereas normal languages use a variety of embellishments, the form of a script command is always: @example @var{verb} [@var{arguments}] @end example The verb expresses what you want your computer to do. There are a fixed number of verbs, although this number is usually quite large. On the author's computer, it reaches almost 1400 in number. But of course, only a handful of these are really necessary. Sometimes, the verb is all that's written. A verb is always a single word, usually related to the task it performs. @command{reboot} is a good example. Entering that on GNU/Linux will reboot the computer---assuming you have sufficient privileges. Other verbs require more information. These are usually very capable verbs, and must be told specifically what to do. The extra information is given in the form of @dfn{arguments}. For example, the @command{echo} verb prints back whatever arguments you type. It requires these arguments to know what to echo. A proper use of @command{echo} looks like this: @example echo This is an example of using echo! @end example This script command causes the computer to echo back: ``This is an example of using echo!'' Although command verbs are always simple words, like @command{reboot} or @command{echo}, arguments may have a wide variety of forms. There are textual arguments, numerical arguments---even Lisp arguments. Distinguishing these different types of arguments requires special typing, for the computer to know exactly what you mean. @node Command arguments, , Commands verbs, Command basics @section Command arguments Eshell recognizes several different kinds of command arguments: @enumerate @item Strings (also called textual arguments) @item Numbers (floating point or integer) @item Lisp lists @item Lisp symbols @item Emacs buffers @item Emacs process handles @end enumerate Most users need to worry only about the first two. The third, Lisp lists, occur very frequently, but almost always behind the scenes. Strings are the most common type of argument, and consist of nearly any character. Special characters---those used by Eshell specifically---must be preceded by a backslash (@samp{\}). When in doubt, it is safe to add backslashes anywhere and everywhere. Here is a more complicated @command{echo} example: @example echo A\ Multi-word\ Argument\ With\ A\ \$\ dollar @end example Beyond this, things get a bit more complicated. While not beyond the reach of someone wishing to learn, it is definitely beyond the scope of this manual to present it all in a simplistic manner. Get comfortable with Eshell as a basic command invocation tool, and learn more about the commands on your system; then come back when it all sits more familiarly on your mind. Have fun! @node Commands, Arguments, Command basics, Top @chapter Commands @menu * Invocation:: * Completion:: * Aliases:: * History:: * Scripts:: @end menu Essentially, a command shell is all about invoking commands---and everything that entails. So understanding how Eshell invokes commands is the key to comprehending how it all works. @node Invocation, Completion, Commands, Commands @section Invocation Unlike regular system shells, Eshell never invokes kernel functions directly, such as @code{exec(3)}. Instead, it uses the Lisp functions available in the Emacs Lisp library. It does this by transforming the command you specify into a callable Lisp form.@footnote{To see the Lisp form that will be invoked, type: @samp{eshell-parse-command "echo hello"}} This transformation, from the string of text typed at the command prompt, to the ultimate invocation of either a Lisp function or external command, follows these steps: @enumerate @item Parse the command string into separate arguments. @item @end enumerate @node Completion, Aliases, Invocation, Commands @section Completion @node Aliases, History, Completion, Commands @section Aliases @node History, Scripts, Aliases, Commands @section History @node Scripts, , History, Commands @section Scripts @node Arguments, Input/Output, Commands, Top @chapter Arguments @menu * The Parser:: * Variables:: * Substitution:: * Globbing:: * Predicates:: @end menu @node The Parser, Variables, Arguments, Arguments @section The Parser @node Variables, Substitution, The Parser, Arguments @section Variables @node Substitution, Globbing, Variables, Arguments @section Substitution @node Globbing, Predicates, Substitution, Arguments @section Globbing @node Predicates, , Globbing, Arguments @section Predicates @node Input/Output, Process control, Arguments, Top @chapter Input/Output @node Process control, Extension modules, Input/Output, Top @chapter Process control @node Extension modules, Extras and Goodies, Process control, Top @chapter Extension modules @menu * Writing a module:: * Module testing:: * Directory handling:: * Key rebinding:: * Smart scrolling:: * Terminal emulation:: * Built-in UNIX commands:: @end menu @node Writing a module, Module testing, Extension modules, Extension modules @section Writing a module @node Module testing, Directory handling, Writing a module, Extension modules @section Module testing @node Directory handling, Key rebinding, Module testing, Extension modules @section Directory handling @node Key rebinding, Smart scrolling, Directory handling, Extension modules @section Key rebinding @node Smart scrolling, Terminal emulation, Key rebinding, Extension modules @section Smart scrolling @node Terminal emulation, Built-in UNIX commands, Smart scrolling, Extension modules @section Terminal emulation @node Built-in UNIX commands, , Terminal emulation, Extension modules @section Built-in UNIX commands @node Extras and Goodies, Bugs and ideas, Extension modules, Top @chapter Extras and Goodies @node Bugs and ideas, Concept Index, Extras and Goodies, Top @chapter Bugs and ideas @cindex reporting bugs and ideas @cindex bugs, how to report them @cindex author, how to reach @cindex email to the author @cindex FAQ @cindex problems, list of common If you find a bug or misfeature, don't hesitate to let me know! Send email to @email{johnw@@gnu.org}. Feature requests should also be sent there. I prefer discussing one thing at a time. If you find several unrelated bugs, please report them separately. If you have ideas for improvements, or if you have written some extensions to this package, I would like to hear from you. I hope you find this package useful! @menu * Known problems:: @end menu @node Known problems, , Bugs and ideas, Bugs and ideas @section Known problems @cindex known bugs @cindex bugs, known Below is complete list of known problems with Eshell version 2.4.1, which is the version included with Emacs 21.1. @table @asis @item Differentiate between aliases and functions Allow for a bash-compatible syntax, such as: @example alias arg=blah function arg () @{ blah $* @} @end example @item @samp{for i in 1 2 3 @{ grep -q a b && *echo has it @} | wc -l} outputs result after prompt In fact, piping to a process from a looping construct doesn't work in general. If I change the call to @code{eshell-copy-handles} in @code{eshell-rewrite-for-command} to use @code{eshell-protect}, it seems to work, but the output occurs after the prompt is displayed. The whole structured command thing is too complicated at present. @item Error with @command{bc} in @code{eshell-test} On some XEmacs system, the subprocess interaction test fails inexplicably, although @command{bc} works fine at the command prompt. @item Eshell does not delete @file{*Help*} buffers in XEmacs 21.1.8+ In XEmacs 21.1.8, the @file{*Help*} buffer has been renamed such that multiple instances of the @file{*Help*} buffer can exist. @item Pcomplete sometimes gets stuck You press @key{TAB}, but no completions appear, even though the directory has matching files. This behavior is rare. @item @samp{grep python $<rpm -qa>} doesn't work, but using @samp{*grep} does This happens because the @code{grep} Lisp function returns immediately, and then the asynchronous @command{grep} process expects to examine the temporary file, which has since been deleted. @item Problem with C-r repeating text If the text @emph{before point} reads "./run", and you type @kbd{C-r r u n}, it will repeat the line for every character typed. @item Backspace doesn't scroll back after continuing (in smart mode) Hitting space during a process invocation, such as @command{make}, will cause it to track the bottom of the output; but backspace no longer scrolls back. @item It's not possible to fully @code{unload-feature} Eshell @item Menu support was removed, but never put back @item Using C-p and C-n with rebind gets into a locked state This happened a few times in Emacs 21, but has been unreproducable since. @item If an interactive process is currently running, @kbd{M-!} doesn't work @item Use a timer instead of @code{sleep-for} when killing child processes @item Piping to a Lisp function is not supported Make it so that the Lisp command on the right of the pipe is repeatedly called with the input strings as arguments. This will require changing @code{eshell-do-pipeline} to handle non-process targets. @item Input redirection is not supported See the above entry. @item Problem running @command{less} without arguments on Windows The result in the Eshell buffer is: @example Spawning child process: invalid argument @end example Also a new @command{less} buffer was created with nothing in it@dots{} (presumably this holds the output of @command{less}). If @command{less.exe} is invoked from the Eshell command line, the expected output is written to the buffer. Note that this happens on NT-Emacs 20.6.1 on Windows 2000. The term.el package and the supplied shell both use the @command{cmdproxy} program for running shells. @item Implement @samp{-r}, @samp{-n} and @samp{-s} switches for @command{cp} @item Make @kbd{M-5 M-x eshell} switch to ``*eshell<5>*'', creating if need be @item @samp{mv @var{dir} @var{file}.tar} does not remove directories This is because the tar option --remove-files doesn't do so. Should it be Eshell's job? @item Bind @code{standard-output} and @code{standard-error} This would be so that if a Lisp function calls @code{print}, everything will happen as it should (albeit slowly). @item When an extension module fails to load, @samp{cd /} gives a Lisp error @item If a globbing pattern returns one match, should it be a list? @item Make sure syntax table is correct in Eshell mode So that @kbd{M-DEL} acts in a predictable manner, etc. @item Allow all Eshell buffers to share the same history and list-dir @item There is a problem with script commands that output to @file{/dev/null} If a script file, somewhere in the middle, uses @samp{> /dev/null}, output from all subsequent commands is swallowed. @item Split up parsing of text after @samp{$} in @file{esh-var.el} Make it similar to the way that @file{esh-arg.el} is structured. Then add parsing of @samp{$[?\n]}. @item After pressing @kbd{M-RET}, redisplay before running the next command @item Argument predicates and modifiers should work anywhere in a path @example /usr/local/src/editors/vim $ vi **/CVS(/)/Root(.) Invalid regexp: "Unmatched ( or \\(" @end example With @command{zsh}, the glob above expands to all files named @file{Root} in directories named @file{CVS}. @item Typing @samp{echo $@{locate locate@}/bin<TAB>} results in a Lisp error Perhaps it should interpolate all permutations, and make that the globbing result, since otherwise hitting return here will result in ``(list of filenames)/bin'', which is never valuable. Thus, one could @command{cat} only C backup files by using @samp{ls $@{identity *.c@}~}. In that case, having an alias command name @command{glob} for @command{identity} would be useful. @item Once symbolic mode is supported for @command{umask}, implement @command{chmod} in Lisp @item Create @code{eshell-expand-file-name} This would use a data table to transform things such as @samp{~+}, @samp{...}, etc. @item Abstract @file{em-smart.el} into @file{smart-scroll.el} It only really needs: to be hooked onto the output filter and the pre-command hook, and to have the input-end and input-start markers. And to know whether the last output group was ``successful.'' @item Allow for fully persisting the state of Eshell This would include: variables, history, buffer, input, dir stack, etc. @item Implement D as an argument predicate It means that files beginning with a dot should be included in the glob match. @item A comma in a predicate list should mean OR At the moment, this is not supported. @item Error if a glob doesn't expand due to a predicate An error should be generated only if @code{eshell-error-if-no-glob} is non-nil. @item @samp{(+ RET SPC TAB} does not cause @code{indent-according-to-mode} to occur @item Create @code{eshell-auto-accumulate-list} This is a list of commands for which, if the user presses @kbd{RET}, the text is staged as the next Eshell command, rather than being sent to the current interactive process. @item Display file and line number if an error occurs in a script @item @command{wait} doesn't work with process ids at the moment @item Enable the direct-to-process input code in @file{em-term.el} @item Problem with repeating @samp{echo $@{find /tmp@}} With smart display active, if @kbd{RET} is held down, after a while it can't keep up anymore and starts outputting blank lines. It only happens if an asynchronous process is involved@dots{} I think the problem is that @code{eshell-send-input} is resetting the input target location, so that if the asynchronous process is not done by the time the next @kbd{RET} is received, the input processor thinks that the input is meant for the process; which, when smart display is enabled, will be the text of the last command line! That is a bug in itself. In holding down @kbd{RET} while an asynchronous process is running, there will be a point in between termination of the process, and the running of @code{eshell-post-command-hook}, which would cause @code{eshell-send-input} to call @code{eshell-copy-old-input}, and then process that text as a command to be run after the process. Perhaps there should be a way of killing pending input between the death of the process, and the @code{post-command-hook}. @item Allow for a more aggressive smart display mode Perhaps toggled by a command, that makes each output block a smart display block. @item Create more meta variables @table @samp @item $! The reason for the failure of the last disk command, or the text of the last Lisp error. @item $= A special associate array, which can take references of the form @samp{$=[REGEXP]}. It indexes into the directory ring. @end table @item Eshell scripts can't execute in the background @item Support zsh's ``Parameter Expansion'' syntax, i.e. @samp{$@{@var{name}:-@var{val}@}} @item Write an @command{info} alias that can take arguments So that the user can enter @samp{info chmod}, for example. @item Create a mode @code{eshell-browse} It would treat the Eshell buffer as a outline. Collapsing the outline hides all of the output text. Collapsing again would show only the first command run in each directory @item Allow other revisions of a file to be referenced using @samp{file@{rev@}} This would be expanded by @code{eshell-expand-file-name} (see above). @item Print ``You have new mail'' when the ``Mail'' icon is turned on @item Implement @kbd{M-|} for Eshell @item Implement input redirection If it's a Lisp function, input redirection implies @command{xargs} (in a way@dots{}). If input redirection is added, also update the @code{file-name-quote-list}, and the delimiter list. @item Allow @samp{#<@var{word} @var{arg}>} as a generic syntax With the handling of @emph{word} specified by an @code{eshell-special-alist}. @item In @code{eshell-veal-using-options}, allow a @code{:complete} tag It would be used to provide completion rules for that command. Then the macro will automagically define the completion function. @item For @code{eshell-command-on-region}, apply redirections to the result So that @samp{+ > 'blah} would cause the result of the @code{+} (using input from the current region) to be inserting into the symbol @code{blah}. If an external command is being invoked, the input is sent as standard input, as if a @samp{cat <region> |} had been invoked. If a Lisp command, or an alias, is invoked, then if the line has no newline characters, it is divided by whitespace and passed as arguments to the Lisp function. Otherwise, it is divided at the newline characters. Thus, invoking @code{+} on a series of numbers will add them; @code{min} would display the smallest figure, etc. @item Write @code{eshell-script-mode} as a minor mode It would provide syntax, abbrev, highlighting and indenting support like @code{emacs-lisp-mode} and @code{shell-mode}. @item In the history mechanism, finish the @command{bash}-style support This means @samp{!n}, @samp{!#}, @samp{!:%}, and @samp{!:1-} as separate from @samp{!:1*}. @item Support the -n command line option for @command{history} @item Implement @command{fc} in Lisp @item Specifying a frame as a redirection target should imply the currently active window's buffer @item Implement @samp{>@var{func-or-func-list}} This would allow for an ``output translators'', that take a function to modify output with, and a target. Devise a syntax that works well with pipes, and can accomodate multiple functions (i.e., @samp{>'(upcase regexp-quote)} or @samp{>'upcase}). @item Allow Eshell to read/write to/from standard input and output This would be optional, rather than always using the Eshell buffer. This would allow it to be run from the command line (perhaps). @item Write a @command{help} command It would call subcommands with @option{--help}, or @option{-h} or @option{/?}, as appropriate. @item Implement @command{stty} in Lisp @item Support @command{rc}'s matching operator, e.g. @samp{~ (@var{list}) @var{regexp}} @item Implement @command{bg} and @command{fg} as editors of @code{eshell-process-list} Using @command{bg} on a process that is already in the background does nothing. Specifying redirection targets replaces (or adds) to the list current being used. @item Have @command{jobs} print only the processes for the current shell @item How can Eshell learn if a background process has requested input? @item Support @samp{2>&1} and @samp{>&} and @samp{2>} and @samp{|&} The syntax table for parsing these should be customizable, such that the user could change it to use rc syntax: @samp{>[2=1]}. @item Allow @samp{$_[-1]}, which would indicate the last element of the array @item Make @samp{$x[*]} equal to listing out the full contents of @samp{x} Return them as a list, so that @samp{$_[*]} is all the arguments of the last command. @item Copy ANSI code handling from @file{term.el} into @file{em-term.el} Make it possible for the user to send char-by-char to the underlying process. Ultimately, I should be able to move away from using term.el altogether, since everything but the ANSI code handling is already part of Eshell. Then, things would work correctly on MS-Windows as well (which doesn't have @file{/bin/sh}, although @file{term.el} tries to use it). @item Make the shell spawning commands be visual That is, make (@command{su}, @command{bash}, @command{telnet}, @command{rlogin}, @command{rsh}, etc.) be part of @code{eshell-visual-commands}. The only exception is if the shell is being used to invoke a single command. Then, the behavior should be based on what that command is. @item Create a smart viewing command named @command{open} This would search for some way to open its argument (similar to opening a file in the Windows Explorer). @item Alias @command{read} to be the same as @command{open}, only read-only @item Write a @command{tail} command which uses @code{view-file} It would move point to the end of the buffer, and then turns on auto-revert mode in that buffer at frequent intervals---and a @command{head} alias which assums an upper limit of @code{eshell-maximum-line-length} characters per line. @item Make @command{dgrep} load @code{dired}, mark everything, then invoke @code{dired-do-search} @item Write mesh.c This would run Emacs with the appropriate arguments to invoke Eshell only. That way, it could be listed as a login shell. @item Use an intangible @code{PS2} string for multi-line input prompts @item Auto-detect when a command is visual, by checking @code{TERMCAP} usage @item The first keypress after @kbd{M-x watson} triggers `eshell-send-input' @item Make @kbd{/} electric So that it automatically expands and corrects pathnames. Or make pathname completion for Pcomplete auto-expand @samp{/u/i/std<TAB>} to @samp{/usr/include/std<TAB>}. @item Write the @command{pushd} stack to disk along with @code{last-dir-ring} @item Add options to @code{eshell/cat} which would allow it to sort and uniq @item Implement @command{wc} in Lisp Add support for counting sentences, paragraphs, pages, etc. @item Once piping is added, implement @command{sort} and @command{uniq} in Lisp @item Implement @command{touch} in Lisp @item Implement @command{comm} in Lisp @item Implement an @command{epatch} command in Lisp This would call @code{ediff-patch-file}, or @code{ediff-patch-buffer}, depending on its argument. @item Have an option such that @samp{ls -l} generates a dired buffer @item Write a version of @command{xargs} based on command rewriting That is, @samp{find X | xargs Y} would be indicated using @samp{Y $@{find X@}}. Maybe @code{eshell-do-pipelines} could be changed to perform this on-thy-fly rewriting. @item Write an alias for @command{less} that brings up a @code{view-mode} buffer Such that the user can press @key{SPC} and @key{DEL}, and then @key{q} to return to Eshell. It would be equivalent to: @samp{X > #<buffer Y>; view-buffer #<buffer Y>}. @item Make @code{eshell-mode} as much a full citizen as @code{shell-mode} Everywhere in Emacs where @code{shell-mode} is specially noticed, add @code{eshell-mode} there. @item Permit the umask to be selectively set on a @command{cp} target @item Problem using @kbd{M-x eshell} after using @code{eshell-command} If the first thing that I do after entering Emacs is to run @code{eshell-command} and invoke @command{ls}, and then use @kbd{M-x eshell}, it doesn't display anything. @item @kbd{M-RET} during a long command (using smart display) doesn't work Since it keeps the cursor up where the command was invoked. @end table @node Concept Index, Function and Variable Index, Bugs and ideas, Top @unnumbered Concept Index @printindex cp @node Function and Variable Index, Key Index, Concept Index, Top @unnumbered Function and Variable Index @printindex fn @node Key Index, , Function and Variable Index, Top @unnumbered Key Index @printindex ky @bye