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author | Andreas Schwab <schwab@suse.de> |
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date | Thu, 15 Nov 2007 23:45:21 +0000 |
parents | d80c84a0912f |
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@c This is part of the Emacs manual. @c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, @c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc. @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions. @node Building, Maintaining, 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 compiling and testing programs. @menu * Compilation:: Compiling programs in languages other than Lisp (C, Pascal, etc.). * Compilation Mode:: The mode for visiting compiler errors. * Compilation Shell:: Customizing your shell properly for use in the compilation buffer. * Grep Searching:: Searching with grep. * Flymake:: Finding syntax errors on the fly. * 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. * Eval: Lisp Eval. Executing a single Lisp expression in Emacs. * Interaction: Lisp Interaction. Executing Lisp in an Emacs buffer. * 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 going to the @samp{*compilation*} buffer. @item M-x recompile Invoke a compiler with the same command as in the last invocation of @kbd{M-x compile}. @item M-x kill-compilation Kill the running compilation 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 The default for the compilation command is normally @samp{make -k}, which is correct most of the time for nontrivial programs. (@xref{Top,, Make, make, GNU Make Manual}.) If you have done @kbd{M-x compile} before, the default each time is the command you used the previous time. @code{compile} stores this command in the variable @code{compile-command}, so setting that variable specifies the default for the next use of @kbd{M-x compile}. If a file specifies a file local value for @code{compile-command}, that provides the default when you type @kbd{M-x compile} in that file's buffer. @xref{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}, @samp{signal} 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. @cindex compilation buffer, keeping point at end @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 recompile To rerun the last compilation with the same command, type @kbd{M-x recompile}. This automatically reuses the compilation command from the last invocation of @kbd{M-x compile}. It also reuses the @samp{*compilation*} buffer and starts the compilation in its default directory, which is the directory in which the previous compilation was started. When the compiler process terminates, for whatever reason, the mode line of the @samp{*compilation*} buffer changes to say @samp{exit} (followed by the exit code, @samp{[0]} for a normal exit), or @samp{signal} (if a signal terminated the process), instead of @samp{run}. @findex kill-compilation Starting a new compilation also kills any compilation already running in @samp{*compilation*}, as the buffer can only handle one compilation at any time. However, @kbd{M-x compile} asks for confirmation before actually killing a compilation that is running. You can also kill the compilation process with @kbd{M-x kill-compilation}. If you want to run two compilations at once, you should start the first one, then rename the @samp{*compilation*} buffer (perhaps using @code{rename-uniquely}; @pxref{Misc Buffer}), and start the other compilation. That will create a new @samp{*compilation*} buffer. Emacs does not expect a compiler process to launch asynchronous subprocesses; if it does, and they keep running after the main compiler process has terminated, Emacs may kill them or their output may not arrive in Emacs. To avoid this problem, make the main process wait for its subprocesses to finish. In a shell script, you can do this using @samp{$!} and @samp{wait}, like this: @example (sleep 10; echo 2nd)& pid=$! # @r{Record pid of subprocess} echo first message wait $pid # @r{Wait for subprocess} @end example If the background process does not output to the compilation buffer, so you only need to prevent it from being killed when the main compilation process terminates, this is sufficient: @example nohup @var{command}; sleep 1 @end example @vindex compilation-environment You can control the environment passed to the compilation command with the variable @code{compilation-environment}. Its value is a list of environment variable settings; each element should be a string of the form @code{"@var{envvarname}=@var{value}"}. These environment variable settings override the usual ones. @node Compilation Mode @section Compilation Mode @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 visit the source line corresponding to an error message. These commands are also available in other special buffers that list locations in files, including those made by @kbd{M-x grep} and @kbd{M-x occur}. @table @kbd @item M-g M-n @itemx M-g n @itemx C-x ` Visit the locus of the next error message or match. @item M-g M-p @itemx M-g p Visit the locus of the previous error message or 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. @item M-n Find and highlight the locus of the next error message, without selecting the source buffer. @item M-p Find and highlight the locus of the previous error message, without selecting the source buffer. @item M-@} Move point to the next error for a different file than the current one. @item M-@{ Move point to the previous error for a different file than the current one. @item C-c C-f Toggle Next Error Follow minor mode, which makes cursor motion in the compilation buffer produce automatic source display. @end table @findex compile-goto-error You can visit the source for any particular error message by moving point in the @samp{*compilation*} buffer to that error message and typing @key{RET} (@code{compile-goto-error}). Alternatively, you can click @kbd{Mouse-2} on the error message; you need not switch to the @samp{*compilation*} buffer first. @kindex M-g M-n @kindex M-g n @kindex C-x ` @findex next-error @vindex next-error-highlight 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. It also temporarily highlights the relevant source line, for a period controlled by the variable @code{next-error-highlight}. The first time @w{@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 @w{@kbd{C-x `}} commands advance from there. When @w{@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. @w{@kbd{C-u C-x `}} starts scanning from the beginning of the compilation buffer, and goes to the first error's location. @vindex compilation-skip-threshold By default, @w{@kbd{C-x `}} skips less important messages. The variable @code{compilation-skip-threshold} controls this. If its value is 2, @w{@kbd{C-x `}} skips anything less than error, 1 skips anything less than warning, and 0 doesn't skip any messages. The default is 1. When the window has a left fringe, an arrow in the fringe points to the current message in the compilation buffer. The variable @code{compilation-context-lines} controls the number of lines of leading context to display before the current message. Going to an error message location scrolls the @samp{*compilation*} buffer to put the message that far down from the top. The value @code{nil} is special: if there's a left fringe, the window doesn't scroll at all if the message is already visible. If there is no left fringe, @code{nil} means display the message at the top of the window. If you're not in the compilation buffer when you run @code{next-error}, Emacs will look for a buffer that contains error messages. First, it looks for one displayed in the selected frame, then for one that previously had @code{next-error} called on it, and then at the current buffer. Finally, Emacs looks at all the remaining buffers. @code{next-error} signals an error if it can't find any such buffer. @vindex compilation-error-regexp-alist @vindex grep-regexp-alist To parse messages from the compiler, Compilation mode uses the variable @code{compilation-error-regexp-alist} which lists various formats of error messages and tells Emacs how to extract the source file and the line number from the text of a message. If your compiler isn't supported, you can tailor Compilation mode to it by adding elements to that list. A similar variable @code{grep-regexp-alist} tells Emacs how to parse output of a @code{grep} command. @findex compilation-next-error @findex compilation-previous-error @findex compilation-next-file @findex compilation-previous-file Compilation mode also redefines the keys @key{SPC} and @key{DEL} to scroll by screenfuls, and @kbd{M-n} (@code{compilation-next-error}) and @kbd{M-p} (@code{compilation-previous-error}) to move to the next or previous error message. You can also use @kbd{M-@{} (@code{compilation-next-file} and @kbd{M-@}} (@code{compilation-previous-file}) to move up or down to an error message for a different source file. @cindex Next Error Follow mode @findex next-error-follow-minor-mode You can type @kbd{C-c C-f} to toggle Next Error Follow mode. In this minor mode, ordinary cursor motion in the compilation buffer automatically updates the source buffer. For instance, moving the cursor to the next error message causes the location of that error to be displayed immediately. 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. Here's how to do it in bash: @example if [ "$@{PS1+set@}" = set ] then PS1=@dots{} fi @end example @noindent And here's how to do it in csh: @example if ($?prompt) set prompt = @dots{} @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. @iftex @inforef{MS-DOS,,emacs-xtra}. @end iftex @ifnottex @xref{MS-DOS}. @end ifnottex @node Grep Searching @section Searching with Grep under Emacs Just as you can run a compiler from Emacs and then visit the lines with 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.'' The buffer of matches uses Grep mode, which is a variant of Compilation mode (@pxref{Compilation Mode}). @table @kbd @item M-x grep @item M-x lgrep Run @code{grep} asynchronously under Emacs, with matching lines listed in the buffer named @samp{*grep*}. @item M-x grep-find @itemx M-x find-grep @itemx M-x rgrep Run @code{grep} via @code{find}, with user-specified arguments, and collect output in the buffer named @samp{*grep*}. @item M-x kill-grep Kill the running @code{grep} subprocess. @end table @findex grep To run @code{grep}, 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. If you specify a prefix argument for @kbd{M-x grep}, it finds the tag (@pxref{Tags}) in the buffer around point, and puts that into the default @code{grep} command. Your command need not simply run @code{grep}; you can use any shell command that produces output in the same format. For instance, you can chain @code{grep} commands, like this: @example grep -nH -e foo *.el | grep bar | grep toto @end example The output from @code{grep} goes in the @samp{*grep*} buffer. You can find the corresponding lines in the original files using @w{@kbd{C-x `}}, @key{RET}, and so forth, just like compilation errors. Some grep programs accept a @samp{--color} option to output special markers around matches for the purpose of highlighting. You can make use of this feature by setting @code{grep-highlight-matches} to @code{t}. When displaying a match in the source buffer, the exact match will be highlighted, instead of the entire source line. @findex grep-find @findex find-grep The command @kbd{M-x grep-find} (also available as @kbd{M-x find-grep}) 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}. @findex lgrep @findex rgrep The commands @kbd{M-x lgrep} (local grep) and @kbd{M-x rgrep} (recursive grep) are more user-friendly versions of @code{grep} and @code{grep-find}, which prompt separately for the regular expression to match, the files to search, and the base directory for the search. Case sensitivity of the search is controlled by the current value of @code{case-fold-search}. These commands build the shell commands based on the variables @code{grep-template} (for @code{lgrep}) and @code{grep-find-template} (for @code{rgrep}). The files to search can use aliases defined in the variable @code{grep-files-aliases}. Subdirectories listed in the variable @code{grep-find-ignored-directories} such as those typically used by various version control systems, like CVS and arch, are automatically skipped by @code{rgrep}. @node Flymake @section Finding Syntax Errors On The Fly @cindex checking syntax Flymake mode is a minor mode that performs on-the-fly syntax checking for many programming and markup languages, including C, C++, Perl, HTML, and @TeX{}/La@TeX{}. It is somewhat analogous to Flyspell mode, which performs spell checking for ordinary human languages in a similar fashion (@pxref{Spelling}). As you edit a file, Flymake mode runs an appropriate syntax checking tool in the background, using a temporary copy of the buffer. It then parses the error and warning messages, and highlights the erroneous lines in the buffer. The syntax checking tool used depends on the language; for example, for C/C++ files this is usually the C compiler. Flymake can also use build tools such as @code{make} for checking complicated projects. To activate Flymake mode, type @kbd{M-x flymake-mode}. You can move to the errors spotted by Flymake mode with @kbd{M-x flymake-goto-next-error} and @kbd{M-x flymake-goto-prev-error}. To display any error messages associated with the current line, use @kbd{M-x flymake-display-err-menu-for-current-line}. For more details about using Flymake, see @ref{Top, Flymake, Flymake, flymake, The Flymake Manual}. @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 GUD can also run DBX, SDB or XDB. GUD can also serve as an interface to Perl's debugging mode, the Python debugger PDB, and to JDB, the Java Debugger. @xref{Debugging,, The Lisp Debugger, elisp, the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}, for information on debugging Emacs Lisp programs. @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. * GDB Graphical Interface:: An enhanced mode that uses GDB features to implement a graphical debugging environment through Emacs. @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. By default, this uses an IDE-like graphical interface; see @ref{GDB Graphical Interface}. Only GDB works with the graphical interface. @item M-x dbx @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET} @findex dbx Run DBX as a subprocess of Emacs. Since Emacs does not implement a graphical interface for DBX, communication with DBX works by typing commands in the GUD interaction buffer. The same is true for all the other supported debuggers. @item M-x xdb @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET} @findex xdb @vindex gud-xdb-directories Similar, but run XDB. 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. 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. @node Debugger Operation @subsection Debugger Operation @cindex fringes, and current execution line in GUD Generally 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. Input and output from the program you are debugging also use this buffer. We call this @dfn{text command mode}. The GDB Graphical Interface can use further buffers (@pxref{GDB Graphical Interface}). The debugger displays the source files of the program by visiting them in Emacs buffers. An arrow in the left fringe indicates the current execution line.@footnote{On a text-only terminal, the arrow appears as @samp{=>} and overlays the first two text columns.} Moving point in this buffer does not move the arrow. The arrow is not part of the file's text; it appears only on the screen. You can start editing these source files at any time in the buffers that display them. 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. @cindex tooltips with GUD @vindex tooltip-gud-modes @vindex gud-tooltip-mode @vindex gud-tooltip-echo-area The Tooltip facility (@pxref{Tooltips}) provides support for GUD@. You activate this feature by turning on the minor mode @code{gud-tooltip-mode}. Then you can display a variable's value in a tooltip simply by pointing at it with the mouse. This operates in the GUD buffer and in source buffers with major modes in the list @code{gud-tooltip-modes}. If the variable @code{gud-tooltip-echo-area} is non-@code{nil} then the variable's value is displayed in the echo area. When debugging a C program using the GDB Graphical Interface, you can also display macro definitions associated with an identifier when the program is not executing. GUD tooltips are disabled when you use GDB in text command mode (@pxref{GDB Graphical Interface}), because displaying an expression's value in GDB can sometimes expand a macro and result in a side effect that interferes with the program's operation. The GDB graphical interface supports GUD tooltips and assures they will not cause side effects. @node Commands of GUD @subsection Commands of GUD The GUD interaction buffer uses a variant of Shell mode, so the Emacs commands of Shell mode are available (@pxref{Shell Mode}). All the usual commands for your debugger are available, and you can use the Shell mode history commands to repeat them. If you wish, you can control your debugger process entirely through this buffer. 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. It also has its own tool bar from which you can invoke the more common commands by clicking on the appropriate icon. This is particularly useful for repetitive commands like @code{gud-next} and @code{gud-step}, and allows you to keep the GUD buffer hidden. The breakpoint commands are normally used in source file buffers, because that is the easiest 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. Some of these commands are not available to all the supported debuggers. @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}). @item C-c C-p @kindex C-c C-p @r{(GUD)} @itemx C-x C-a C-p @findex gud-print Evaluate the expression at point (@code{gud-print}). If Emacs does not print the exact expression that you want, mark it as a region first. @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 (@code{gud-tbreak}). If you use this command in the GUD interaction buffer, it applies to the line where the program last stopped. @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 GDB command @samp{up}. @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 GDB command @samp{down}. @item C-c C-u @kindex C-c C-u @r{(GUD)} @itemx C-x C-a C-u @findex gud-until Continue execution to the current line (@code{gud-until}). The program will run until it hits a breakpoint, terminates, gets a signal that the debugger is checking for, or reaches the line on which the cursor currently sits. @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 stops for some other reason (@code{gud-finish}). @end table If you are using GDB, these additional key bindings are available: @table @kbd @item C-x C-a C-j @kindex C-x C-a C-j @r{(GUD)} @findex gud-jump Only useful in a source buffer, @code{gud-jump} transfers the program's execution point to the current line. In other words, the next line that the program executes will be the one where you gave the command. If the new execution line is in a different function from the previously one, GDB prompts for confirmation since the results may be bizarre. See the GDB manual entry regarding @code{jump} for details. @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. @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{pdb-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 then use the command @var{function} 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. @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 In transient-mark-mode the text in the region, if it is active. Otherwise 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. @item %d The name of the directory of the current source file. @item %c Fully qualified class name derived from the expression surrounding point (jdb only). @end table @node GDB Graphical Interface @subsection GDB Graphical Interface By default, the command @code{gdb} starts GDB using a graphical interface, using Emacs windows for display program state information. In effect, this makes Emacs into an IDE (interactive development environment). With it, you do not need to use textual GDB commands; you can control the debugging session with the mouse. For example, you can click in the fringe of a source buffer to set a breakpoint there, or on a stack frame in the stack buffer to select that frame. This mode requires telling GDB that its ``screen size'' is unlimited, so it sets the height and width accordingly. For correct operation you must not change these values during the GDB session. @vindex gud-gdb-command-name You can also run GDB in text command mode, like the other debuggers in Emacs. To do this, replace the GDB @code{"--annotate=3"} option with @code{"--fullname"} either in the minibuffer for the current Emacs session, or the custom variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} for all future sessions. You need to use text command mode to debug multiple programs within one Emacs session. You can also use @kbd{M-x gud-gdb} to invoke GDB in text command mode if you have problems before execution has started. @menu * GDB-UI Layout:: Control the number of displayed buffers. * Source Buffers:: Use the mouse in the fringe/margin to control your program. * Breakpoints Buffer:: A breakpoint control panel. * Stack Buffer:: Select a frame from the call stack. * Other GDB-UI Buffers:: Input/output, locals, registers, assembler, threads and memory buffers. * Watch Expressions:: Monitor variable values in the speedbar. @end menu @node GDB-UI Layout @subsubsection GDB User Interface Layout @cindex GDB User Interface layout @vindex gdb-many-windows If the variable @code{gdb-many-windows} is @code{nil} (the default value) then @kbd{M-x gdb} normally displays only the GUD buffer. However, if the variable @code{gdb-show-main} is also non-@code{nil}, it starts with two windows: one displaying the GUD buffer, and the other showing the source for the @code{main} function of the program you are debugging. If @code{gdb-many-windows} is non-@code{nil}, then @kbd{M-x gdb} displays the following frame layout: @smallexample @group +--------------------------------+--------------------------------+ | GUD buffer (I/O of GDB) | Locals buffer | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------+ | Primary Source buffer | I/O buffer for debugged pgm | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------+ | Stack buffer | Breakpoints buffer | +--------------------------------+--------------------------------+ @end group @end smallexample However, if @code{gdb-use-separate-io-buffer} is @code{nil}, the I/O buffer does not appear and the primary source buffer occupies the full width of the frame. @findex gdb-restore-windows If you change the window layout, for example, while editing and re-compiling your program, then you can restore this standard window layout with the command @code{gdb-restore-windows}. @findex gdb-many-windows To switch between this standard layout and a simple layout containing just the GUD buffer and a source file, type @kbd{M-x gdb-many-windows}. You may also specify additional GDB-related buffers to display, either in the same frame or a different one. Select the buffers you want with the @samp{GUD->GDB-windows} and @samp{GUD->GDB-Frames} sub-menus. If the menu-bar is unavailable, type @code{M-x gdb-display-@var{buffertype}-buffer} or @code{M-x gdb-frame-@var{buffertype}-buffer} respectively, where @var{buffertype} is the relevant buffer type, such as @samp{breakpoints}. Most of these buffers are read-only, and typing @kbd{q} in them kills them. When you finish debugging, kill the GUD buffer with @kbd{C-x k}, which will also kill all the buffers associated with the session. However you need not do this if, after editing and re-compiling your source code within Emacs, you wish continue debugging. When you restart execution, GDB will automatically find your new executable. Keeping the GUD buffer has the advantage of keeping the shell history as well as GDB's breakpoints. You do need to check that the breakpoints in recently edited source files are still in the right places. @node Source Buffers @subsubsection Source Buffers @cindex GDB commands in Fringe @c @findex gdb-mouse-set-clear-breakpoint @c @findex gdb-mouse-toggle-breakpoint Many GDB commands can be entered using key bindings or the tool bar but sometimes it is quicker to use the fringe. These commands either manipulate breakpoints or control program execution. When there is no fringe, you can use the margin but this is only present when the source file already has a breakpoint. You can click @kbd{Mouse-1} in the fringe or display margin of a source buffer to set a breakpoint there and, on a graphical display, a red bullet will appear on that line. If a breakpoint already exists on that line, the same click will remove it. You can also enable or disable a breakpoint by clicking @kbd{C-Mouse-1} on the bullet. A solid arrow in the left fringe of a source buffer indicates the line of the innermost frame where the debugged program has stopped. A hollow arrow indicates the current execution line of higher level frames. If you drag the arrow in the fringe with @kbd{Mouse-1} (@code{gdb-mouse-until}), execution will continue to the line where you release the button, provided it is still in the same frame. Alternatively, you can click @kbd{Mouse-3} at some point in the fringe of this buffer and execution will advance to there. A similar command (@code{gdb-mouse-jump}) allows you to jump to a source line without executing the intermediate lines by clicking @kbd{C-Mouse-3}. This command allows you to go backwards which can be useful for running through code that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more detail. @table @kbd @item Mouse-1 Set or clear a breakpoint. @item C-Mouse-1 Enable or disable a breakpoint. @item Mouse-3 Continue execution to here. @item C-Mouse-3 Jump to here. @end table If the variable @code{gdb-find-source-frame} is non-@code{nil} and execution stops in a frame for which there is no source code e.g after an interrupt, then Emacs finds and displays the first frame further up stack for which there is source. If it is @code{nil} then the source buffer continues to display the last frame which maybe more useful, for example, when re-setting a breakpoint. @node Breakpoints Buffer @subsubsection Breakpoints Buffer The breakpoints buffer shows the existing breakpoints, watchpoints and catchpoints (@pxref{Breakpoints,,, gdb, The GNU debugger}). It has these special commands, which mostly apply to the @dfn{current breakpoint}, the breakpoint which point is on. @table @kbd @item @key{SPC} @kindex SPC @r{(GDB breakpoints buffer)} @findex gdb-toggle-breakpoint Enable/disable the current breakpoint (@code{gdb-toggle-breakpoint}). On a graphical display, this changes the color of a bullet in the margin of a source buffer at the relevant line. This is red when the breakpoint is enabled and grey when it is disabled. Text-only terminals correspondingly display a @samp{B} or @samp{b}. @item D @kindex D @r{(GDB breakpoints buffer)} @findex gdb-delete-breakpoint Delete the current breakpoint (@code{gdb-delete-breakpoint}). @item @key{RET} @kindex RET @r{(GDB breakpoints buffer)} @findex gdb-goto-breakpoint Visit the source line for the current breakpoint (@code{gdb-goto-breakpoint}). @item Mouse-2 @kindex Mouse-2 @r{(GDB breakpoints buffer)} Visit the source line for the breakpoint you click on. @end table @node Stack Buffer @subsubsection Stack Buffer The stack buffer displays a @dfn{call stack}, with one line for each of the nested subroutine calls (@dfn{stack frames}) now active in the program. @xref{Backtrace,, Backtraces, gdb, The GNU debugger}. @findex gdb-frames-select An arrow in the fringe points to the selected frame or, if the fringe is not present, the number of the selected frame is displayed in reverse contrast. To select a frame in GDB, move point in the stack buffer to that stack frame and type @key{RET} (@code{gdb-frames-select}), or click @kbd{Mouse-2} on a stack frame. If the locals buffer is visible, selecting a stack frame updates it to display the local variables of the new frame. @node Other GDB-UI Buffers @subsubsection Other Buffers @table @asis @item Input/Output Buffer @vindex gdb-use-separate-io-buffer If the variable @code{gdb-use-separate-io-buffer} is non-@code{nil}, the program being debugged takes its input and displays its output here. Otherwise it uses the GUD buffer for that. To toggle whether GUD mode uses this buffer, do @kbd{M-x gdb-use-separate-io-buffer}. This takes effect when you next restart the program you are debugging. The history and replay commands from Shell mode are available here, as are the commands to send signals to the debugged program. @xref{Shell Mode}. @item Locals Buffer The locals buffer displays the values of local variables of the current frame for simple data types (@pxref{Frame Info, Frame Info, Information on a frame, gdb, The GNU debugger}). Press @key{RET} or click @kbd{Mouse-2} on the value if you want to edit it. Arrays and structures display their type only. With GDB 6.4 or later, move point to their name and press @key{RET}, or alternatively click @kbd{Mouse-2} there, to examine their values. With earlier versions of GDB, use @kbd{Mouse-2} or @key{RET} on the type description (@samp{[struct/union]} or @samp{[array]}). @xref{Watch Expressions}. @item Registers Buffer @findex toggle-gdb-all-registers The registers buffer displays the values held by the registers (@pxref{Registers,,, gdb, The GNU debugger}). Press @key{RET} or click @kbd{Mouse-2} on a register if you want to edit its value. With GDB 6.4 or later, recently changed register values display with @code{font-lock-warning-face}. With earlier versions of GDB, you can press @key{SPC} to toggle the display of floating point registers (@code{toggle-gdb-all-registers}). @item Assembler Buffer The assembler buffer displays the current frame as machine code. An arrow points to the current instruction, and you can set and remove breakpoints as in a source buffer. Breakpoint icons also appear in the fringe or margin. @item Threads Buffer @findex gdb-threads-select The threads buffer displays a summary of all threads currently in your program (@pxref{Threads, Threads, Debugging programs with multiple threads, gdb, The GNU debugger}). Move point to any thread in the list and press @key{RET} to select it (@code{gdb-threads-select}) and display the associated source in the primary source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} on a thread to select it. If the locals buffer is visible, its contents update to display the variables that are local in the new thread. @item Memory Buffer The memory buffer lets you examine sections of program memory (@pxref{Memory, Memory, Examining memory, gdb, The GNU debugger}). Click @kbd{Mouse-1} on the appropriate part of the header line to change the starting address or number of data items that the buffer displays. Click @kbd{Mouse-3} on the header line to select the display format or unit size for these data items. @end table @node Watch Expressions @subsubsection Watch Expressions @cindex Watching expressions in GDB @findex gud-watch @kindex C-x C-a C-w @r{(GUD)} If you want to see how a variable changes each time your program stops, move point into the variable name and click on the watch icon in the tool bar (@code{gud-watch}) or type @kbd{C-x C-a C-w}. If you specify a prefix argument, you can enter the variable name in the minibuffer. Each watch expression is displayed in the speedbar. Complex data types, such as arrays, structures and unions are represented in a tree format. Leaves and simple data types show the name of the expression and its value and, when the speedbar frame is selected, display the type as a tooltip. Higher levels show the name, type and address value for pointers and just the name and type otherwise. Root expressions also display the frame address as a tooltip to help identify the frame in which they were defined. To expand or contract a complex data type, click @kbd{Mouse-2} or press @key{SPC} on the tag to the left of the expression. Emacs asks for confirmation before expanding the expression if its number of immediate children exceeds the value of the variable @code{gdb-max-children}. @kindex D @r{(GDB speedbar)} @findex gdb-var-delete To delete a complex watch expression, move point to the root expression in the speedbar and type @kbd{D} (@code{gdb-var-delete}). @kindex RET @r{(GDB speedbar)} @findex gdb-edit-value To edit a variable with a simple data type, or a simple element of a complex data type, move point there in the speedbar and type @key{RET} (@code{gdb-edit-value}). Or you can click @kbd{Mouse-2} on a value to edit it. Either way, this reads the new value using the minibuffer. @vindex gdb-show-changed-values If you set the variable @code{gdb-show-changed-values} to non-@code{nil} (the default value), Emacs uses @code{font-lock-warning-face} to highlight values that have recently changed and @code{shadow} face to make variables which have gone out of scope less noticeable. When a variable goes out of scope you can't edit its value. @vindex gdb-delete-out-of-scope If the variable @code{gdb-delete-out-of-scope} is non-@code{nil} (the default value), Emacs automatically deletes watch expressions which go out of scope. Sometimes, when re-entering the same function, it may be useful to set this value to nil so that you don't need to recreate the watch expression. @vindex gdb-use-colon-colon-notation If the variable @code{gdb-use-colon-colon-notation} is non-@code{nil}, Emacs uses the @samp{@var{function}::@var{variable}} format. This allows the user to display watch expressions which share the same variable name. The default value is @code{nil}. @vindex gdb-speedbar-auto-raise To automatically raise the speedbar every time the display of watch expressions updates, set @code{gdb-speedbar-auto-raise} to non-@code{nil}. This can be useful if you are debugging with a full screen Emacs frame. @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}). @cindex byte code Emacs Lisp code can be compiled into byte-code, which loads faster, takes up less space, 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 ends in @samp{.elc}. Thus, the compiled code for @file{foo.el} goes in @file{foo.elc}. @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}, 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 issues a warning, because it's likely that somebody made changes to the @file{.el} file and forgot to recompile it. Nonetheless, it loads @file{@var{lib}.elc}. This is because people often leave unfinished edits the source file, and don't recompile it until they think it is ready to use. 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 directories 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. @vindex load-dangerous-libraries @cindex Lisp files byte-compiled by XEmacs By default, Emacs refuses to load compiled Lisp files which were compiled with XEmacs, a modified versions of Emacs---they can cause Emacs to crash. Set the variable @code{load-dangerous-libraries} to @code{t} if you want to try loading them. @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-buffer Evaluate all the Lisp expressions in the buffer. @end table @ifinfo @c This uses ``colon'' instead of a literal `:' because Info cannot @c cope with a `:' in a menu @kindex M-@key{colon} @end ifinfo @ifnotinfo @kindex M-: @end ifnotinfo @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. @code{defcustom} expressions are treated similarly. This special feature is convenient for debugging Lisp programs. Typing @kbd{C-M-x} on a @code{defface} expression reinitializes the face according to the @code{defface} specification. @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. When the result of an evaluation is an integer, you can type @kbd{C-x C-e} a second time to display the value of the integer result in additional formats (octal, hexadecimal, and character). If @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. @kbd{C-M-x} with a numeric argument instruments the function definition for Edebug (@pxref{Instrumenting, Instrumenting for Edebug,, elisp, the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}). @findex eval-region @findex eval-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-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 ready to test. Later, as you find bugs and change individual functions, use @kbd{C-M-x} on each function that you change. This keeps the Lisp world in step with the source file. @vindex eval-expression-print-level @vindex eval-expression-print-length @vindex eval-expression-debug-on-error The two customizable variables @code{eval-expression-print-level} and @code{eval-expression-print-length} control the maximum depth and length of lists to print in the result of the evaluation commands before abbreviating them. @code{eval-expression-debug-on-error} controls whether evaluation errors invoke the debugger when these commands are used; its default is @code{t}. @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. For more information see that command's documentation. @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. You can switch to this mode with @kbd{M-x lisp-mode}, and it is used automatically for files whose names end in @file{.l}, @file{.lsp}, or @file{.lisp}. @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; see @pxref{Lisp Eval}): 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. @ignore arch-tag: 9c3c2f71-b332-4144-8500-3ff9945a50ed @end ignore