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annotate lispref/debugging.texi @ 13264:4e7bb697c847
(struct buffer): New slot redisplay_end_trigger.
Also extra1, extra2, extra3.
| author | Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org> |
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| date | Sat, 21 Oct 1995 23:14:59 +0000 |
| parents | a6eb5f12b0f3 |
| children | bf32c17c153b |
| rev | line source |
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| 6558 | 1 @c -*-texinfo-*- |
| 2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. | |
| 3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc. | |
| 4 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. | |
| 5 @setfilename ../info/debugging | |
| 7336 | 6 @node Debugging, Read and Print, Byte Compilation, Top |
| 6558 | 7 @chapter Debugging Lisp Programs |
| 8 | |
| 9 There are three ways to investigate a problem in an Emacs Lisp program, | |
| 10 depending on what you are doing with the program when the problem appears. | |
| 11 | |
| 12 @itemize @bullet | |
| 13 @item | |
| 14 If the problem occurs when you run the program, you can use a Lisp | |
| 15 debugger (either the default debugger or Edebug) to investigate what is | |
| 16 happening during execution. | |
| 17 | |
| 18 @item | |
| 19 If the problem is syntactic, so that Lisp cannot even read the program, | |
| 20 you can use the Emacs facilities for editing Lisp to localize it. | |
| 21 | |
| 22 @item | |
| 23 If the problem occurs when trying to compile the program with the byte | |
| 24 compiler, you need to know how to examine the compiler's input buffer. | |
| 25 @end itemize | |
| 26 | |
| 27 @menu | |
| 28 * Debugger:: How the Emacs Lisp debugger is implemented. | |
| 29 * Syntax Errors:: How to find syntax errors. | |
| 30 * Compilation Errors:: How to find errors that show up in byte compilation. | |
| 31 * Edebug:: A source-level Emacs Lisp debugger. | |
| 32 @end menu | |
| 33 | |
| 34 Another useful debugging tool is the dribble file. When a dribble | |
| 35 file is open, Emacs copies all keyboard input characters to that file. | |
| 36 Afterward, you can examine the file to find out what input was used. | |
| 37 @xref{Terminal Input}. | |
| 38 | |
| 39 For debugging problems in terminal descriptions, the | |
| 40 @code{open-termscript} function can be useful. @xref{Terminal Output}. | |
| 41 | |
| 42 @node Debugger | |
| 43 @section The Lisp Debugger | |
| 44 @cindex debugger | |
| 45 @cindex Lisp debugger | |
| 46 @cindex break | |
| 47 | |
| 48 The @dfn{Lisp debugger} provides the ability to suspend evaluation of | |
| 49 a form. While evaluation is suspended (a state that is commonly known | |
| 50 as a @dfn{break}), you may examine the run time stack, examine the | |
| 51 values of local or global variables, or change those values. Since a | |
| 52 break is a recursive edit, all the usual editing facilities of Emacs are | |
| 53 available; you can even run programs that will enter the debugger | |
| 54 recursively. @xref{Recursive Editing}. | |
| 55 | |
| 56 @menu | |
| 57 * Error Debugging:: Entering the debugger when an error happens. | |
| 58 * Infinite Loops:: Stopping and debugging a program that doesn't exit. | |
| 59 * Function Debugging:: Entering it when a certain function is called. | |
| 60 * Explicit Debug:: Entering it at a certain point in the program. | |
| 61 * Using Debugger:: What the debugger does; what you see while in it. | |
| 62 * Debugger Commands:: Commands used while in the debugger. | |
| 63 * Invoking the Debugger:: How to call the function @code{debug}. | |
| 64 * Internals of Debugger:: Subroutines of the debugger, and global variables. | |
| 65 @end menu | |
| 66 | |
| 67 @node Error Debugging | |
| 68 @subsection Entering the Debugger on an Error | |
| 69 @cindex error debugging | |
| 70 @cindex debugging errors | |
| 71 | |
| 72 The most important time to enter the debugger is when a Lisp error | |
| 73 happens. This allows you to investigate the immediate causes of the | |
| 74 error. | |
| 75 | |
| 76 However, entry to the debugger is not a normal consequence of an | |
| 77 error. Many commands frequently get Lisp errors when invoked in | |
| 78 inappropriate contexts (such as @kbd{C-f} at the end of the buffer) and | |
| 79 during ordinary editing it would be very unpleasant to enter the | |
| 80 debugger each time this happens. If you want errors to enter the | |
| 81 debugger, set the variable @code{debug-on-error} to non-@code{nil}. | |
| 82 | |
| 83 @defopt debug-on-error | |
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84 This variable determines whether the debugger is called when an error is |
| 6558 | 85 signaled and not handled. If @code{debug-on-error} is @code{t}, all |
| 86 errors call the debugger. If it is @code{nil}, none call the debugger. | |
| 87 | |
| 88 The value can also be a list of error conditions that should call the | |
| 89 debugger. For example, if you set it to the list | |
| 90 @code{(void-variable)}, then only errors about a variable that has no | |
| 91 value invoke the debugger. | |
| 12067 | 92 |
| 93 When this variable is non-@code{nil}, Emacs does not catch errors that | |
| 94 happen in process filter functions and sentinels. Therefore, these | |
| 95 errors also can invoke the debugger. @xref{Processes}. | |
| 6558 | 96 @end defopt |
| 97 | |
| 98 To debug an error that happens during loading of the @file{.emacs} | |
| 99 file, use the option @samp{-debug-init}, which binds | |
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100 @code{debug-on-error} to @code{t} while @file{.emacs} is loaded and |
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101 inhibits use of @code{condition-case} to catch init file errors. |
| 6558 | 102 |
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103 If your @file{.emacs} file sets @code{debug-on-error}, the effect may |
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104 not last past the end of loading @file{.emacs}. (This is an undesirable |
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105 byproduct of the code that implements the @samp{-debug-init} command |
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106 line option.) The best way to make @file{.emacs} set |
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107 @code{debug-on-error} permanently is with @code{after-init-hook}, like |
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108 this: |
| 6558 | 109 |
| 110 @example | |
| 111 (add-hook 'after-init-hook | |
| 112 '(lambda () (setq debug-on-error t))) | |
| 113 @end example | |
| 114 | |
| 115 @node Infinite Loops | |
| 116 @subsection Debugging Infinite Loops | |
| 117 @cindex infinite loops | |
| 118 @cindex loops, infinite | |
| 119 @cindex quitting from infinite loop | |
| 120 @cindex stopping an infinite loop | |
| 121 | |
| 122 When a program loops infinitely and fails to return, your first | |
| 123 problem is to stop the loop. On most operating systems, you can do this | |
| 124 with @kbd{C-g}, which causes quit. | |
| 125 | |
| 126 Ordinary quitting gives no information about why the program was | |
| 127 looping. To get more information, you can set the variable | |
| 128 @code{debug-on-quit} to non-@code{nil}. Quitting with @kbd{C-g} is not | |
| 129 considered an error, and @code{debug-on-error} has no effect on the | |
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130 handling of @kbd{C-g}. Likewise, @code{debug-on-quit} has no effect on |
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131 errors. |
| 6558 | 132 |
| 133 Once you have the debugger running in the middle of the infinite loop, | |
| 134 you can proceed from the debugger using the stepping commands. If you | |
| 135 step through the entire loop, you will probably get enough information | |
| 136 to solve the problem. | |
| 137 | |
| 138 @defopt debug-on-quit | |
| 139 This variable determines whether the debugger is called when @code{quit} | |
| 140 is signaled and not handled. If @code{debug-on-quit} is non-@code{nil}, | |
| 141 then the debugger is called whenever you quit (that is, type @kbd{C-g}). | |
| 142 If @code{debug-on-quit} is @code{nil}, then the debugger is not called | |
| 143 when you quit. @xref{Quitting}. | |
| 144 @end defopt | |
| 145 | |
| 146 @node Function Debugging | |
| 147 @subsection Entering the Debugger on a Function Call | |
| 148 @cindex function call debugging | |
| 149 @cindex debugging specific functions | |
| 150 | |
| 151 To investigate a problem that happens in the middle of a program, one | |
| 152 useful technique is to enter the debugger whenever a certain function is | |
| 153 called. You can do this to the function in which the problem occurs, | |
| 154 and then step through the function, or you can do this to a function | |
| 155 called shortly before the problem, step quickly over the call to that | |
| 156 function, and then step through its caller. | |
| 157 | |
| 158 @deffn Command debug-on-entry function-name | |
| 159 This function requests @var{function-name} to invoke the debugger each time | |
| 160 it is called. It works by inserting the form @code{(debug 'debug)} into | |
| 161 the function definition as the first form. | |
| 162 | |
| 163 Any function defined as Lisp code may be set to break on entry, | |
| 164 regardless of whether it is interpreted code or compiled code. If the | |
| 165 function is a command, it will enter the debugger when called from Lisp | |
| 166 and when called interactively (after the reading of the arguments). You | |
| 167 can't debug primitive functions (i.e., those written in C) this way. | |
| 168 | |
| 169 When @code{debug-on-entry} is called interactively, it prompts | |
| 170 for @var{function-name} in the minibuffer. | |
| 171 | |
| 172 If the function is already set up to invoke the debugger on entry, | |
| 173 @code{debug-on-entry} does nothing. | |
| 174 | |
| 12098 | 175 @strong{Note:} if you redefine a function after using |
| 176 @code{debug-on-entry} on it, the code to enter the debugger is lost. | |
| 6558 | 177 |
| 178 @code{debug-on-entry} returns @var{function-name}. | |
| 179 | |
| 180 @example | |
| 181 @group | |
| 182 (defun fact (n) | |
| 183 (if (zerop n) 1 | |
| 184 (* n (fact (1- n))))) | |
| 185 @result{} fact | |
| 186 @end group | |
| 187 @group | |
| 188 (debug-on-entry 'fact) | |
| 189 @result{} fact | |
| 190 @end group | |
| 191 @group | |
| 192 (fact 3) | |
| 193 @end group | |
| 194 | |
| 195 @group | |
| 196 ------ Buffer: *Backtrace* ------ | |
| 197 Entering: | |
| 198 * fact(3) | |
| 199 eval-region(4870 4878 t) | |
| 200 byte-code("...") | |
| 201 eval-last-sexp(nil) | |
| 202 (let ...) | |
| 203 eval-insert-last-sexp(nil) | |
| 204 * call-interactively(eval-insert-last-sexp) | |
| 205 ------ Buffer: *Backtrace* ------ | |
| 206 @end group | |
| 207 | |
| 208 @group | |
| 209 (symbol-function 'fact) | |
| 210 @result{} (lambda (n) | |
| 211 (debug (quote debug)) | |
| 212 (if (zerop n) 1 (* n (fact (1- n))))) | |
| 213 @end group | |
| 214 @end example | |
| 215 @end deffn | |
| 216 | |
| 217 @deffn Command cancel-debug-on-entry function-name | |
| 218 This function undoes the effect of @code{debug-on-entry} on | |
| 219 @var{function-name}. When called interactively, it prompts for | |
| 12098 | 220 @var{function-name} in the minibuffer. If @var{function-name} is |
| 221 @code{nil} or the empty string, it cancels debugging for all functions. | |
| 6558 | 222 |
| 223 If @code{cancel-debug-on-entry} is called more than once on the same | |
| 224 function, the second call does nothing. @code{cancel-debug-on-entry} | |
| 225 returns @var{function-name}. | |
| 226 @end deffn | |
| 227 | |
| 228 @node Explicit Debug | |
| 229 @subsection Explicit Entry to the Debugger | |
| 230 | |
| 231 You can cause the debugger to be called at a certain point in your | |
| 232 program by writing the expression @code{(debug)} at that point. To do | |
| 233 this, visit the source file, insert the text @samp{(debug)} at the | |
| 234 proper place, and type @kbd{C-M-x}. Be sure to undo this insertion | |
| 235 before you save the file! | |
| 236 | |
| 237 The place where you insert @samp{(debug)} must be a place where an | |
| 238 additional form can be evaluated and its value ignored. (If the value | |
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239 of @code{(debug)} isn't ignored, it will alter the execution of the |
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240 program!) The most common suitable places are inside a @code{progn} or |
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241 an implicit @code{progn} (@pxref{Sequencing}). |
| 6558 | 242 |
| 243 @node Using Debugger | |
| 244 @subsection Using the Debugger | |
| 245 | |
| 246 When the debugger is entered, it displays the previously selected | |
| 247 buffer in one window and a buffer named @samp{*Backtrace*} in another | |
| 248 window. The backtrace buffer contains one line for each level of Lisp | |
| 249 function execution currently going on. At the beginning of this buffer | |
| 250 is a message describing the reason that the debugger was invoked (such | |
| 251 as the error message and associated data, if it was invoked due to an | |
| 252 error). | |
| 253 | |
| 254 The backtrace buffer is read-only and uses a special major mode, | |
| 255 Debugger mode, in which letters are defined as debugger commands. The | |
| 256 usual Emacs editing commands are available; thus, you can switch windows | |
| 257 to examine the buffer that was being edited at the time of the error, | |
| 258 switch buffers, visit files, or do any other sort of editing. However, | |
| 259 the debugger is a recursive editing level (@pxref{Recursive Editing}) | |
| 260 and it is wise to go back to the backtrace buffer and exit the debugger | |
| 261 (with the @kbd{q} command) when you are finished with it. Exiting | |
| 262 the debugger gets out of the recursive edit and kills the backtrace | |
| 263 buffer. | |
| 264 | |
| 265 @cindex current stack frame | |
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266 The backtrace buffer shows you the functions that are executing and |
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267 their argument values. It also allows you to specify a stack frame by |
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268 moving point to the line describing that frame. (A stack frame is the |
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269 place where the Lisp interpreter records information about a particular |
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270 invocation of a function.) The frame whose line point is on is |
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271 considered the @dfn{current frame}. Some of the debugger commands |
| 6558 | 272 operate on the current frame. |
| 273 | |
| 274 The debugger itself must be run byte-compiled, since it makes | |
| 275 assumptions about how many stack frames are used for the debugger | |
| 276 itself. These assumptions are false if the debugger is running | |
| 277 interpreted. | |
| 278 | |
| 279 @need 3000 | |
| 280 | |
| 281 @node Debugger Commands | |
| 282 @subsection Debugger Commands | |
| 283 @cindex debugger command list | |
| 284 | |
| 285 Inside the debugger (in Debugger mode), these special commands are | |
| 286 available in addition to the usual cursor motion commands. (Keep in | |
| 287 mind that all the usual facilities of Emacs, such as switching windows | |
| 288 or buffers, are still available.) | |
| 289 | |
| 290 The most important use of debugger commands is for stepping through | |
| 291 code, so that you can see how control flows. The debugger can step | |
| 292 through the control structures of an interpreted function, but cannot do | |
| 293 so in a byte-compiled function. If you would like to step through a | |
| 294 byte-compiled function, replace it with an interpreted definition of the | |
| 295 same function. (To do this, visit the source file for the function and | |
| 296 type @kbd{C-M-x} on its definition.) | |
| 297 | |
| 298 Here is a list of Debugger mode commands: | |
| 299 | |
| 300 @table @kbd | |
| 301 @item c | |
| 302 Exit the debugger and continue execution. When continuing is possible, | |
| 303 it resumes execution of the program as if the debugger had never been | |
| 304 entered (aside from the effect of any variables or data structures you | |
| 305 may have changed while inside the debugger). | |
| 306 | |
| 307 Continuing is possible after entry to the debugger due to function entry | |
| 308 or exit, explicit invocation, or quitting. You cannot continue if the | |
| 309 debugger was entered because of an error. | |
| 310 | |
| 311 @item d | |
| 312 Continue execution, but enter the debugger the next time any Lisp | |
| 313 function is called. This allows you to step through the | |
| 314 subexpressions of an expression, seeing what values the subexpressions | |
| 315 compute, and what else they do. | |
| 316 | |
| 317 The stack frame made for the function call which enters the debugger in | |
| 318 this way will be flagged automatically so that the debugger will be | |
| 319 called again when the frame is exited. You can use the @kbd{u} command | |
| 320 to cancel this flag. | |
| 321 | |
| 322 @item b | |
| 323 Flag the current frame so that the debugger will be entered when the | |
| 324 frame is exited. Frames flagged in this way are marked with stars | |
| 325 in the backtrace buffer. | |
| 326 | |
| 327 @item u | |
| 328 Don't enter the debugger when the current frame is exited. This | |
| 329 cancels a @kbd{b} command on that frame. | |
| 330 | |
| 331 @item e | |
| 332 Read a Lisp expression in the minibuffer, evaluate it, and print the | |
| 12098 | 333 value in the echo area. The debugger alters certain important |
| 334 variables, and the current buffer, as part of its operation; @kbd{e} | |
| 335 temporarily restores their outside-the-debugger values so you can | |
| 336 examine them. This makes the debugger more transparent. By contrast, | |
| 337 @kbd{M-:} does nothing special in the debugger; it shows you the | |
| 338 variable values within the debugger. | |
| 6558 | 339 |
| 340 @item q | |
| 341 Terminate the program being debugged; return to top-level Emacs | |
| 342 command execution. | |
| 343 | |
| 344 If the debugger was entered due to a @kbd{C-g} but you really want | |
| 345 to quit, and not debug, use the @kbd{q} command. | |
| 346 | |
| 347 @item r | |
| 348 Return a value from the debugger. The value is computed by reading an | |
| 349 expression with the minibuffer and evaluating it. | |
| 350 | |
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351 The @kbd{r} command is useful when the debugger was invoked due to exit |
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352 from a Lisp call frame (as requested with @kbd{b}); then the value |
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353 specified in the @kbd{r} command is used as the value of that frame. It |
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354 is also useful if you call @code{debug} and use its return value. |
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355 Otherwise, @kbd{r} has the same effect as @kbd{c}, and the specified |
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356 return value does not matter. |
| 6558 | 357 |
| 358 You can't use @kbd{r} when the debugger was entered due to an error. | |
| 359 @end table | |
| 360 | |
| 361 @node Invoking the Debugger | |
| 362 @subsection Invoking the Debugger | |
| 363 | |
| 364 Here we describe fully the function used to invoke the debugger. | |
| 365 | |
| 366 @defun debug &rest debugger-args | |
| 367 This function enters the debugger. It switches buffers to a buffer | |
| 368 named @samp{*Backtrace*} (or @samp{*Backtrace*<2>} if it is the second | |
| 369 recursive entry to the debugger, etc.), and fills it with information | |
| 370 about the stack of Lisp function calls. It then enters a recursive | |
| 371 edit, showing the backtrace buffer in Debugger mode. | |
| 372 | |
| 373 The Debugger mode @kbd{c} and @kbd{r} commands exit the recursive edit; | |
| 374 then @code{debug} switches back to the previous buffer and returns to | |
| 375 whatever called @code{debug}. This is the only way the function | |
| 376 @code{debug} can return to its caller. | |
| 377 | |
| 378 If the first of the @var{debugger-args} passed to @code{debug} is | |
| 379 @code{nil} (or if it is not one of the special values in the table | |
| 12098 | 380 below), then @code{debug} displays the rest of its arguments at the |
| 6558 | 381 top of the @samp{*Backtrace*} buffer. This mechanism is used to display |
| 382 a message to the user. | |
| 383 | |
| 384 However, if the first argument passed to @code{debug} is one of the | |
| 385 following special values, then it has special significance. Normally, | |
| 386 these values are passed to @code{debug} only by the internals of Emacs | |
| 387 and the debugger, and not by programmers calling @code{debug}. | |
| 388 | |
| 389 The special values are: | |
| 390 | |
| 391 @table @code | |
| 392 @item lambda | |
| 393 @cindex @code{lambda} in debug | |
| 394 A first argument of @code{lambda} means @code{debug} was called because | |
| 395 of entry to a function when @code{debug-on-next-call} was | |
| 396 non-@code{nil}. The debugger displays @samp{Entering:} as a line of | |
| 397 text at the top of the buffer. | |
| 398 | |
| 399 @item debug | |
| 400 @code{debug} as first argument indicates a call to @code{debug} because | |
| 401 of entry to a function that was set to debug on entry. The debugger | |
| 402 displays @samp{Entering:}, just as in the @code{lambda} case. It also | |
| 403 marks the stack frame for that function so that it will invoke the | |
| 404 debugger when exited. | |
| 405 | |
| 406 @item t | |
| 407 When the first argument is @code{t}, this indicates a call to | |
| 408 @code{debug} due to evaluation of a list form when | |
| 409 @code{debug-on-next-call} is non-@code{nil}. The debugger displays the | |
| 410 following as the top line in the buffer: | |
| 411 | |
| 412 @smallexample | |
| 413 Beginning evaluation of function call form: | |
| 414 @end smallexample | |
| 415 | |
| 416 @item exit | |
| 417 When the first argument is @code{exit}, it indicates the exit of a | |
| 418 stack frame previously marked to invoke the debugger on exit. The | |
| 419 second argument given to @code{debug} in this case is the value being | |
| 420 returned from the frame. The debugger displays @samp{Return value:} on | |
| 421 the top line of the buffer, followed by the value being returned. | |
| 422 | |
| 423 @item error | |
| 424 @cindex @code{error} in debug | |
| 425 When the first argument is @code{error}, the debugger indicates that | |
| 426 it is being entered because an error or @code{quit} was signaled and not | |
| 427 handled, by displaying @samp{Signaling:} followed by the error signaled | |
| 428 and any arguments to @code{signal}. For example, | |
| 429 | |
| 430 @example | |
| 431 @group | |
| 432 (let ((debug-on-error t)) | |
| 433 (/ 1 0)) | |
| 434 @end group | |
| 435 | |
| 436 @group | |
| 437 ------ Buffer: *Backtrace* ------ | |
| 438 Signaling: (arith-error) | |
| 439 /(1 0) | |
| 440 ... | |
| 441 ------ Buffer: *Backtrace* ------ | |
| 442 @end group | |
| 443 @end example | |
| 444 | |
| 445 If an error was signaled, presumably the variable | |
| 446 @code{debug-on-error} is non-@code{nil}. If @code{quit} was signaled, | |
| 447 then presumably the variable @code{debug-on-quit} is non-@code{nil}. | |
| 448 | |
| 449 @item nil | |
| 450 Use @code{nil} as the first of the @var{debugger-args} when you want | |
| 451 to enter the debugger explicitly. The rest of the @var{debugger-args} | |
| 452 are printed on the top line of the buffer. You can use this feature to | |
| 453 display messages---for example, to remind yourself of the conditions | |
| 454 under which @code{debug} is called. | |
| 455 @end table | |
| 456 @end defun | |
| 457 | |
| 458 @node Internals of Debugger | |
| 459 @subsection Internals of the Debugger | |
| 460 | |
| 461 This section describes functions and variables used internally by the | |
| 462 debugger. | |
| 463 | |
| 464 @defvar debugger | |
| 465 The value of this variable is the function to call to invoke the | |
| 466 debugger. Its value must be a function of any number of arguments (or, | |
| 467 more typically, the name of a function). Presumably this function will | |
| 468 enter some kind of debugger. The default value of the variable is | |
| 469 @code{debug}. | |
| 470 | |
| 471 The first argument that Lisp hands to the function indicates why it | |
| 472 was called. The convention for arguments is detailed in the description | |
| 473 of @code{debug}. | |
| 474 @end defvar | |
| 475 | |
| 476 @deffn Command backtrace | |
| 477 @cindex run time stack | |
| 478 @cindex call stack | |
| 479 This function prints a trace of Lisp function calls currently active. | |
| 480 This is the function used by @code{debug} to fill up the | |
| 481 @samp{*Backtrace*} buffer. It is written in C, since it must have access | |
| 482 to the stack to determine which function calls are active. The return | |
| 483 value is always @code{nil}. | |
| 484 | |
| 485 In the following example, a Lisp expression calls @code{backtrace} | |
| 486 explicitly. This prints the backtrace to the stream | |
| 487 @code{standard-output}: in this case, to the buffer | |
| 488 @samp{backtrace-output}. Each line of the backtrace represents one | |
| 489 function call. The line shows the values of the function's arguments if | |
| 490 they are all known. If they are still being computed, the line says so. | |
| 491 The arguments of special forms are elided. | |
| 492 | |
| 493 @smallexample | |
| 494 @group | |
| 495 (with-output-to-temp-buffer "backtrace-output" | |
| 496 (let ((var 1)) | |
| 497 (save-excursion | |
| 498 (setq var (eval '(progn | |
| 499 (1+ var) | |
| 500 (list 'testing (backtrace)))))))) | |
| 501 | |
| 502 @result{} nil | |
| 503 @end group | |
| 504 | |
| 505 @group | |
| 506 ----------- Buffer: backtrace-output ------------ | |
| 507 backtrace() | |
| 508 (list ...computing arguments...) | |
| 509 (progn ...) | |
| 510 eval((progn (1+ var) (list (quote testing) (backtrace)))) | |
| 511 (setq ...) | |
| 512 (save-excursion ...) | |
| 513 (let ...) | |
| 514 (with-output-to-temp-buffer ...) | |
| 515 eval-region(1973 2142 #<buffer *scratch*>) | |
| 516 byte-code("... for eval-print-last-sexp ...") | |
| 517 eval-print-last-sexp(nil) | |
| 518 * call-interactively(eval-print-last-sexp) | |
| 519 ----------- Buffer: backtrace-output ------------ | |
| 520 @end group | |
| 521 @end smallexample | |
| 522 | |
| 523 The character @samp{*} indicates a frame whose debug-on-exit flag is | |
| 524 set. | |
| 525 @end deffn | |
| 526 | |
| 527 @ignore @c Not worth mentioning | |
| 528 @defopt stack-trace-on-error | |
| 529 @cindex stack trace | |
| 530 This variable controls whether Lisp automatically displays a | |
| 531 backtrace buffer after every error that is not handled. A quit signal | |
| 532 counts as an error for this variable. If it is non-@code{nil} then a | |
| 533 backtrace is shown in a pop-up buffer named @samp{*Backtrace*} on every | |
| 534 error. If it is @code{nil}, then a backtrace is not shown. | |
| 535 | |
| 536 When a backtrace is shown, that buffer is not selected. If either | |
| 537 @code{debug-on-quit} or @code{debug-on-error} is also non-@code{nil}, then | |
| 538 a backtrace is shown in one buffer, and the debugger is popped up in | |
| 539 another buffer with its own backtrace. | |
| 540 | |
| 541 We consider this feature to be obsolete and superseded by the debugger | |
| 542 itself. | |
| 543 @end defopt | |
| 544 @end ignore | |
| 545 | |
| 546 @defvar debug-on-next-call | |
| 547 @cindex @code{eval}, and debugging | |
| 548 @cindex @code{apply}, and debugging | |
| 549 @cindex @code{funcall}, and debugging | |
| 550 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, it says to call the debugger before | |
| 551 the next @code{eval}, @code{apply} or @code{funcall}. Entering the | |
| 552 debugger sets @code{debug-on-next-call} to @code{nil}. | |
| 553 | |
| 554 The @kbd{d} command in the debugger works by setting this variable. | |
| 555 @end defvar | |
| 556 | |
| 557 @defun backtrace-debug level flag | |
| 558 This function sets the debug-on-exit flag of the stack frame @var{level} | |
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559 levels down the stack, giving it the value @var{flag}. If @var{flag} is |
| 6558 | 560 non-@code{nil}, this will cause the debugger to be entered when that |
| 561 frame later exits. Even a nonlocal exit through that frame will enter | |
| 562 the debugger. | |
| 563 | |
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564 This function is used only by the debugger. |
| 6558 | 565 @end defun |
| 566 | |
| 567 @defvar command-debug-status | |
| 12098 | 568 This variable records the debugging status of the current interactive |
| 6558 | 569 command. Each time a command is called interactively, this variable is |
| 570 bound to @code{nil}. The debugger can set this variable to leave | |
| 571 information for future debugger invocations during the same command. | |
| 572 | |
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573 The advantage, for the debugger, of using this variable rather than |
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574 another global variable is that the data will never carry over to a |
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575 subsequent command invocation. |
| 6558 | 576 @end defvar |
| 577 | |
| 578 @defun backtrace-frame frame-number | |
| 579 The function @code{backtrace-frame} is intended for use in Lisp | |
| 580 debuggers. It returns information about what computation is happening | |
| 581 in the stack frame @var{frame-number} levels down. | |
| 582 | |
| 583 If that frame has not evaluated the arguments yet (or is a special | |
| 584 form), the value is @code{(nil @var{function} @var{arg-forms}@dots{})}. | |
| 585 | |
| 586 If that frame has evaluated its arguments and called its function | |
| 587 already, the value is @code{(t @var{function} | |
| 588 @var{arg-values}@dots{})}. | |
| 589 | |
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590 In the return value, @var{function} is whatever was supplied as the |
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591 @sc{car} of the evaluated list, or a @code{lambda} expression in the |
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592 case of a macro call. If the function has a @code{&rest} argument, that |
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593 is represented as the tail of the list @var{arg-values}. |
| 6558 | 594 |
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595 If @var{frame-number} is out of range, @code{backtrace-frame} returns |
| 6558 | 596 @code{nil}. |
| 597 @end defun | |
| 598 | |
| 599 @node Syntax Errors | |
| 600 @section Debugging Invalid Lisp Syntax | |
| 601 | |
| 602 The Lisp reader reports invalid syntax, but cannot say where the real | |
| 603 problem is. For example, the error ``End of file during parsing'' in | |
| 604 evaluating an expression indicates an excess of open parentheses (or | |
| 605 square brackets). The reader detects this imbalance at the end of the | |
| 606 file, but it cannot figure out where the close parenthesis should have | |
| 607 been. Likewise, ``Invalid read syntax: ")"'' indicates an excess close | |
| 608 parenthesis or missing open parenthesis, but does not say where the | |
| 609 missing parenthesis belongs. How, then, to find what to change? | |
| 610 | |
| 611 If the problem is not simply an imbalance of parentheses, a useful | |
| 612 technique is to try @kbd{C-M-e} at the beginning of each defun, and see | |
| 613 if it goes to the place where that defun appears to end. If it does | |
| 614 not, there is a problem in that defun. | |
| 615 | |
| 616 However, unmatched parentheses are the most common syntax errors in | |
| 617 Lisp, and we can give further advice for those cases. | |
| 618 | |
| 619 @menu | |
| 620 * Excess Open:: How to find a spurious open paren or missing close. | |
| 621 * Excess Close:: How to find a spurious close paren or missing open. | |
| 622 @end menu | |
| 623 | |
| 624 @node Excess Open | |
| 625 @subsection Excess Open Parentheses | |
| 626 | |
| 627 The first step is to find the defun that is unbalanced. If there is | |
| 628 an excess open parenthesis, the way to do this is to insert a | |
| 629 close parenthesis at the end of the file and type @kbd{C-M-b} | |
| 630 (@code{backward-sexp}). This will move you to the beginning of the | |
| 631 defun that is unbalanced. (Then type @kbd{C-@key{SPC} C-_ C-u | |
| 632 C-@key{SPC}} to set the mark there, undo the insertion of the | |
| 633 close parenthesis, and finally return to the mark.) | |
| 634 | |
| 635 The next step is to determine precisely what is wrong. There is no | |
| 636 way to be sure of this except to study the program, but often the | |
| 637 existing indentation is a clue to where the parentheses should have | |
| 638 been. The easiest way to use this clue is to reindent with @kbd{C-M-q} | |
| 639 and see what moves. | |
| 640 | |
| 641 Before you do this, make sure the defun has enough close parentheses. | |
| 642 Otherwise, @kbd{C-M-q} will get an error, or will reindent all the rest | |
| 643 of the file until the end. So move to the end of the defun and insert a | |
| 644 close parenthesis there. Don't use @kbd{C-M-e} to move there, since | |
| 645 that too will fail to work until the defun is balanced. | |
| 646 | |
| 647 Now you can go to the beginning of the defun and type @kbd{C-M-q}. | |
| 648 Usually all the lines from a certain point to the end of the function | |
| 649 will shift to the right. There is probably a missing close parenthesis, | |
| 650 or a superfluous open parenthesis, near that point. (However, don't | |
| 651 assume this is true; study the code to make sure.) Once you have found | |
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652 the discrepancy, undo the @kbd{C-M-q} with @kbd{C-_}, since the old |
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653 indentation is probably appropriate to the intended parentheses. |
| 6558 | 654 |
| 655 After you think you have fixed the problem, use @kbd{C-M-q} again. If | |
| 656 the old indentation actually fit the intended nesting of parentheses, | |
| 657 and you have put back those parentheses, @kbd{C-M-q} should not change | |
| 658 anything. | |
| 659 | |
| 660 @node Excess Close | |
| 661 @subsection Excess Close Parentheses | |
| 662 | |
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663 To deal with an excess close parenthesis, first insert an open |
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664 parenthesis at the beginning of the file, back up over it, and type |
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665 @kbd{C-M-f} to find the end of the unbalanced defun. (Then type |
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666 @kbd{C-@key{SPC} C-_ C-u C-@key{SPC}} to set the mark there, undo the |
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667 insertion of the open parenthesis, and finally return to the mark.) |
| 6558 | 668 |
| 669 Then find the actual matching close parenthesis by typing @kbd{C-M-f} | |
| 670 at the beginning of the defun. This will leave you somewhere short of | |
| 671 the place where the defun ought to end. It is possible that you will | |
| 672 find a spurious close parenthesis in that vicinity. | |
| 673 | |
| 674 If you don't see a problem at that point, the next thing to do is to | |
| 675 type @kbd{C-M-q} at the beginning of the defun. A range of lines will | |
| 676 probably shift left; if so, the missing open parenthesis or spurious | |
| 677 close parenthesis is probably near the first of those lines. (However, | |
| 678 don't assume this is true; study the code to make sure.) Once you have | |
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679 found the discrepancy, undo the @kbd{C-M-q} with @kbd{C-_}, since the |
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680 old indentation is probably appropriate to the intended parentheses. |
| 6558 | 681 |
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682 After you think you have fixed the problem, use @kbd{C-M-q} again. If |
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683 the old indentation actually fit the intended nesting of parentheses, |
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684 and you have put back those parentheses, @kbd{C-M-q} should not change |
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685 anything. |
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686 |
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687 @node Compilation Errors, Edebug, Syntax Errors, Debugging |
| 6558 | 688 @section Debugging Problems in Compilation |
| 689 | |
| 690 When an error happens during byte compilation, it is normally due to | |
| 691 invalid syntax in the program you are compiling. The compiler prints a | |
| 692 suitable error message in the @samp{*Compile-Log*} buffer, and then | |
| 693 stops. The message may state a function name in which the error was | |
| 694 found, or it may not. Either way, here is how to find out where in the | |
| 695 file the error occurred. | |
| 696 | |
| 697 What you should do is switch to the buffer @w{@samp{ *Compiler Input*}}. | |
| 698 (Note that the buffer name starts with a space, so it does not show | |
| 699 up in @kbd{M-x list-buffers}.) This buffer contains the program being | |
| 700 compiled, and point shows how far the byte compiler was able to read. | |
| 701 | |
| 702 If the error was due to invalid Lisp syntax, point shows exactly where | |
| 703 the invalid syntax was @emph{detected}. The cause of the error is not | |
| 704 necessarily near by! Use the techniques in the previous section to find | |
| 705 the error. | |
| 706 | |
| 707 If the error was detected while compiling a form that had been read | |
| 708 successfully, then point is located at the end of the form. In this | |
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709 case, this technique can't localize the error precisely, but can still |
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710 show you which function to check. |
| 6558 | 711 |
| 712 @include edebug.texi |
