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1546 lines
58 KiB
Plaintext
1546 lines
58 KiB
Plaintext
@comment -*-texinfo-*-
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@c This file is intended to be used as a section within the Emacs Lisp
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@c Reference Manual. It may also be used by an independent Edebug User
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@c Manual, edebug.tex, in which case the Edebug node below should be used
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@c with the following links to the Bugs section and to the top level:
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@c , Bugs and Todo List, Top, Top
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@node Edebug,, Compilation Errors, Debugging
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@section Edebug
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@cindex Edebug mode
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@cindex Edebug
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Edebug is a source-level debugger for Emacs Lisp programs with which
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you can:
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@itemize @bullet
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@item
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Step through evaluation, stopping before and after each expression.
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@item
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Set conditional or unconditional breakpoints.
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@item
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Stop when a specified condition is true (the global break event).
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@item
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Trace slow or fast, stopping briefly at each stop point, or
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at each breakpoint.
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@item
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Display expression results and evaluate expressions as if outside of
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Edebug.
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@item
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Automatically reevaluate a list of expressions and
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display their results each time Edebug updates the display.
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@item
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Output trace info on function enter and exit.
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@item
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Stop when an error occurs.
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@item
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Display a backtrace, omitting Edebug's own frames.
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@item
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Specify argument evaluation for macros and defining forms.
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@item
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Obtain rudimentary coverage testing and frequency counts.
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@end itemize
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The first three sections below should tell you enough about Edebug to
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enable you to use it.
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@menu
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* Using Edebug:: Introduction to use of Edebug.
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* Instrumenting:: You must instrument your code
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in order to debug it with Edebug.
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* Modes: Edebug Execution Modes. Execution modes, stopping more or less often.
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* Jumping:: Commands to jump to a specified place.
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* Misc: Edebug Misc. Miscellaneous commands.
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* Breakpoints:: Setting breakpoints to make the program stop.
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* Trapping Errors:: trapping errors with Edebug.
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* Views: Edebug Views. Views inside and outside of Edebug.
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* Eval: Edebug Eval. Evaluating expressions within Edebug.
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* Eval List:: Expressions whose values are displayed
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each time you enter Edebug.
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* Printing in Edebug:: Customization of printing.
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* Trace Buffer:: How to produce trace output in a buffer.
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* Coverage Testing:: How to test evaluation coverage.
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* The Outside Context:: Data that Edebug saves and restores.
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* Instrumenting Macro Calls:: Specifying how to handle macro calls.
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* Options: Edebug Options. Option variables for customizing Edebug.
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@end menu
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@node Using Edebug
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@subsection Using Edebug
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To debug a Lisp program with Edebug, you must first @dfn{instrument}
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the Lisp code that you want to debug. A simple way to do this is to
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first move point into the definition of a function or macro and then do
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@kbd{C-u C-M-x} (@code{eval-defun} with a prefix argument). See
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@ref{Instrumenting}, for alternative ways to instrument code.
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Once a function is instrumented, any call to the function activates
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Edebug. Activating Edebug may stop execution and let you step through
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the function, or it may update the display and continue execution while
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checking for debugging commands, depending on which Edebug execution
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mode you have selected. The default execution mode is step, which does
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stop execution. @xref{Edebug Execution Modes}.
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Within Edebug, you normally view an Emacs buffer showing the source of
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the Lisp code you are debugging. This is referred to as the @dfn{source
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code buffer}. This buffer is temporarily read-only.
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An arrow at the left margin indicates the line where the function is
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executing. Point initially shows where within the line the function is
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executing, but this ceases to be true if you move point yourself.
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If you instrument the definition of @code{fac} (shown below) and then
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execute @code{(fac 3)}, here is what you normally see. Point is at the
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open-parenthesis before @code{if}.
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@example
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(defun fac (n)
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=>@point{}(if (< 0 n)
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(* n (fac (1- n)))
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1))
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@end example
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@cindex stop points
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The places within a function where Edebug can stop execution are called
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@dfn{stop points}. These occur both before and after each subexpression
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that is a list, and also after each variable reference.
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Here we show with periods the stop points found in the function
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@code{fac}:
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@example
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(defun fac (n)
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.(if .(< 0 n.).
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.(* n. .(fac (1- n.).).).
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1).)
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@end example
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The special commands of Edebug are available in the source code buffer
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in addition to the commands of Emacs Lisp mode. For example, you can
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type the Edebug command @key{SPC} to execute until the next stop point.
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If you type @key{SPC} once after entry to @code{fac}, here is the
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display you will see:
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@example
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(defun fac (n)
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=>(if @point{}(< 0 n)
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(* n (fac (1- n)))
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1))
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@end example
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When Edebug stops execution after an expression, it displays the
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expression's value in the echo area.
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Other frequently used commands are @kbd{b} to set a breakpoint at a stop
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point, @kbd{g} to execute until a breakpoint is reached, and @kbd{q} to
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exit Edebug and return to the top-level command loop. Type @kbd{?} to
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display a list of all Edebug commands.
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@node Instrumenting
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@subsection Instrumenting for Edebug
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In order to use Edebug to debug Lisp code, you must first
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@dfn{instrument} the code. Instrumenting code inserts additional code
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into it, to invoke Edebug at the proper places.
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@kindex C-M-x
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@findex eval-defun (Edebug)
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Once you have loaded Edebug, the command @kbd{C-M-x}
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(@code{eval-defun}) is redefined so that when invoked with a prefix
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argument on a definition, it instruments the definition before
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evaluating it. (The source code itself is not modified.) If the
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variable @code{edebug-all-defs} is non-@code{nil}, that inverts the
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meaning of the prefix argument: then @kbd{C-M-x} instruments the
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definition @emph{unless} it has a prefix argument. The default value of
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@code{edebug-all-defs} is @code{nil}. The command @kbd{M-x
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edebug-all-defs} toggles the value of the variable
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@code{edebug-all-defs}.
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@findex edebug-all-forms
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@findex eval-region (Edebug)
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@findex eval-current-buffer (Edebug)
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If @code{edebug-all-defs} is non-@code{nil}, then the commands
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@code{eval-region}, @code{eval-current-buffer}, and @code{eval-buffer}
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also instrument any definitions they evaluate. Similarly,
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@code{edebug-all-forms} controls whether @code{eval-region} should
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instrument @emph{any} form, even non-defining forms. This doesn't apply
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to loading or evaluations in the minibuffer. The command @kbd{M-x
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edebug-all-forms} toggles this option.
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@findex edebug-eval-top-level-form
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Another command, @kbd{M-x edebug-eval-top-level-form}, is available to
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instrument any top-level form regardless of the value of
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@code{edebug-all-defs} or @code{edebug-all-forms}.
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When Edebug is about to instrument code for the first time in a session,
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it runs the hook @code{edebug-setup-hook}, then sets it to @code{nil}.
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You can use this to load up Edebug specifications associated with a
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package you are using, but only when you also use Edebug.
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While Edebug is active, the command @kbd{I}
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(@code{edebug-instrument-callee}) instruments the definition of the
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function or macro called by the list form after point, if is not already
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instrumented. This is possible only if Edebug knows where to find the
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source for that function; after loading Edebug, @code{eval-region}
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records the position of every definition it evaluates, even if not
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instrumenting it. See also the @kbd{i} command (@pxref{Jumping}), which
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steps into the call after instrumenting the function.
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@cindex special forms (Edebug)
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@cindex interactive commands (Edebug)
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@cindex anonymous lambda expressions (Edebug)
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@cindex Common Lisp (Edebug)
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@pindex cl.el (Edebug)
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@pindex cl-specs.el
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Edebug knows how to instrument all the standard special forms, an
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interactive form with an expression argument, anonymous lambda
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expressions, and other defining forms. Edebug cannot know what a
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user-defined macro will do with the arguments of a macro call, so you
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must tell it; @xref{Instrumenting Macro Calls}, for details.
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@findex eval-expression (Edebug)
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To remove instrumentation from a definition, simply reevaluate its
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definition in a way that does not instrument. There are two ways of
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evaluating forms that never instrument them: from a file with
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@code{load}, and from the minibuffer with @code{eval-expression}
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(@kbd{M-:}).
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If Edebug detects a syntax error while instrumenting, it leaves point
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at the erroneous code and signals an @code{invalid-read-syntax} error.
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@xref{Edebug Eval}, for other evaluation functions available
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inside of Edebug.
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@node Edebug Execution Modes
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@subsection Edebug Execution Modes
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@cindex Edebug execution modes
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Edebug supports several execution modes for running the program you are
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debugging. We call these alternatives @dfn{Edebug execution modes}; do
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not confuse them with major or minor modes. The current Edebug execution mode
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determines how far Edebug continues execution before stopping---whether
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it stops at each stop point, or continues to the next breakpoint, for
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example---and how much Edebug displays the progress of the evaluation
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before it stops.
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Normally, you specify the Edebug execution mode by typing a command to
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continue the program in a certain mode. Here is a table of these
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commands. All except for @kbd{S} resume execution of the program, at
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least for a certain distance.
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@table @kbd
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@item S
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Stop: don't execute any more of the program for now, just wait for more
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Edebug commands (@code{edebug-stop}).
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@item @key{SPC}
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Step: stop at the next stop point encountered (@code{edebug-step-mode}).
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@item n
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Next: stop at the next stop point encountered after an expression
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(@code{edebug-next-mode}). Also see @code{edebug-forward-sexp} in
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@ref{Edebug Misc}.
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@item t
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Trace: pause one second at each Edebug stop point (@code{edebug-trace-mode}).
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@item T
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Rapid trace: update the display at each stop point, but don't actually
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pause (@code{edebug-Trace-fast-mode}).
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@item g
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Go: run until the next breakpoint (@code{edebug-go-mode}). @xref{Breakpoints}.
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@item c
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Continue: pause one second at each breakpoint, and then continue
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(@code{edebug-continue-mode}).
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@item C
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Rapid continue: move point to each breakpoint, but don't pause
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(@code{edebug-Continue-fast-mode}).
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@item G
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Go non-stop: ignore breakpoints (@code{edebug-Go-nonstop-mode}). You
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can still stop the program by typing @kbd{S}, or any editing command.
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@end table
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In general, the execution modes earlier in the above list run the
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program more slowly or stop sooner than the modes later in the list.
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While executing or tracing, you can interrupt the execution by typing
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any Edebug command. Edebug stops the program at the next stop point and
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then executes the command you typed. For example, typing @kbd{t} during
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execution switches to trace mode at the next stop point. You can use
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@kbd{S} to stop execution without doing anything else.
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If your function happens to read input, a character you type intending
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to interrupt execution may be read by the function instead. You can
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avoid such unintended results by paying attention to when your program
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wants input.
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@cindex keyboard macros (Edebug)
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Keyboard macros containing the commands in this section do not
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completely work: exiting from Edebug, to resume the program, loses track
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of the keyboard macro. This is not easy to fix. Also, defining or
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executing a keyboard macro outside of Edebug does not affect commands
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inside Edebug. This is usually an advantage. But see the
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@code{edebug-continue-kbd-macro} option (@pxref{Edebug Options}).
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When you enter a new Edebug level, the initial execution mode comes from
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the value of the variable @code{edebug-initial-mode}. By default, this
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specifies step mode. Note that you may reenter the same Edebug level
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several times if, for example, an instrumented function is called
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several times from one command.
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@node Jumping
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@subsection Jumping
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The commands described in this section execute until they reach a
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specified location. All except @kbd{i} make a temporary breakpoint to
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establish the place to stop, then switch to go mode. Any other
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breakpoint reached before the intended stop point will also stop
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execution. @xref{Breakpoints}, for the details on breakpoints.
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These commands may fail to work as expected in case of nonlocal exit,
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because a nonlocal exit can bypass the temporary breakpoint where you
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expected the program to stop.
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@table @kbd
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@item h
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Proceed to the stop point near where point is (@code{edebug-goto-here}).
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@item f
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Run the program forward over one expression
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(@code{edebug-forward-sexp}).
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@item o
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Run the program until the end of the containing sexp.
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@item i
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Step into the function or macro called by the form after point.
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@end table
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The @kbd{h} command proceeds to the stop point near the current location
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if point, using a temporary breakpoint. See @ref{Breakpoints}, for more
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about breakpoints.
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The @kbd{f} command runs the program forward over one expression. More
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precisely, it sets a temporary breakpoint at the position that
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@kbd{C-M-f} would reach, then executes in go mode so that the program
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will stop at breakpoints.
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With a prefix argument @var{n}, the temporary breakpoint is placed
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@var{n} sexps beyond point. If the containing list ends before @var{n}
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more elements, then the place to stop is after the containing
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expression.
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Be careful that the position @kbd{C-M-f} finds is a place that the
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program will really get to; this may not be true in a
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@code{cond}, for example.
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The @kbd{f} command does @code{forward-sexp} starting at point, rather
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than at the stop point, for flexibility. If you want to execute one
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expression @emph{from the current stop point}, type @kbd{w} first, to
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move point there, and then type @kbd{f}.
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The @kbd{o} command continues ``out of'' an expression. It places a
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temporary breakpoint at the end of the sexp containing point. If the
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containing sexp is a function definition itself, @kbd{o} continues until
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just before the last sexp in the definition. If that is where you are
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now, it returns from the function and then stops. In other words, this
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command does not exit the currently executing function unless you are
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positioned after the last sexp.
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The @kbd{i} command steps into the function or macro called by the list
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form after point, and stops at its first stop point. Note that the form
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need not be the one about to be evaluated. But if the form is a
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function call about to be evaluated, remember to use this command before
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any of the arguments are evaluated, since otherwise it will be too late.
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The @kbd{i} command instruments the function or macro it's supposed to
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step into, if it isn't instrumented already. This is convenient, but keep
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in mind that the function or macro remains instrumented unless you explicitly
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arrange to deinstrument it.
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@node Edebug Misc
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@subsection Miscellaneous Edebug Commands
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Some miscellaneous Edebug commands are described here.
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@table @kbd
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@item ?
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Display the help message for Edebug (@code{edebug-help}).
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@item C-]
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Abort one level back to the previous command level
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(@code{abort-recursive-edit}).
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@item q
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Return to the top level editor command loop (@code{top-level}). This
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exits all recursive editing levels, including all levels of Edebug
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activity. However, instrumented code protected with
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@code{unwind-protect} or @code{condition-case} forms may resume
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debugging.
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@item Q
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Like @kbd{q} but don't stop even for protected code
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(@code{top-level-nonstop}).
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@item r
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Redisplay the most recently known expression result in the echo area
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(@code{edebug-previous-result}).
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@item d
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Display a backtrace, excluding Edebug's own functions for clarity
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(@code{edebug-backtrace}).
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You cannot use debugger commands in the backtrace buffer in Edebug as
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you would in the standard debugger.
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The backtrace buffer is killed automatically when you continue
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execution.
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@end table
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From the Edebug recursive edit, you may invoke commands that activate
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Edebug again recursively. Any time Edebug is active, you can quit to
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the top level with @kbd{q} or abort one recursive edit level with
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@kbd{C-]}. You can display a backtrace of all the
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pending evaluations with @kbd{d}.
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@node Breakpoints
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@subsection Breakpoints
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@cindex breakpoints
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Edebug's step mode stops execution at the next stop point reached.
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There are three other ways to stop Edebug execution once it has started:
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breakpoints, the global break condition, and source breakpoints.
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While using Edebug, you can specify @dfn{breakpoints} in the program you
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are testing: points where execution should stop. You can set a
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breakpoint at any stop point, as defined in @ref{Using Edebug}. For
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setting and unsetting breakpoints, the stop point that is affected is
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the first one at or after point in the source code buffer. Here are the
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Edebug commands for breakpoints:
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@table @kbd
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@item b
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Set a breakpoint at the stop point at or after point
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(@code{edebug-set-breakpoint}). If you use a prefix argument, the
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breakpoint is temporary (it turns off the first time it stops the
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program).
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@item u
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Unset the breakpoint (if any) at the stop point at or after
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point (@code{edebug-unset-breakpoint}).
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@item x @var{condition} @key{RET}
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Set a conditional breakpoint which stops the program only if
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@var{condition} evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value
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(@code{edebug-set-conditional-breakpoint}). With a prefix argument, the
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breakpoint is temporary.
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@item B
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Move point to the next breakpoint in the definition
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(@code{edebug-next-breakpoint}).
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@end table
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While in Edebug, you can set a breakpoint with @kbd{b} and unset one
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with @kbd{u}. First move point to the Edebug stop point of your choice,
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then type @kbd{b} or @kbd{u} to set or unset a breakpoint there.
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Unsetting a breakpoint where none has been set has no effect.
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Reevaluating or reinstrumenting a definition forgets all its breakpoints.
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A @dfn{conditional breakpoint} tests a condition each time the program
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gets there. Any errors that occur as a result of evaluating the
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condition are ignored, as if the result were @code{nil}. To set a
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conditional breakpoint, use @kbd{x}, and specify the condition
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expression in the minibuffer. Setting a conditional breakpoint at a
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stop point that has a previously established conditional breakpoint puts
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the previous condition expression in the minibuffer so you can edit it.
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You can make a conditional or unconditional breakpoint
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@dfn{temporary} by using a prefix arg with the command to set the
|
|
breakpoint. When a temporary breakpoint stops the program, it is
|
|
automatically unset.
|
|
|
|
Edebug always stops or pauses at a breakpoint except when the Edebug
|
|
mode is Go-nonstop. In that mode, it ignores breakpoints entirely.
|
|
|
|
To find out where your breakpoints are, use the @kbd{B} command, which
|
|
moves point to the next breakpoint following point, within the same
|
|
function, or to the first breakpoint if there are no following
|
|
breakpoints. This command does not continue execution---it just moves
|
|
point in the buffer.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Global Break Condition:: Breaking on an event.
|
|
* Source Breakpoints:: Embedding breakpoints in source code.
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Global Break Condition
|
|
@subsubsection Global Break Condition
|
|
|
|
@cindex stopping on events
|
|
@cindex global break condition
|
|
A @dfn{global break condition} stops execution when a specified
|
|
condition is satisfied, no matter where that may occur. Edebug
|
|
evaluates the global break condition at every stop point. If it
|
|
evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value, then execution stops or pauses
|
|
depending on the execution mode, as if a breakpoint had been hit. If
|
|
evaluating the condition gets an error, execution does not stop.
|
|
|
|
@findex edebug-set-global-break-condition
|
|
@vindex edebug-global-break-condition
|
|
You can set or edit the condition expression, stored in
|
|
@code{edebug-global-break-condition}, using the @kbd{X} command
|
|
(@code{edebug-set-global-break-condition}).
|
|
|
|
The global break condition is the simplest way to find where in your
|
|
code some event occurs, but it makes code run much more slowly. So you
|
|
should reset the condition to @code{nil} when not using it.
|
|
|
|
@node Source Breakpoints
|
|
@subsubsection Source Breakpoints
|
|
|
|
@findex edebug
|
|
@cindex source breakpoints
|
|
All breakpoints in a definition are forgotten each time you
|
|
reinstrument it. To make a breakpoint that won't be forgotten, you can
|
|
write a @dfn{source breakpoint}, which is simply a call to the function
|
|
@code{edebug} in your source code. You can, of course, make such a call
|
|
conditional. For example, in the @code{fac} function, insert the first
|
|
line as shown below to stop when the argument reaches zero:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
(defun fac (n)
|
|
(if (= n 0) (edebug))
|
|
(if (< 0 n)
|
|
(* n (fac (1- n)))
|
|
1))
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
When the @code{fac} definition is instrumented and the function is
|
|
called, the call to @code{edebug} acts as a breakpoint. Depending on
|
|
the execution mode, Edebug stops or pauses there.
|
|
|
|
If no instrumented code is being executed when @code{edebug} is called,
|
|
that function calls @code{debug}.
|
|
@c This may not be a good idea anymore.
|
|
|
|
@node Trapping Errors
|
|
@subsection Trapping Errors
|
|
|
|
Emacs normally displays an error message when an error is signaled and
|
|
not handled with @code{condition-case}. While Edebug is active, it
|
|
normally responds to all unhandled errors. You can customize this with
|
|
the options @code{edebug-on-error} and @code{edebug-on-quit}; see
|
|
@ref{Edebug Options}.
|
|
|
|
When Edebug responds to an error, it shows the last stop point
|
|
encountered before the error. This may be the location of a call to a
|
|
function which was not instrumented, within which the error actually
|
|
occurred. For an unbound variable error, the last known stop point
|
|
might be quite distant from the offending variable reference. In that
|
|
case you might want to display a full backtrace (@pxref{Edebug Misc}).
|
|
|
|
@c Edebug should be changed for the following: -- dan
|
|
If you change @code{debug-on-error} or @code{debug-on-quit} while
|
|
Edebug is active, these changes will be forgotten when Edebug becomes
|
|
inactive. Furthermore, during Edebug's recursive edit, these variables
|
|
are bound to the values they had outside of Edebug.
|
|
|
|
@node Edebug Views
|
|
@subsection Edebug Views
|
|
|
|
These Edebug commands let you view aspects of the buffer and window
|
|
status that obtained before entry to Edebug. The outside window
|
|
configuration is the collection of windows and contents that were in
|
|
effect outside of Edebug.
|
|
|
|
@table @kbd
|
|
@item v
|
|
Temporarily view the outside window configuration
|
|
(@code{edebug-view-outside}).
|
|
|
|
@item p
|
|
Temporarily display the outside current buffer with point at its outside
|
|
position (@code{edebug-bounce-point}). With a prefix argument @var{n},
|
|
pause for @var{n} seconds instead.
|
|
|
|
@item w
|
|
Move point back to the current stop point (@code{edebug-where}) in the
|
|
source code buffer. Also, if you use this command in a different window
|
|
displaying the same buffer, that window will be used instead to display
|
|
the current definition in the future.
|
|
|
|
@item W
|
|
@c Its function is not simply to forget the saved configuration -- dan
|
|
Toggle whether Edebug saves and restores the outside window
|
|
configuration (@code{edebug-toggle-save-windows}).
|
|
|
|
With a prefix argument, @code{W} only toggles saving and restoring of
|
|
the selected window. To specify a window that is not displaying the
|
|
source code buffer, you must use @kbd{C-x X W} from the global keymap.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
You can view the outside window configuration with @kbd{v} or just
|
|
bounce to the point in the current buffer with @kbd{p}, even if
|
|
it is not normally displayed. After moving point, you may wish to jump
|
|
back to the stop point with @kbd{w} from a source code buffer.
|
|
|
|
Each time you use @kbd{W} to turn saving @emph{off}, Edebug forgets the
|
|
saved outside window configuration---so that even if you turn saving
|
|
back @emph{on}, the current window configuration remains unchanged when
|
|
you next exit Edebug (by continuing the program). However, the
|
|
automatic redisplay of @samp{*edebug*} and @samp{*edebug-trace*} may
|
|
conflict with the buffers you wish to see unless you have enough windows
|
|
open.
|
|
|
|
@node Edebug Eval
|
|
@subsection Evaluation
|
|
|
|
While within Edebug, you can evaluate expressions ``as if'' Edebug were
|
|
not running. Edebug tries to be invisible to the expression's
|
|
evaluation and printing. Evaluation of expressions that cause side
|
|
effects will work as expected except for things that Edebug explicitly
|
|
saves and restores. @xref{The Outside Context}, for details on this
|
|
process.
|
|
|
|
@table @kbd
|
|
@item e @var{exp} @key{RET}
|
|
Evaluate expression @var{exp} in the context outside of Edebug
|
|
(@code{edebug-eval-expression}). That is, Edebug tries to minimize its
|
|
interference with the evaluation.
|
|
|
|
@item M-: @var{exp} @key{RET}
|
|
Evaluate expression @var{exp} in the context of Edebug itself.
|
|
|
|
@item C-x C-e
|
|
Evaluate the expression before point, in the context outside of Edebug
|
|
(@code{edebug-eval-last-sexp}).
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@cindex lexical binding (Edebug)
|
|
Edebug supports evaluation of expressions containing references to
|
|
lexically bound symbols created by the following constructs in
|
|
@file{cl.el} (version 2.03 or later): @code{lexical-let},
|
|
@code{macrolet}, and @code{symbol-macrolet}.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Eval List
|
|
@subsection Evaluation List Buffer
|
|
|
|
You can use the @dfn{evaluation list buffer}, called @samp{*edebug*}, to
|
|
evaluate expressions interactively. You can also set up the
|
|
@dfn{evaluation list} of expressions to be evaluated automatically each
|
|
time Edebug updates the display.
|
|
|
|
@table @kbd
|
|
@item E
|
|
Switch to the evaluation list buffer @samp{*edebug*}
|
|
(@code{edebug-visit-eval-list}).
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
In the @samp{*edebug*} buffer you can use the commands of Lisp
|
|
Interaction mode (@pxref{Lisp Interaction,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs
|
|
Manual}) as well as these special commands:
|
|
|
|
@table @kbd
|
|
@item LFD
|
|
Evaluate the expression before point, in the outside context, and insert
|
|
the value in the buffer (@code{edebug-eval-print-last-sexp}).
|
|
|
|
@item C-x C-e
|
|
Evaluate the expression before point, in the context outside of Edebug
|
|
(@code{edebug-eval-last-sexp}).
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-u
|
|
Build a new evaluation list from the contents of the buffer
|
|
(@code{edebug-update-eval-list}).
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-d
|
|
Delete the evaluation list group that point is in
|
|
(@code{edebug-delete-eval-item}).
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-w
|
|
Switch back to the source code buffer at the current stop point
|
|
(@code{edebug-where}).
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
You can evaluate expressions in the evaluation list window with
|
|
@kbd{LFD} or @kbd{C-x C-e}, just as you would in @samp{*scratch*};
|
|
but they are evaluated in the context outside of Edebug.
|
|
|
|
The expressions you enter interactively (and their results) are lost
|
|
when you continue execution; but you can set up an @dfn{evaluation list}
|
|
consisting of expressions to be evaluated each time execution stops.
|
|
|
|
@cindex evaluation list group
|
|
To do this, write one or more @dfn{evaluation list groups} in the
|
|
evaluation list buffer. An evaluation list group consists of one or
|
|
more Lisp expressions. Groups are separated by comment lines.
|
|
|
|
The command @kbd{C-c C-u} (@code{edebug-update-eval-list}) rebuilds the
|
|
evaluation list, scanning the buffer and using the first expression of
|
|
each group. (The idea is that the second expression of the group is the
|
|
value previously computed and displayed.)
|
|
|
|
Be careful not to add expressions that execute instrumented code since
|
|
that would cause an infinite loop.
|
|
@c There ought to be a way to fix this.
|
|
|
|
Each entry to Edebug redisplays the evaluation list by inserting each
|
|
expression in the buffer, followed by its current value. It also
|
|
inserts comment lines so that each expression becomes its own group.
|
|
Thus, if you type @kbd{C-c C-u} again without changing the buffer text,
|
|
the evaluation list is effectively unchanged.
|
|
|
|
If an error occurs during an evaluation from the evaluation list, the
|
|
error message is displayed in a string as if it were the result.
|
|
Therefore, expressions that use variables not currently valid do not
|
|
interrupt your debugging.
|
|
|
|
Here is an example of what the evaluation list window looks like after
|
|
several expressions have been added to it:
|
|
|
|
@smallexample
|
|
(current-buffer)
|
|
#<buffer *scratch*>
|
|
;---------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
(selected-window)
|
|
#<window 16 on *scratch*>
|
|
;---------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
(point)
|
|
196
|
|
;---------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
bad-var
|
|
"Symbol's value as variable is void: bad-var"
|
|
;---------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
(recursion-depth)
|
|
0
|
|
;---------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
this-command
|
|
eval-last-sexp
|
|
;---------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
@end smallexample
|
|
|
|
To delete a group, move point into it and type @kbd{C-c C-d}, or simply
|
|
delete the text for the group and update the evaluation list with
|
|
@kbd{C-c C-u}. To add a new expression to the evaluation list, insert
|
|
the expression at a suitable place, and insert a new comment line. (You
|
|
need not insert dashes in the comment line---its contents don't matter.)
|
|
Then type @kbd{C-c C-u}.
|
|
|
|
After selecting @samp{*edebug*}, you can return to the source code
|
|
buffer with @kbd{C-c C-w}. The @samp{*edebug*} buffer is killed when
|
|
you continue execution, and recreated next time it is needed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Printing in Edebug
|
|
@subsection Printing in Edebug
|
|
|
|
@cindex printing (Edebug)
|
|
@cindex printing circular structures
|
|
@pindex cust-print
|
|
If an expression in your program produces a value containing circular
|
|
list structure, you may get an error when Edebug attempts to print it.
|
|
|
|
@vindex edebug-print-length
|
|
@vindex edebug-print-level
|
|
One way to cope with circular structure is to set @code{print-length}
|
|
or @code{print-level} to truncate the printing. Edebug does this for
|
|
you; it binds @code{print-length} and @code{print-level} to 50 if they
|
|
were @code{nil}. (Actually, the variables @code{edebug-print-length}
|
|
and @code{edebug-print-level} specify the values to use within Edebug.)
|
|
@xref{Output Variables}.
|
|
|
|
You can also print circular structures and structures that share
|
|
elements more informatively by using the @file{cust-print} package.
|
|
|
|
To load @file{cust-print} and activate custom printing only for
|
|
Edebug, simply use the command @kbd{M-x edebug-install-custom-print}.
|
|
To restore the standard print functions, use @kbd{M-x
|
|
edebug-uninstall-custom-print}.
|
|
|
|
Here is an example of code that creates a circular structure:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
(setq a '(x y))
|
|
(setcar a a))
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
Custom printing prints this as @samp{Result: #1=(#1# y)}. The
|
|
@samp{#1=} notation labels the structure that follows it with the label
|
|
@samp{1}, and the @samp{#1#} notation references the previously labelled
|
|
structure. This notation is used for any shared elements of lists or
|
|
vectors.
|
|
|
|
Other programs can also use custom printing; see @file{cust-print.el}
|
|
for details.
|
|
|
|
@node Trace Buffer
|
|
@subsection Trace Buffer
|
|
@cindex trace buffer
|
|
|
|
Edebug can record an execution trace, storing it in a buffer named
|
|
@samp{*edebug-trace*}. This is a log of function calls and returns,
|
|
showing the function names and their arguments and values. To enable
|
|
trace recording, set @code{edebug-trace} to a non-@code{nil} value.
|
|
|
|
Making a trace buffer is not the same thing as using trace execution
|
|
mode (@pxref{Edebug Execution Modes}).
|
|
|
|
When trace recording is enabled, each function entry and exit adds
|
|
lines to the trace buffer. A function entry record looks like
|
|
@samp{::::@{} followed by the function name and argument values. A
|
|
function exit record looks like @samp{::::@}} followed by the function
|
|
name and result of the function.
|
|
|
|
The number of @samp{:}s in an entry shows its recursion depth. You
|
|
can use the braces in the trace buffer to find the matching beginning or
|
|
end of function calls.
|
|
|
|
@findex edebug-print-trace-before
|
|
@findex edebug-print-trace-after
|
|
You can customize trace recording for function entry and exit by
|
|
redefining the functions @code{edebug-print-trace-before} and
|
|
@code{edebug-print-trace-after}.
|
|
|
|
@defmac edebug-tracing string body@dots{}
|
|
This macro requests additional trace information around the execution
|
|
of the @var{body} forms. The argument @var{string} specifies text
|
|
to put in the trace buffer. All the arguments are evaluated.
|
|
@code{edebug-tracing} returns the value of the last form in @var{body}.
|
|
@end defmac
|
|
|
|
@defun edebug-trace format-string &rest format-args
|
|
This function inserts text in the trace buffer. It computes the text
|
|
with @code{(apply 'format @var{format-string} @var{format-args})}.
|
|
It also appends a newline to separate entries.
|
|
@end defun
|
|
|
|
@code{edebug-tracing} and @code{edebug-trace} insert lines in the trace
|
|
buffer even if Edebug is not active.
|
|
|
|
Adding text to the trace buffer also scrolls its window to show the
|
|
last lines inserted.
|
|
|
|
@node Coverage Testing
|
|
@subsection Coverage Testing
|
|
|
|
@cindex coverage testing
|
|
@cindex frequency counts
|
|
@cindex performance analysis
|
|
Edebug provides rudimentary coverage testing and display of execution
|
|
frequency. All execution of an instrumented function accumulates
|
|
frequency counts, both before and after evaluation of each instrumented
|
|
expression, even if the execution mode is Go-nonstop. Coverage testing
|
|
is more expensive, so it is only done if @code{edebug-test-coverage} is
|
|
non-@code{nil}. The command @kbd{M-x edebug-display-freq-count}
|
|
displays both the frequency data and the coverage data (if recorded).
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command edebug-display-freq-count
|
|
This command displays the frequency count data for each line of the
|
|
current definition.
|
|
|
|
The frequency counts appear as comment lines after each line of code, and
|
|
you can undo all insertions with one @code{undo} command. The counts
|
|
appear under the @kbd{(} before an expression or the @kbd{)} after
|
|
an expression, or on the last character of a symbol. Values do not appear if
|
|
they are equal to the previous count on the same line.
|
|
|
|
The character @samp{=} following the count for an expression says that
|
|
the expression has returned the same value each time it was evaluated
|
|
This is the only coverage information that Edebug records.
|
|
|
|
To clear the frequency count and coverage data for a definition,
|
|
reinstrument it.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
For example, after evaluating @code{(fac 5)} with a source
|
|
breakpoint, and setting @code{edebug-test-coverage} to @code{t}, when
|
|
the breakpoint is reached, the frequency data looks like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
(defun fac (n)
|
|
(if (= n 0) (edebug))
|
|
;#6 1 0 =5
|
|
(if (< 0 n)
|
|
;#5 =
|
|
(* n (fac (1- n)))
|
|
;# 5 0
|
|
1))
|
|
;# 0
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
The comment lines show that @code{fac} was called 6 times. The
|
|
first @code{if} statement returned 5 times with the same result each
|
|
time; the same is true of the condition on the second @code{if}.
|
|
The recursive call of @code{fac} did not return at all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node The Outside Context
|
|
@subsection The Outside Context
|
|
|
|
Edebug tries to be transparent to the program you are debugging, but it
|
|
does not succeed completely. Edebug also tries to be transparent when
|
|
you evaluate expressions with @kbd{e} or with the evaluation list
|
|
buffer, by temporarily restoring the outside context. This section
|
|
explains precisely what context Edebug restores, and how Edebug fails to
|
|
be completely transparent.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Checking Whether to Stop:: When Edebug decides what to do.
|
|
* Edebug Display Update:: When Edebug updates the display.
|
|
* Edebug Recursive Edit:: When Edebug stops execution.
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
@node Checking Whether to Stop
|
|
@subsubsection Checking Whether to Stop
|
|
|
|
Whenever Edebug is entered, it needs to save and restore certain data
|
|
before even deciding whether to make trace information or stop the
|
|
program.
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
@item
|
|
@code{max-lisp-eval-depth} and @code{max-specpdl-size} are both
|
|
incremented one time to reduce Edebug's impact on the stack.
|
|
You could, however, still run out of stack space when using Edebug.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The state of keyboard macro execution is saved and restored. While
|
|
Edebug is active, @code{executing-macro} is bound to
|
|
@code{edebug-continue-kbd-macro}.
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Edebug Display Update
|
|
@subsubsection Edebug Display Update
|
|
|
|
@c This paragraph is not filled, because LaLiberte's conversion script
|
|
@c needs an xref to be on just one line.
|
|
When Edebug needs to display something (e.g., in trace mode), it saves
|
|
the current window configuration from ``outside'' Edebug
|
|
(@pxref{Window Configurations}). When you exit Edebug (by continuing
|
|
the program), it restores the previous window configuration.
|
|
|
|
Emacs redisplays only when it pauses. Usually, when you continue
|
|
execution, the program comes back into Edebug at a breakpoint or after
|
|
stepping without pausing or reading input in between. In such cases,
|
|
Emacs never gets a chance to redisplay the ``outside'' configuration.
|
|
What you see is the same window configuration as the last time Edebug
|
|
was active, with no interruption.
|
|
|
|
Entry to Edebug for displaying something also saves and restores the
|
|
following data, but some of these are deliberately not restored if an
|
|
error or quit signal occurs.
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
@item
|
|
@cindex current buffer point and mark (Edebug)
|
|
Which buffer is current, and the positions of point and the mark in the
|
|
current buffer, are saved and restored.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
@cindex window configuration (Edebug)
|
|
The outside window configuration is saved and restored if
|
|
@code{edebug-save-windows} is non-@code{nil} (@pxref{Edebug Display Update}).
|
|
|
|
The window configuration is not restored on error or quit, but the
|
|
outside selected window @emph{is} reselected even on error or quit in
|
|
case a @code{save-excursion} is active. If the value of
|
|
@code{edebug-save-windows} is a list, only the listed windows are saved
|
|
and restored.
|
|
|
|
The window start and horizontal scrolling of the source code buffer are
|
|
not restored, however, so that the display remains coherent within Edebug.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The value of point in each displayed buffer is saved and restored if
|
|
@code{edebug-save-displayed-buffer-points} is non-@code{nil}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The variables @code{overlay-arrow-position} and
|
|
@code{overlay-arrow-string} are saved and restored. So you can safely
|
|
invoke Edebug from the recursive edit elsewhere in the same buffer.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
@code{cursor-in-echo-area} is locally bound to @code{nil} so that
|
|
the cursor shows up in the window.
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@node Edebug Recursive Edit
|
|
@subsubsection Edebug Recursive Edit
|
|
|
|
When Edebug is entered and actually reads commands from the user, it
|
|
saves (and later restores) these additional data:
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
@item
|
|
The current match data. @xref{Match Data}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
@code{last-command}, @code{this-command}, @code{last-command-char},
|
|
@code{last-input-char}, @code{last-input-event},
|
|
@code{last-command-event}, @code{last-event-frame},
|
|
@code{last-nonmenu-event}, and @code{track-mouse}. Commands used within
|
|
Edebug do not affect these variables outside of Edebug.
|
|
|
|
The key sequence returned by @code{this-command-keys} is changed by
|
|
executing commands within Edebug and there is no way to reset
|
|
the key sequence from Lisp.
|
|
|
|
Edebug cannot save and restore the value of
|
|
@code{unread-command-events}. Entering Edebug while this variable has a
|
|
nontrivial value can interfere with execution of the program you are
|
|
debugging.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Complex commands executed while in Edebug are added to the variable
|
|
@code{command-history}. In rare cases this can alter execution.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Within Edebug, the recursion depth appears one deeper than the recursion
|
|
depth outside Edebug. This is not true of the automatically updated
|
|
evaluation list window.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
@code{standard-output} and @code{standard-input} are bound to @code{nil}
|
|
by the @code{recursive-edit}, but Edebug temporarily restores them during
|
|
evaluations.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The state of keyboard macro definition is saved and restored. While
|
|
Edebug is active, @code{defining-kbd-macro} is bound to
|
|
@code{edebug-continue-kbd-macro}.
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@node Instrumenting Macro Calls
|
|
@subsection Instrumenting Macro Calls
|
|
|
|
When Edebug instruments an expression that calls a Lisp macro, it needs
|
|
additional advice to do the job properly. This is because there is no
|
|
way to tell which subexpressions of the macro call are forms to be
|
|
evaluated. (Evaluation may occur explicitly in the macro body, or when
|
|
the resulting expansion is evaluated, or any time later.) You must
|
|
explain the format of calls to each macro to enable Edebug to handle it.
|
|
To do this, use @code{def-edebug-spec} to define the format of
|
|
calls to a given macro.
|
|
|
|
@deffn Macro def-edebug-spec macro specification
|
|
Specify which expressions of a call to macro @var{macro} are forms to be
|
|
evaluated. For simple macros, the @var{specification} often looks very
|
|
similar to the formal argument list of the macro definition, but
|
|
specifications are much more general than macro arguments.
|
|
|
|
The @var{macro} argument may actually be any symbol, not just a macro
|
|
name.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
Here is a simple example that defines the specification for the
|
|
@code{for} macro described in the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual, followed
|
|
by an alternative, equivalent specification.
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
(def-edebug-spec for
|
|
(symbolp "from" form "to" form "do" &rest form))
|
|
|
|
(def-edebug-spec for
|
|
(symbolp ['from form] ['to form] ['do body]))
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Here is a table of the possibilities for @var{specification} and how each
|
|
directs processing of arguments.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @code{t}
|
|
All arguments are instrumented for evaluation.
|
|
|
|
@item @code{0}
|
|
None of the arguments is instrumented.
|
|
|
|
@item a symbol
|
|
The symbol must have an Edebug specification which is used instead.
|
|
This indirection is repeated until another kind of specification is
|
|
found. This allows you to inherit the specification for another macro.
|
|
|
|
@item a list
|
|
The elements of the list describe the types of the arguments of a
|
|
calling form. The possible elements of a specification list are
|
|
described in the following sections.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Specification List:: How to specify complex patterns of evaluation.
|
|
* Backtracking:: What Edebug does when matching fails.
|
|
* Specification Examples:: To help understand specifications.
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Specification List
|
|
@subsubsection Specification List
|
|
|
|
@cindex Edebug specification list
|
|
A @dfn{specification list} is required for an Edebug specification if
|
|
some arguments of a macro call are evaluated while others are not. Some
|
|
elements in a specification list match one or more arguments, but others
|
|
modify the processing of all following elements. The latter, called
|
|
@dfn{specification keywords}, are symbols beginning with @samp{&} (such
|
|
as @code{&optional}).
|
|
|
|
A specification list may contain sublists which match arguments that are
|
|
themselves lists, or it may contain vectors used for grouping. Sublists
|
|
and groups thus subdivide the specification list into a hierarchy of
|
|
levels. Specification keywords only apply to the remainder of the
|
|
sublist or group they are contained in.
|
|
|
|
When a specification list involves alternatives or repetition, matching
|
|
it against an actual macro call may require backtracking.
|
|
@xref{Backtracking}, for more details.
|
|
|
|
Edebug specifications provide the power of regular expression matching,
|
|
plus some context-free grammar constructs: the matching of sublists with
|
|
balanced parentheses, recursive processing of forms, and recursion via
|
|
indirect specifications.
|
|
|
|
Here's a table of the possible elements of a specification list, with
|
|
their meanings:
|
|
|
|
@table @code
|
|
@item sexp
|
|
A single Lisp object, not unevaluated.
|
|
@c "unevaluated expression" is not meaningful, because
|
|
@c an expression is a Lisp object intended for evaluation.
|
|
|
|
@item form
|
|
A single evaluated expression, which is instrumented.
|
|
|
|
@item place
|
|
@findex edebug-unwrap
|
|
A place to store a value, as in the Common Lisp @code{setf} construct.
|
|
|
|
@item body
|
|
Short for @code{&rest form}. See @code{&rest} below.
|
|
|
|
@item function-form
|
|
A function form: either a quoted function symbol, a quoted lambda
|
|
expression, or a form (that should evaluate to a function symbol or
|
|
lambda expression). This is useful when an argument that's a lambda
|
|
expression might be quoted with @code{quote} rather than
|
|
@code{function}, since it instruments the body of the lambda expression
|
|
either way.
|
|
|
|
@item lambda-expr
|
|
A lambda expression with no quoting.
|
|
|
|
@item &optional
|
|
@kindex &optional @r{(Edebug)}
|
|
All following elements in the specification list are optional; as soon
|
|
as one does not match, Edebug stops matching at this level.
|
|
|
|
To make just a few elements optional followed by non-optional elements,
|
|
use @code{[&optional @var{specs}@dots{}]}. To specify that several
|
|
elements must all match or none, use @code{&optional
|
|
[@var{specs}@dots{}]}. See the @code{defun} example below.
|
|
|
|
@item &rest
|
|
@kindex &rest @r{(Edebug)}
|
|
All following elements in the specification list are repeated zero or
|
|
more times. All the elements need not match in the last repetition,
|
|
however.
|
|
|
|
To repeat only a few elements, use @code{[&rest @var{specs}@dots{}]}.
|
|
To specify several elements that must all match on every repetition, use
|
|
@code{&rest [@var{specs}@dots{}]}.
|
|
|
|
@item &or
|
|
@kindex &or @r{(Edebug)}
|
|
Each of the following elements in the specification list is an
|
|
alternative. One of the alternatives must match, or the @code{&or}
|
|
specification fails.
|
|
|
|
Each list element following @code{&or} is a single alternative. To
|
|
group two or more list elements as a single alternative, enclose them in
|
|
@code{[@dots{}]}.
|
|
|
|
@item ¬
|
|
@kindex ¬ @r{(Edebug)}
|
|
Each of the following elements is matched as alternatives as if by using
|
|
@code{&or}, but if any of them match, the specification fails. If none
|
|
of them match, nothing is matched, but the @code{¬} specification
|
|
succeeds.
|
|
|
|
@item &define
|
|
@kindex &define @r{(Edebug)}
|
|
Indicates that the specification is for a defining form. The defining
|
|
form itself is not instrumented (i.e. Edebug does not stop before and
|
|
after the defining form), but forms inside it typically will be
|
|
instrumented. The @code{&define} keyword should be the first element in
|
|
a list specification.
|
|
|
|
@item nil
|
|
This is successful when there are no more arguments to match at the
|
|
current argument list level; otherwise it fails. See sublist
|
|
specifications and the backquote example below.
|
|
|
|
@item gate
|
|
@cindex preventing backtracking
|
|
No argument is matched but backtracking through the gate is disabled
|
|
while matching the remainder of the specifications at this level. This
|
|
is primarily used to generate more specific syntax error messages. See
|
|
@ref{Backtracking}, for more details. Also see the @code{let} example
|
|
below.
|
|
|
|
@item @var{other-symbol}
|
|
@cindex indirect specifications
|
|
Any other symbol in a specification list may be a predicate or an
|
|
indirect specification.
|
|
|
|
If the symbol has an Edebug specification, this @dfn{indirect
|
|
specification} should be either a list specification that is used in
|
|
place of the symbol, or a function that is called to process the
|
|
arguments. The specification may be defined with @code{def-edebug-spec}
|
|
just as for macros. See the @code{defun} example below.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise, the symbol should be a predicate. The predicate is called
|
|
with the argument and the specification fails if the predicate returns
|
|
@code{nil}. In either case, that argument is not instrumented.
|
|
|
|
Some suitable predicates include @code{symbolp}, @code{integerp},
|
|
@code{stringp}, @code{vectorp}, and @code{atom}.
|
|
|
|
@item [@var{elements}@dots{}]
|
|
@cindex [@dots{}] (Edebug)
|
|
A vector of elements groups the elements into a single @dfn{group
|
|
specification}. Its meaning has nothing to do with vectors.
|
|
|
|
@item "@var{string}"
|
|
The argument should be a symbol named @var{string}. This specification
|
|
is equivalent to the quoted symbol, @code{'@var{symbol}}, where the name
|
|
of @var{symbol} is the @var{string}, but the string form is preferred.
|
|
|
|
@item (vector @var{elements}@dots{})
|
|
The argument should be a vector whose elements must match the
|
|
@var{elements} in the specification. See the backquote example below.
|
|
|
|
@item (@var{elements}@dots{})
|
|
Any other list is a @dfn{sublist specification} and the argument must be
|
|
a list whose elements match the specification @var{elements}.
|
|
|
|
@cindex dotted lists (Edebug)
|
|
A sublist specification may be a dotted list and the corresponding list
|
|
argument may then be a dotted list. Alternatively, the last @sc{cdr} of a
|
|
dotted list specification may be another sublist specification (via a
|
|
grouping or an indirect specification, e.g. @code{(spec . [(more
|
|
specs@dots{})])}) whose elements match the non-dotted list arguments.
|
|
This is useful in recursive specifications such as in the backquote
|
|
example below. Also see the description of a @code{nil} specification
|
|
above for terminating such recursion.
|
|
|
|
Note that a sublist specification written as @code{(specs . nil)}
|
|
is equivalent to @code{(specs)}, and @code{(specs .
|
|
(sublist-elements@dots{}))} is equivalent to @code{(specs
|
|
sublist-elements@dots{})}.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@c Need to document extensions with &symbol and :symbol
|
|
|
|
Here is a list of additional specifications that may only appear after
|
|
@code{&define}. See the @code{defun} example below.
|
|
|
|
@table @code
|
|
@item name
|
|
The argument, a symbol, is the name of the defining form.
|
|
|
|
A defining form is not required to have a name field; and it may have
|
|
multiple name fields.
|
|
|
|
@item :name
|
|
This construct does not actually match an argument. The element
|
|
following @code{:name} should be a symbol; it is used as an additional
|
|
name component for the definition. You can use this to add a unique,
|
|
static component to the name of the definition. It may be used more
|
|
than once.
|
|
|
|
@item arg
|
|
The argument, a symbol, is the name of an argument of the defining form.
|
|
However, lambda list keywords (symbols starting with @samp{@code{&}})
|
|
are not allowed.
|
|
|
|
@item lambda-list
|
|
@cindex lambda-list (Edebug)
|
|
This matches a lambda list---the argument list of a lambda expression.
|
|
|
|
@item def-body
|
|
The argument is the body of code in a definition. This is like
|
|
@code{body}, described above, but a definition body must be instrumented
|
|
with a different Edebug call that looks up information associated with
|
|
the definition. Use @code{def-body} for the highest level list of forms
|
|
within the definition.
|
|
|
|
@item def-form
|
|
The argument is a single, highest-level form in a definition. This is
|
|
like @code{def-body}, except use this to match a single form rather than
|
|
a list of forms. As a special case, @code{def-form} also means that
|
|
tracing information is not output when the form is executed. See the
|
|
@code{interactive} example below.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@node Backtracking
|
|
@subsubsection Backtracking
|
|
|
|
@cindex backtracking
|
|
@cindex syntax error (Edebug)
|
|
If a specification fails to match at some point, this does not
|
|
necessarily mean a syntax error will be signaled; instead,
|
|
@dfn{backtracking} will take place until all alternatives have been
|
|
exhausted. Eventually every element of the argument list must be
|
|
matched by some element in the specification, and every required element
|
|
in the specification must match some argument.
|
|
|
|
Backtracking is disabled for the remainder of a sublist or group when
|
|
certain conditions occur, described below. Backtracking is reenabled
|
|
when a new alternative is established by @code{&optional}, @code{&rest},
|
|
or @code{&or}. It is also reenabled initially when processing a
|
|
sublist or group specification or an indirect specification.
|
|
|
|
You might want to disable backtracking to commit to some alternative so
|
|
that Edebug can provide a more specific syntax error message. Normally,
|
|
if no alternative matches, Edebug reports that none matched, but if one
|
|
alternative is committed to, Edebug can report how it failed to match.
|
|
|
|
First, backtracking is disabled while matching any of the form
|
|
specifications (i.e. @code{form}, @code{body}, @code{def-form}, and
|
|
@code{def-body}). These specifications will match any form so any error
|
|
must be in the form itself rather than at a higher level.
|
|
|
|
Second, backtracking is disabled after successfully matching a quoted
|
|
symbol or string specification, since this usually indicates a
|
|
recognized construct. If you have a set of alternative constructs that
|
|
all begin with the same symbol, you can usually work around this
|
|
constraint by factoring the symbol out of the alternatives, e.g.,
|
|
@code{["foo" &or [first case] [second case] ...]}.
|
|
|
|
Third, backtracking may be explicitly disabled by using the
|
|
@code{gate} specification. This is useful when you know that
|
|
no higher alternatives may apply.
|
|
|
|
@node Specification Examples
|
|
@subsubsection Specification Examples
|
|
|
|
It may be easier to understand Edebug specifications by studying
|
|
the examples provided here.
|
|
|
|
A @code{let} special form has a sequence of bindings and a body. Each
|
|
of the bindings is either a symbol or a sublist with a symbol and
|
|
optional value. In the specification below, notice the @code{gate}
|
|
inside of the sublist to prevent backtracking once a sublist is found.
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
(def-edebug-spec let
|
|
((&rest
|
|
&or symbolp (gate symbolp &optional form))
|
|
body))
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Edebug uses the following specifications for @code{defun} and
|
|
@code{defmacro} and the associated argument list and @code{interactive}
|
|
specifications. It is necessary to handle interactive forms specially
|
|
since an expression argument it is actually evaluated outside of the
|
|
function body.
|
|
|
|
@smallexample
|
|
(def-edebug-spec defmacro defun) ; @r{Indirect ref to @code{defun} spec.}
|
|
(def-edebug-spec defun
|
|
(&define name lambda-list
|
|
[&optional stringp] ; @r{Match the doc string, if present.}
|
|
[&optional ("interactive" interactive)]
|
|
def-body))
|
|
|
|
(def-edebug-spec lambda-list
|
|
(([&rest arg]
|
|
[&optional ["&optional" arg &rest arg]]
|
|
&optional ["&rest" arg]
|
|
)))
|
|
|
|
(def-edebug-spec interactive
|
|
(&optional &or stringp def-form)) ; @r{Notice: @code{def-form}}
|
|
@end smallexample
|
|
|
|
The specification for backquote below illustrates how to match
|
|
dotted lists and use @code{nil} to terminate recursion. It also
|
|
illustrates how components of a vector may be matched. (The actual
|
|
specification defined by Edebug does not support dotted lists because
|
|
doing so causes very deep recursion that could fail.)
|
|
|
|
@smallexample
|
|
(def-edebug-spec ` (backquote-form)) ; @r{Alias just for clarity.}
|
|
|
|
(def-edebug-spec backquote-form
|
|
(&or ([&or "," ",@@"] &or ("quote" backquote-form) form)
|
|
(backquote-form . [&or nil backquote-form])
|
|
(vector &rest backquote-form)
|
|
sexp))
|
|
@end smallexample
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Edebug Options
|
|
@subsection Edebug Options
|
|
|
|
These options affect the behavior of Edebug:
|
|
|
|
@defopt edebug-setup-hook
|
|
Functions to call before Edebug is used. Each time it is set to a new
|
|
value, Edebug will call those functions once and then
|
|
@code{edebug-setup-hook} is reset to @code{nil}. You could use this to
|
|
load up Edebug specifications associated with a package you are using
|
|
but only when you also use Edebug.
|
|
@xref{Instrumenting}.
|
|
@end defopt
|
|
|
|
@defopt edebug-all-defs
|
|
If this is non-@code{nil}, normal evaluation of defining forms such as
|
|
@code{defun} and @code{defmacro} instruments them for Edebug. This
|
|
applies to @code{eval-defun}, @code{eval-region}, @code{eval-buffer},
|
|
and @code{eval-current-buffer}.
|
|
|
|
Use the command @kbd{M-x edebug-all-defs} to toggle the value of this
|
|
option. @xref{Instrumenting}.
|
|
@end defopt
|
|
|
|
@defopt edebug-all-forms
|
|
If this is non-@code{nil}, the commands @code{eval-defun},
|
|
@code{eval-region}, @code{eval-buffer}, and @code{eval-current-buffer}
|
|
instrument all forms, even those that don't define anything.
|
|
This doesn't apply to loading or evaluations in the minibuffer.
|
|
|
|
Use the command @kbd{M-x edebug-all-forms} to toggle the value of this
|
|
option. @xref{Instrumenting}.
|
|
@end defopt
|
|
|
|
@defopt edebug-save-windows
|
|
If this is non-@code{nil}, Edebug saves and restores the window
|
|
configuration. That takes some time, so if your program does not care
|
|
what happens to the window configurations, it is better to set this
|
|
variable to @code{nil}.
|
|
|
|
If the value is a list, only the listed windows are saved and
|
|
restored.
|
|
|
|
You can use the @kbd{W} command in Edebug to change this variable
|
|
interactively. @xref{Edebug Display Update}.
|
|
@end defopt
|
|
|
|
@defopt edebug-save-displayed-buffer-points
|
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If this is non-@code{nil}, Edebug saves and restores point in all
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displayed buffers.
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Saving and restoring point in other buffers is necessary if you are
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debugging code that changes the point of a buffer which is displayed in
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a non-selected window. If Edebug or the user then selects the window,
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point in that buffer will move to the window's value of point.
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Saving and restoring point in all buffers is expensive, since it
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requires selecting each window twice, so enable this only if you need
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it. @xref{Edebug Display Update}.
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@end defopt
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@defopt edebug-initial-mode
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If this variable is non-@code{nil}, it specifies the initial execution
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mode for Edebug when it is first activated. Possible values are
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@code{step}, @code{next}, @code{go}, @code{Go-nonstop}, @code{trace},
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@code{Trace-fast}, @code{continue}, and @code{Continue-fast}.
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The default value is @code{step}.
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@xref{Edebug Execution Modes}.
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@end defopt
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@defopt edebug-trace
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@findex edebug-print-trace-before
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@findex edebug-print-trace-after
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Non-@code{nil} means display a trace of function entry and exit.
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Tracing output is displayed in a buffer named @samp{*edebug-trace*}, one
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function entry or exit per line, indented by the recursion level.
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The default value is @code{nil}.
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Also see @code{edebug-tracing}, in @xref{Trace Buffer}.
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@end defopt
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@defopt edebug-test-coverage
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If non-@code{nil}, Edebug tests coverage of all expressions debugged.
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This is done by comparing the result of each expression
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with the previous result. Coverage is considered OK if two different
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results are found. So to sufficiently test the coverage of your code,
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try to execute it under conditions that evaluate all expressions more
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than once, and produce different results for each expression.
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Use @kbd{M-x edebug-display-freq-count} to display the frequency count
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and coverage information for a definition.
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@xref{Coverage Testing}.
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@end defopt
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@defopt edebug-continue-kbd-macro
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If non-@code{nil}, continue defining or executing any keyboard macro
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that is executing outside of Edebug. Use this with caution since it is not
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debugged.
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@xref{Edebug Execution Modes}.
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@end defopt
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@defopt edebug-print-length
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If non-@code{nil}, bind @code{print-length} to this while printing
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results in Edebug. The default value is @code{50}.
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@xref{Printing in Edebug}.
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@end defopt
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@defopt edebug-print-level
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If non-@code{nil}, bind @code{print-level} to this while printing
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results in Edebug. The default value is @code{50}.
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@end defopt
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@defopt edebug-print-circle
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If non-@code{nil}, bind @code{print-circle} to this while printing
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results in Edebug. The default value is @code{nil}.
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@end defopt
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@defopt edebug-on-error
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Edebug binds @code{debug-on-error} to this value, if
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@code{debug-on-error} was previously @code{nil}. @xref{Trapping
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|
Errors}.
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@end defopt
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@defopt edebug-on-quit
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Edebug binds @code{debug-on-quit} to this value, if
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@code{debug-on-quit} was previously @code{nil}. @xref{Trapping
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|
Errors}.
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@end defopt
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If you change the values of @code{edebug-on-error} or
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@code{edebug-on-quit} while Edebug is active, their values won't be used
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until the @emph{next} time Edebug is invoked via a new command.
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@c Not necessarily a deeper command level.
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@c A new command is not precisely true, but that is close enough -- dan
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@defopt edebug-global-break-condition
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If non-@code{nil}, an expression to test for at every stop point.
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If the result is non-nil, then break. Errors are ignored.
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@xref{Global Break Condition}.
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@end defopt
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