@comment -*-texinfo-*- @c This file is intended to be used as a section within the Emacs Lisp @c Reference Manual. It may also be used by an independent Edebug User @c Manual, edebug.tex, in which case the Edebug node below should be used @c with the following links to the Bugs section and to the top level: @c , Bugs and Todo List, Top, Top @node Edebug,, Compilation Errors, Debugging @section Edebug @cindex Edebug mode @cindex Edebug Edebug is a source-level debugger for Emacs Lisp programs with which you can: @itemize @bullet @item Step through evaluation, stopping before and after each expression. @item Set conditional or unconditional breakpoints. @item Stop when a specified condition is true (the global break event). @item Trace slow or fast, stopping briefly at each stop point, or at each breakpoint. @item Display expression results and evaluate expressions as if outside of Edebug. @item Automatically reevaluate a list of expressions and display their results each time Edebug updates the display. @item Output trace info on function enter and exit. @item Stop when an error occurs. @item Display a backtrace, omitting Edebug's own frames. @item Specify argument evaluation for macros and defining forms. @item Obtain rudimentary coverage testing and frequency counts. @end itemize The first three sections below should tell you enough about Edebug to enable you to use it. @menu * Using Edebug:: Introduction to use of Edebug. * Instrumenting:: You must instrument your code in order to debug it with Edebug. * Modes: Edebug Execution Modes. Execution modes, stopping more or less often. * Jumping:: Commands to jump to a specified place. * Misc: Edebug Misc. Miscellaneous commands. * Breakpoints:: Setting breakpoints to make the program stop. * Trapping Errors:: trapping errors with Edebug. * Views: Edebug Views. Views inside and outside of Edebug. * Eval: Edebug Eval. Evaluating expressions within Edebug. * Eval List:: Expressions whose values are displayed each time you enter Edebug. * Printing in Edebug:: Customization of printing. * Trace Buffer:: How to produce trace output in a buffer. * Coverage Testing:: How to test evaluation coverage. * The Outside Context:: Data that Edebug saves and restores. * Instrumenting Macro Calls:: Specifying how to handle macro calls. * Options: Edebug Options. Option variables for customizing Edebug. @end menu @node Using Edebug @subsection Using Edebug To debug a Lisp program with Edebug, you must first @dfn{instrument} the Lisp code that you want to debug. A simple way to do this is to first move point into the definition of a function or macro and then do @kbd{C-u C-M-x} (@code{eval-defun} with a prefix argument). See @ref{Instrumenting}, for alternative ways to instrument code. Once a function is instrumented, any call to the function activates Edebug. Activating Edebug may stop execution and let you step through the function, or it may update the display and continue execution while checking for debugging commands, depending on which Edebug execution mode you have selected. The default execution mode is step, which does stop execution. @xref{Edebug Execution Modes}. Within Edebug, you normally view an Emacs buffer showing the source of the Lisp code you are debugging. This is referred to as the @dfn{source code buffer}. This buffer is temporarily read-only. An arrow at the left margin indicates the line where the function is executing. Point initially shows where within the line the function is executing, but this ceases to be true if you move point yourself. If you instrument the definition of @code{fac} (shown below) and then execute @code{(fac 3)}, here is what you normally see. Point is at the open-parenthesis before @code{if}. @example (defun fac (n) =>@point{}(if (< 0 n) (* n (fac (1- n))) 1)) @end example @cindex stop points The places within a function where Edebug can stop execution are called @dfn{stop points}. These occur both before and after each subexpression that is a list, and also after each variable reference. Here we show with periods the stop points found in the function @code{fac}: @example (defun fac (n) .(if .(< 0 n.). .(* n. .(fac (1- n.).).). 1).) @end example The special commands of Edebug are available in the source code buffer in addition to the commands of Emacs Lisp mode. For example, you can type the Edebug command @key{SPC} to execute until the next stop point. If you type @key{SPC} once after entry to @code{fac}, here is the display you will see: @example (defun fac (n) =>(if @point{}(< 0 n) (* n (fac (1- n))) 1)) @end example When Edebug stops execution after an expression, it displays the expression's value in the echo area. Other frequently used commands are @kbd{b} to set a breakpoint at a stop point, @kbd{g} to execute until a breakpoint is reached, and @kbd{q} to exit Edebug and return to the top-level command loop. Type @kbd{?} to display a list of all Edebug commands. @node Instrumenting @subsection Instrumenting for Edebug In order to use Edebug to debug Lisp code, you must first @dfn{instrument} the code. Instrumenting code inserts additional code into it, to invoke Edebug at the proper places. @kindex C-M-x @findex eval-defun (Edebug) Once you have loaded Edebug, the command @kbd{C-M-x} (@code{eval-defun}) is redefined so that when invoked with a prefix argument on a definition, it instruments the definition before evaluating it. (The source code itself is not modified.) If the variable @code{edebug-all-defs} is non-@code{nil}, that inverts the meaning of the prefix argument: then @kbd{C-M-x} instruments the definition @emph{unless} it has a prefix argument. The default value of @code{edebug-all-defs} is @code{nil}. The command @kbd{M-x edebug-all-defs} toggles the value of the variable @code{edebug-all-defs}. @findex edebug-all-forms @findex eval-region (Edebug) @findex eval-current-buffer (Edebug) If @code{edebug-all-defs} is non-@code{nil}, then the commands @code{eval-region}, @code{eval-current-buffer}, and @code{eval-buffer} also instrument any definitions they evaluate. Similarly, @code{edebug-all-forms} controls whether @code{eval-region} should instrument @emph{any} form, even non-defining forms. This doesn't apply to loading or evaluations in the minibuffer. The command @kbd{M-x edebug-all-forms} toggles this option. @findex edebug-eval-top-level-form Another command, @kbd{M-x edebug-eval-top-level-form}, is available to instrument any top-level form regardless of the value of @code{edebug-all-defs} or @code{edebug-all-forms}. When Edebug is about to instrument code for the first time in a session, it runs the hook @code{edebug-setup-hook}, then sets it to @code{nil}. You can use this to load up Edebug specifications associated with a package you are using, but only when you also use Edebug. While Edebug is active, the command @kbd{I} (@code{edebug-instrument-callee}) instruments the definition of the function or macro called by the list form after point, if is not already instrumented. This is possible only if Edebug knows where to find the source for that function; after loading Edebug, @code{eval-region} records the position of every definition it evaluates, even if not instrumenting it. See also the @kbd{i} command (@pxref{Jumping}), which steps into the call after instrumenting the function. @cindex special forms (Edebug) @cindex interactive commands (Edebug) @cindex anonymous lambda expressions (Edebug) @cindex Common Lisp (Edebug) @pindex cl.el (Edebug) @pindex cl-specs.el Edebug knows how to instrument all the standard special forms, an interactive form with an expression argument, anonymous lambda expressions, and other defining forms. Edebug cannot know what a user-defined macro will do with the arguments of a macro call, so you must tell it; @xref{Instrumenting Macro Calls}, for details. @findex eval-expression (Edebug) To remove instrumentation from a definition, simply reevaluate its definition in a way that does not instrument. There are two ways of evaluating forms that never instrument them: from a file with @code{load}, and from the minibuffer with @code{eval-expression} (@kbd{M-:}). If Edebug detects a syntax error while instrumenting, it leaves point at the erroneous code and signals an @code{invalid-read-syntax} error. @xref{Edebug Eval}, for other evaluation functions available inside of Edebug. @node Edebug Execution Modes @subsection Edebug Execution Modes @cindex Edebug execution modes Edebug supports several execution modes for running the program you are debugging. We call these alternatives @dfn{Edebug execution modes}; do not confuse them with major or minor modes. The current Edebug execution mode determines how far Edebug continues execution before stopping---whether it stops at each stop point, or continues to the next breakpoint, for example---and how much Edebug displays the progress of the evaluation before it stops. Normally, you specify the Edebug execution mode by typing a command to continue the program in a certain mode. Here is a table of these commands. All except for @kbd{S} resume execution of the program, at least for a certain distance. @table @kbd @item S Stop: don't execute any more of the program for now, just wait for more Edebug commands (@code{edebug-stop}). @item @key{SPC} Step: stop at the next stop point encountered (@code{edebug-step-mode}). @item n Next: stop at the next stop point encountered after an expression (@code{edebug-next-mode}). Also see @code{edebug-forward-sexp} in @ref{Edebug Misc}. @item t Trace: pause one second at each Edebug stop point (@code{edebug-trace-mode}). @item T Rapid trace: update the display at each stop point, but don't actually pause (@code{edebug-Trace-fast-mode}). @item g Go: run until the next breakpoint (@code{edebug-go-mode}). @xref{Breakpoints}. @item c Continue: pause one second at each breakpoint, and then continue (@code{edebug-continue-mode}). @item C Rapid continue: move point to each breakpoint, but don't pause (@code{edebug-Continue-fast-mode}). @item G Go non-stop: ignore breakpoints (@code{edebug-Go-nonstop-mode}). You can still stop the program by typing @kbd{S}, or any editing command. @end table In general, the execution modes earlier in the above list run the program more slowly or stop sooner than the modes later in the list. While executing or tracing, you can interrupt the execution by typing any Edebug command. Edebug stops the program at the next stop point and then executes the command you typed. For example, typing @kbd{t} during execution switches to trace mode at the next stop point. You can use @kbd{S} to stop execution without doing anything else. If your function happens to read input, a character you type intending to interrupt execution may be read by the function instead. You can avoid such unintended results by paying attention to when your program wants input. @cindex keyboard macros (Edebug) Keyboard macros containing the commands in this section do not completely work: exiting from Edebug, to resume the program, loses track of the keyboard macro. This is not easy to fix. Also, defining or executing a keyboard macro outside of Edebug does not affect commands inside Edebug. This is usually an advantage. But see the @code{edebug-continue-kbd-macro} option (@pxref{Edebug Options}). When you enter a new Edebug level, the initial execution mode comes from the value of the variable @code{edebug-initial-mode}. By default, this specifies step mode. Note that you may reenter the same Edebug level several times if, for example, an instrumented function is called several times from one command. @node Jumping @subsection Jumping The commands described in this section execute until they reach a specified location. All except @kbd{i} make a temporary breakpoint to establish the place to stop, then switch to go mode. Any other breakpoint reached before the intended stop point will also stop execution. @xref{Breakpoints}, for the details on breakpoints. These commands may fail to work as expected in case of nonlocal exit, because a nonlocal exit can bypass the temporary breakpoint where you expected the program to stop. @table @kbd @item h Proceed to the stop point near where point is (@code{edebug-goto-here}). @item f Run the program forward over one expression (@code{edebug-forward-sexp}). @item o Run the program until the end of the containing sexp. @item i Step into the function or macro called by the form after point. @end table The @kbd{h} command proceeds to the stop point near the current location if point, using a temporary breakpoint. See @ref{Breakpoints}, for more about breakpoints. The @kbd{f} command runs the program forward over one expression. More precisely, it sets a temporary breakpoint at the position that @kbd{C-M-f} would reach, then executes in go mode so that the program will stop at breakpoints. With a prefix argument @var{n}, the temporary breakpoint is placed @var{n} sexps beyond point. If the containing list ends before @var{n} more elements, then the place to stop is after the containing expression. Be careful that the position @kbd{C-M-f} finds is a place that the program will really get to; this may not be true in a @code{cond}, for example. The @kbd{f} command does @code{forward-sexp} starting at point, rather than at the stop point, for flexibility. If you want to execute one expression @emph{from the current stop point}, type @kbd{w} first, to move point there, and then type @kbd{f}. The @kbd{o} command continues ``out of'' an expression. It places a temporary breakpoint at the end of the sexp containing point. If the containing sexp is a function definition itself, @kbd{o} continues until just before the last sexp in the definition. If that is where you are now, it returns from the function and then stops. In other words, this command does not exit the currently executing function unless you are positioned after the last sexp. The @kbd{i} command steps into the function or macro called by the list form after point, and stops at its first stop point. Note that the form need not be the one about to be evaluated. But if the form is a function call about to be evaluated, remember to use this command before any of the arguments are evaluated, since otherwise it will be too late. The @kbd{i} command instruments the function or macro it's supposed to step into, if it isn't instrumented already. This is convenient, but keep in mind that the function or macro remains instrumented unless you explicitly arrange to deinstrument it. @node Edebug Misc @subsection Miscellaneous Edebug Commands Some miscellaneous Edebug commands are described here. @table @kbd @item ? Display the help message for Edebug (@code{edebug-help}). @item C-] Abort one level back to the previous command level (@code{abort-recursive-edit}). @item q Return to the top level editor command loop (@code{top-level}). This exits all recursive editing levels, including all levels of Edebug activity. However, instrumented code protected with @code{unwind-protect} or @code{condition-case} forms may resume debugging. @item Q Like @kbd{q} but don't stop even for protected code (@code{top-level-nonstop}). @item r Redisplay the most recently known expression result in the echo area (@code{edebug-previous-result}). @item d Display a backtrace, excluding Edebug's own functions for clarity (@code{edebug-backtrace}). You cannot use debugger commands in the backtrace buffer in Edebug as you would in the standard debugger. The backtrace buffer is killed automatically when you continue execution. @end table From the Edebug recursive edit, you may invoke commands that activate Edebug again recursively. Any time Edebug is active, you can quit to the top level with @kbd{q} or abort one recursive edit level with @kbd{C-]}. You can display a backtrace of all the pending evaluations with @kbd{d}. @node Breakpoints @subsection Breakpoints @cindex breakpoints Edebug's step mode stops execution at the next stop point reached. There are three other ways to stop Edebug execution once it has started: breakpoints, the global break condition, and source breakpoints. While using Edebug, you can specify @dfn{breakpoints} in the program you are testing: points where execution should stop. You can set a breakpoint at any stop point, as defined in @ref{Using Edebug}. For setting and unsetting breakpoints, the stop point that is affected is the first one at or after point in the source code buffer. Here are the Edebug commands for breakpoints: @table @kbd @item b Set a breakpoint at the stop point at or after point (@code{edebug-set-breakpoint}). If you use a prefix argument, the breakpoint is temporary (it turns off the first time it stops the program). @item u Unset the breakpoint (if any) at the stop point at or after point (@code{edebug-unset-breakpoint}). @item x @var{condition} @key{RET} Set a conditional breakpoint which stops the program only if @var{condition} evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value (@code{edebug-set-conditional-breakpoint}). With a prefix argument, the breakpoint is temporary. @item B Move point to the next breakpoint in the current definition (@code{edebug-next-breakpoint}). @end table While in Edebug, you can set a breakpoint with @kbd{b} and unset one with @kbd{u}. First move point to the Edebug stop point of your choice, then type @kbd{b} or @kbd{u} to set or unset a breakpoint there. Unsetting a breakpoint where none has been set has no effect. Reevaluating or reinstrumenting a definition forgets all its breakpoints. A @dfn{conditional breakpoint} tests a condition each time the program gets there. Any errors that occur as a result of evaluating the condition are ignored, as if the result were @code{nil}. To set a conditional breakpoint, use @kbd{x}, and specify the condition expression in the minibuffer. Setting a conditional breakpoint at a stop point that has a previously established conditional breakpoint puts the previous condition expression in the minibuffer so you can edit it. You can make a conditional or unconditional breakpoint @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 The condition expression is stored in @code{edebug-global-break-condition}. You can specify a new expression 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) # ;--------------------------------------------------------------- (selected-window) # ;--------------------------------------------------------------- (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 If this is non-@code{nil}, Edebug saves and restores point in all displayed buffers. Saving and restoring point in other buffers is necessary if you are debugging code that changes the point of a buffer which is displayed in a non-selected window. If Edebug or the user then selects the window, point in that buffer will move to the window's value of point. Saving and restoring point in all buffers is expensive, since it requires selecting each window twice, so enable this only if you need it. @xref{Edebug Display Update}. @end defopt @defopt edebug-initial-mode If this variable is non-@code{nil}, it specifies the initial execution mode for Edebug when it is first activated. Possible values are @code{step}, @code{next}, @code{go}, @code{Go-nonstop}, @code{trace}, @code{Trace-fast}, @code{continue}, and @code{Continue-fast}. The default value is @code{step}. @xref{Edebug Execution Modes}. @end defopt @defopt edebug-trace @findex edebug-print-trace-before @findex edebug-print-trace-after Non-@code{nil} means display a trace of function entry and exit. Tracing output is displayed in a buffer named @samp{*edebug-trace*}, one function entry or exit per line, indented by the recursion level. The default value is @code{nil}. Also see @code{edebug-tracing}, in @xref{Trace Buffer}. @end defopt @defopt edebug-test-coverage If non-@code{nil}, Edebug tests coverage of all expressions debugged. This is done by comparing the result of each expression with the previous result. Coverage is considered OK if two different results are found. So to sufficiently test the coverage of your code, try to execute it under conditions that evaluate all expressions more than once, and produce different results for each expression. Use @kbd{M-x edebug-display-freq-count} to display the frequency count and coverage information for a definition. @xref{Coverage Testing}. @end defopt @defopt edebug-continue-kbd-macro If non-@code{nil}, continue defining or executing any keyboard macro that is executing outside of Edebug. Use this with caution since it is not debugged. @xref{Edebug Execution Modes}. @end defopt @defopt edebug-print-length If non-@code{nil}, bind @code{print-length} to this while printing results in Edebug. The default value is @code{50}. @xref{Printing in Edebug}. @end defopt @defopt edebug-print-level If non-@code{nil}, bind @code{print-level} to this while printing results in Edebug. The default value is @code{50}. @end defopt @defopt edebug-print-circle If non-@code{nil}, bind @code{print-circle} to this while printing results in Edebug. The default value is @code{nil}. @end defopt @defopt edebug-on-error Edebug binds @code{debug-on-error} to this value, if @code{debug-on-error} was previously @code{nil}. @xref{Trapping Errors}. @end defopt @defopt edebug-on-quit Edebug binds @code{debug-on-quit} to this value, if @code{debug-on-quit} was previously @code{nil}. @xref{Trapping Errors}. @end defopt If you change the values of @code{edebug-on-error} or @code{edebug-on-quit} while Edebug is active, their values won't be used until the @emph{next} time Edebug is invoked via a new command. @c Not necessarily a deeper command level. @c A new command is not precisely true, but that is close enough -- dan @defopt edebug-global-break-condition If non-@code{nil}, an expression to test for at every stop point. If the result is non-nil, then break. Errors are ignored. @xref{Global Break Condition}. @end defopt