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| author | Glenn Morris | 2007-09-06 04:25:08 +0000 |
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| committer | Glenn Morris | 2007-09-06 04:25:08 +0000 |
| commit | b8d4c8d0e9326f8ed2d1f6fc0a38fb89ec29ed27 (patch) | |
| tree | 35344b3af55b9a142f03e1a3600dd162fb8c55cc /doc/lispref/debugging.texi | |
| parent | f69340d750ef530bcc3497243ab3be3187f8ce6e (diff) | |
| download | emacs-b8d4c8d0e9326f8ed2d1f6fc0a38fb89ec29ed27.tar.gz emacs-b8d4c8d0e9326f8ed2d1f6fc0a38fb89ec29ed27.zip | |
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| 1 | @c -*-texinfo-*- | ||
| 2 | @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. | ||
| 3 | @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, | ||
| 4 | @c 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc. | ||
| 5 | @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. | ||
| 6 | @setfilename ../info/debugging | ||
| 7 | @node Debugging, Read and Print, Advising Functions, Top | ||
| 8 | @chapter Debugging Lisp Programs | ||
| 9 | |||
| 10 | There are three ways to investigate a problem in an Emacs Lisp program, | ||
| 11 | depending on what you are doing with the program when the problem appears. | ||
| 12 | |||
| 13 | @itemize @bullet | ||
| 14 | @item | ||
| 15 | If the problem occurs when you run the program, you can use a Lisp | ||
| 16 | debugger to investigate what is happening during execution. In addition | ||
| 17 | to the ordinary debugger, Emacs comes with a source-level debugger, | ||
| 18 | Edebug. This chapter describes both of them. | ||
| 19 | |||
| 20 | @item | ||
| 21 | If the problem is syntactic, so that Lisp cannot even read the program, | ||
| 22 | you can use the Emacs facilities for editing Lisp to localize it. | ||
| 23 | |||
| 24 | @item | ||
| 25 | If the problem occurs when trying to compile the program with the byte | ||
| 26 | compiler, you need to know how to examine the compiler's input buffer. | ||
| 27 | @end itemize | ||
| 28 | |||
| 29 | @menu | ||
| 30 | * Debugger:: How the Emacs Lisp debugger is implemented. | ||
| 31 | * Edebug:: A source-level Emacs Lisp debugger. | ||
| 32 | * Syntax Errors:: How to find syntax errors. | ||
| 33 | * Test Coverage:: Ensuring you have tested all branches in your code. | ||
| 34 | * Compilation Errors:: How to find errors that show up in byte compilation. | ||
| 35 | @end menu | ||
| 36 | |||
| 37 | Another useful debugging tool is the dribble file. When a dribble | ||
| 38 | file is open, Emacs copies all keyboard input characters to that file. | ||
| 39 | Afterward, you can examine the file to find out what input was used. | ||
| 40 | @xref{Terminal Input}. | ||
| 41 | |||
| 42 | For debugging problems in terminal descriptions, the | ||
| 43 | @code{open-termscript} function can be useful. @xref{Terminal Output}. | ||
| 44 | |||
| 45 | @node Debugger | ||
| 46 | @section The Lisp Debugger | ||
| 47 | @cindex debugger for Emacs Lisp | ||
| 48 | @cindex Lisp debugger | ||
| 49 | @cindex break | ||
| 50 | |||
| 51 | The ordinary @dfn{Lisp debugger} provides the ability to suspend | ||
| 52 | evaluation of a form. While evaluation is suspended (a state that is | ||
| 53 | commonly known as a @dfn{break}), you may examine the run time stack, | ||
| 54 | examine the values of local or global variables, or change those values. | ||
| 55 | Since a break is a recursive edit, all the usual editing facilities of | ||
| 56 | Emacs are available; you can even run programs that will enter the | ||
| 57 | debugger recursively. @xref{Recursive Editing}. | ||
| 58 | |||
| 59 | @menu | ||
| 60 | * Error Debugging:: Entering the debugger when an error happens. | ||
| 61 | * Infinite Loops:: Stopping and debugging a program that doesn't exit. | ||
| 62 | * Function Debugging:: Entering it when a certain function is called. | ||
| 63 | * Explicit Debug:: Entering it at a certain point in the program. | ||
| 64 | * Using Debugger:: What the debugger does; what you see while in it. | ||
| 65 | * Debugger Commands:: Commands used while in the debugger. | ||
| 66 | * Invoking the Debugger:: How to call the function @code{debug}. | ||
| 67 | * Internals of Debugger:: Subroutines of the debugger, and global variables. | ||
| 68 | @end menu | ||
| 69 | |||
| 70 | @node Error Debugging | ||
| 71 | @subsection Entering the Debugger on an Error | ||
| 72 | @cindex error debugging | ||
| 73 | @cindex debugging errors | ||
| 74 | |||
| 75 | The most important time to enter the debugger is when a Lisp error | ||
| 76 | happens. This allows you to investigate the immediate causes of the | ||
| 77 | error. | ||
| 78 | |||
| 79 | However, entry to the debugger is not a normal consequence of an | ||
| 80 | error. Many commands frequently cause Lisp errors when invoked | ||
| 81 | inappropriately (such as @kbd{C-f} at the end of the buffer), and during | ||
| 82 | ordinary editing it would be very inconvenient to enter the debugger | ||
| 83 | each time this happens. So if you want errors to enter the debugger, set | ||
| 84 | the variable @code{debug-on-error} to non-@code{nil}. (The command | ||
| 85 | @code{toggle-debug-on-error} provides an easy way to do this.) | ||
| 86 | |||
| 87 | @defopt debug-on-error | ||
| 88 | This variable determines whether the debugger is called when an error is | ||
| 89 | signaled and not handled. If @code{debug-on-error} is @code{t}, all | ||
| 90 | kinds of errors call the debugger (except those listed in | ||
| 91 | @code{debug-ignored-errors}). If it is @code{nil}, none call the | ||
| 92 | debugger. | ||
| 93 | |||
| 94 | The value can also be a list of error conditions that should call the | ||
| 95 | debugger. For example, if you set it to the list | ||
| 96 | @code{(void-variable)}, then only errors about a variable that has no | ||
| 97 | value invoke the debugger. | ||
| 98 | |||
| 99 | When this variable is non-@code{nil}, Emacs does not create an error | ||
| 100 | handler around process filter functions and sentinels. Therefore, | ||
| 101 | errors in these functions also invoke the debugger. @xref{Processes}. | ||
| 102 | @end defopt | ||
| 103 | |||
| 104 | @defopt debug-ignored-errors | ||
| 105 | This variable specifies certain kinds of errors that should not enter | ||
| 106 | the debugger. Its value is a list of error condition symbols and/or | ||
| 107 | regular expressions. If the error has any of those condition symbols, | ||
| 108 | or if the error message matches any of the regular expressions, then | ||
| 109 | that error does not enter the debugger, regardless of the value of | ||
| 110 | @code{debug-on-error}. | ||
| 111 | |||
| 112 | The normal value of this variable lists several errors that happen often | ||
| 113 | during editing but rarely result from bugs in Lisp programs. However, | ||
| 114 | ``rarely'' is not ``never''; if your program fails with an error that | ||
| 115 | matches this list, you will need to change this list in order to debug | ||
| 116 | the error. The easiest way is usually to set | ||
| 117 | @code{debug-ignored-errors} to @code{nil}. | ||
| 118 | @end defopt | ||
| 119 | |||
| 120 | @defopt eval-expression-debug-on-error | ||
| 121 | If this variable has a non-@code{nil} value, then | ||
| 122 | @code{debug-on-error} is set to @code{t} when evaluating with the | ||
| 123 | command @code{eval-expression}. If | ||
| 124 | @code{eval-expression-debug-on-error} is @code{nil}, then the value of | ||
| 125 | @code{debug-on-error} is not changed. @xref{Lisp Eval,, Evaluating | ||
| 126 | Emacs-Lisp Expressions, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. | ||
| 127 | @end defopt | ||
| 128 | |||
| 129 | @defopt debug-on-signal | ||
| 130 | Normally, errors that are caught by @code{condition-case} never run the | ||
| 131 | debugger, even if @code{debug-on-error} is non-@code{nil}. In other | ||
| 132 | words, @code{condition-case} gets a chance to handle the error before | ||
| 133 | the debugger gets a chance. | ||
| 134 | |||
| 135 | If you set @code{debug-on-signal} to a non-@code{nil} value, then the | ||
| 136 | debugger gets the first chance at every error; an error will invoke the | ||
| 137 | debugger regardless of any @code{condition-case}, if it fits the | ||
| 138 | criteria specified by the values of @code{debug-on-error} and | ||
| 139 | @code{debug-ignored-errors}. | ||
| 140 | |||
| 141 | @strong{Warning:} This variable is strong medicine! Various parts of | ||
| 142 | Emacs handle errors in the normal course of affairs, and you may not | ||
| 143 | even realize that errors happen there. If you set | ||
| 144 | @code{debug-on-signal} to a non-@code{nil} value, those errors will | ||
| 145 | enter the debugger. | ||
| 146 | |||
| 147 | @strong{Warning:} @code{debug-on-signal} has no effect when | ||
| 148 | @code{debug-on-error} is @code{nil}. | ||
| 149 | @end defopt | ||
| 150 | |||
| 151 | To debug an error that happens during loading of the init | ||
| 152 | file, use the option @samp{--debug-init}. This binds | ||
| 153 | @code{debug-on-error} to @code{t} while loading the init file, and | ||
| 154 | bypasses the @code{condition-case} which normally catches errors in the | ||
| 155 | init file. | ||
| 156 | |||
| 157 | If your init file sets @code{debug-on-error}, the effect may | ||
| 158 | not last past the end of loading the init file. (This is an undesirable | ||
| 159 | byproduct of the code that implements the @samp{--debug-init} command | ||
| 160 | line option.) The best way to make the init file set | ||
| 161 | @code{debug-on-error} permanently is with @code{after-init-hook}, like | ||
| 162 | this: | ||
| 163 | |||
| 164 | @example | ||
| 165 | (add-hook 'after-init-hook | ||
| 166 | (lambda () (setq debug-on-error t))) | ||
| 167 | @end example | ||
| 168 | |||
| 169 | @node Infinite Loops | ||
| 170 | @subsection Debugging Infinite Loops | ||
| 171 | @cindex infinite loops | ||
| 172 | @cindex loops, infinite | ||
| 173 | @cindex quitting from infinite loop | ||
| 174 | @cindex stopping an infinite loop | ||
| 175 | |||
| 176 | When a program loops infinitely and fails to return, your first | ||
| 177 | problem is to stop the loop. On most operating systems, you can do this | ||
| 178 | with @kbd{C-g}, which causes a @dfn{quit}. | ||
| 179 | |||
| 180 | Ordinary quitting gives no information about why the program was | ||
| 181 | looping. To get more information, you can set the variable | ||
| 182 | @code{debug-on-quit} to non-@code{nil}. Quitting with @kbd{C-g} is not | ||
| 183 | considered an error, and @code{debug-on-error} has no effect on the | ||
| 184 | handling of @kbd{C-g}. Likewise, @code{debug-on-quit} has no effect on | ||
| 185 | errors. | ||
| 186 | |||
| 187 | Once you have the debugger running in the middle of the infinite loop, | ||
| 188 | you can proceed from the debugger using the stepping commands. If you | ||
| 189 | step through the entire loop, you will probably get enough information | ||
| 190 | to solve the problem. | ||
| 191 | |||
| 192 | @defopt debug-on-quit | ||
| 193 | This variable determines whether the debugger is called when @code{quit} | ||
| 194 | is signaled and not handled. If @code{debug-on-quit} is non-@code{nil}, | ||
| 195 | then the debugger is called whenever you quit (that is, type @kbd{C-g}). | ||
| 196 | If @code{debug-on-quit} is @code{nil}, then the debugger is not called | ||
| 197 | when you quit. @xref{Quitting}. | ||
| 198 | @end defopt | ||
| 199 | |||
| 200 | @node Function Debugging | ||
| 201 | @subsection Entering the Debugger on a Function Call | ||
| 202 | @cindex function call debugging | ||
| 203 | @cindex debugging specific functions | ||
| 204 | |||
| 205 | To investigate a problem that happens in the middle of a program, one | ||
| 206 | useful technique is to enter the debugger whenever a certain function is | ||
| 207 | called. You can do this to the function in which the problem occurs, | ||
| 208 | and then step through the function, or you can do this to a function | ||
| 209 | called shortly before the problem, step quickly over the call to that | ||
| 210 | function, and then step through its caller. | ||
| 211 | |||
| 212 | @deffn Command debug-on-entry function-name | ||
| 213 | This function requests @var{function-name} to invoke the debugger each | ||
| 214 | time it is called. It works by inserting the form | ||
| 215 | @code{(implement-debug-on-entry)} into the function definition as the | ||
| 216 | first form. | ||
| 217 | |||
| 218 | Any function or macro defined as Lisp code may be set to break on | ||
| 219 | entry, regardless of whether it is interpreted code or compiled code. | ||
| 220 | If the function is a command, it will enter the debugger when called | ||
| 221 | from Lisp and when called interactively (after the reading of the | ||
| 222 | arguments). You can also set debug-on-entry for primitive functions | ||
| 223 | (i.e., those written in C) this way, but it only takes effect when the | ||
| 224 | primitive is called from Lisp code. Debug-on-entry is not allowed for | ||
| 225 | special forms. | ||
| 226 | |||
| 227 | When @code{debug-on-entry} is called interactively, it prompts for | ||
| 228 | @var{function-name} in the minibuffer. If the function is already set | ||
| 229 | up to invoke the debugger on entry, @code{debug-on-entry} does nothing. | ||
| 230 | @code{debug-on-entry} always returns @var{function-name}. | ||
| 231 | |||
| 232 | @strong{Warning:} if you redefine a function after using | ||
| 233 | @code{debug-on-entry} on it, the code to enter the debugger is | ||
| 234 | discarded by the redefinition. In effect, redefining the function | ||
| 235 | cancels the break-on-entry feature for that function. | ||
| 236 | |||
| 237 | Here's an example to illustrate use of this function: | ||
| 238 | |||
| 239 | @example | ||
| 240 | @group | ||
| 241 | (defun fact (n) | ||
| 242 | (if (zerop n) 1 | ||
| 243 | (* n (fact (1- n))))) | ||
| 244 | @result{} fact | ||
| 245 | @end group | ||
| 246 | @group | ||
| 247 | (debug-on-entry 'fact) | ||
| 248 | @result{} fact | ||
| 249 | @end group | ||
| 250 | @group | ||
| 251 | (fact 3) | ||
| 252 | @end group | ||
| 253 | |||
| 254 | @group | ||
| 255 | ------ Buffer: *Backtrace* ------ | ||
| 256 | Debugger entered--entering a function: | ||
| 257 | * fact(3) | ||
| 258 | eval((fact 3)) | ||
| 259 | eval-last-sexp-1(nil) | ||
| 260 | eval-last-sexp(nil) | ||
| 261 | call-interactively(eval-last-sexp) | ||
| 262 | ------ Buffer: *Backtrace* ------ | ||
| 263 | @end group | ||
| 264 | |||
| 265 | @group | ||
| 266 | (symbol-function 'fact) | ||
| 267 | @result{} (lambda (n) | ||
| 268 | (debug (quote debug)) | ||
| 269 | (if (zerop n) 1 (* n (fact (1- n))))) | ||
| 270 | @end group | ||
| 271 | @end example | ||
| 272 | @end deffn | ||
| 273 | |||
| 274 | @deffn Command cancel-debug-on-entry &optional function-name | ||
| 275 | This function undoes the effect of @code{debug-on-entry} on | ||
| 276 | @var{function-name}. When called interactively, it prompts for | ||
| 277 | @var{function-name} in the minibuffer. If @var{function-name} is | ||
| 278 | omitted or @code{nil}, it cancels break-on-entry for all functions. | ||
| 279 | Calling @code{cancel-debug-on-entry} does nothing to a function which is | ||
| 280 | not currently set up to break on entry. | ||
| 281 | @end deffn | ||
| 282 | |||
| 283 | @node Explicit Debug | ||
| 284 | @subsection Explicit Entry to the Debugger | ||
| 285 | |||
| 286 | You can cause the debugger to be called at a certain point in your | ||
| 287 | program by writing the expression @code{(debug)} at that point. To do | ||
| 288 | this, visit the source file, insert the text @samp{(debug)} at the | ||
| 289 | proper place, and type @kbd{C-M-x} (@code{eval-defun}, a Lisp mode key | ||
| 290 | binding). @strong{Warning:} if you do this for temporary debugging | ||
| 291 | purposes, be sure to undo this insertion before you save the file! | ||
| 292 | |||
| 293 | The place where you insert @samp{(debug)} must be a place where an | ||
| 294 | additional form can be evaluated and its value ignored. (If the value | ||
| 295 | of @code{(debug)} isn't ignored, it will alter the execution of the | ||
| 296 | program!) The most common suitable places are inside a @code{progn} or | ||
| 297 | an implicit @code{progn} (@pxref{Sequencing}). | ||
| 298 | |||
| 299 | @node Using Debugger | ||
| 300 | @subsection Using the Debugger | ||
| 301 | |||
| 302 | When the debugger is entered, it displays the previously selected | ||
| 303 | buffer in one window and a buffer named @samp{*Backtrace*} in another | ||
| 304 | window. The backtrace buffer contains one line for each level of Lisp | ||
| 305 | function execution currently going on. At the beginning of this buffer | ||
| 306 | is a message describing the reason that the debugger was invoked (such | ||
| 307 | as the error message and associated data, if it was invoked due to an | ||
| 308 | error). | ||
| 309 | |||
| 310 | The backtrace buffer is read-only and uses a special major mode, | ||
| 311 | Debugger mode, in which letters are defined as debugger commands. The | ||
| 312 | usual Emacs editing commands are available; thus, you can switch windows | ||
| 313 | to examine the buffer that was being edited at the time of the error, | ||
| 314 | switch buffers, visit files, or do any other sort of editing. However, | ||
| 315 | the debugger is a recursive editing level (@pxref{Recursive Editing}) | ||
| 316 | and it is wise to go back to the backtrace buffer and exit the debugger | ||
| 317 | (with the @kbd{q} command) when you are finished with it. Exiting | ||
| 318 | the debugger gets out of the recursive edit and kills the backtrace | ||
| 319 | buffer. | ||
| 320 | |||
| 321 | @cindex current stack frame | ||
| 322 | The backtrace buffer shows you the functions that are executing and | ||
| 323 | their argument values. It also allows you to specify a stack frame by | ||
| 324 | moving point to the line describing that frame. (A stack frame is the | ||
| 325 | place where the Lisp interpreter records information about a particular | ||
| 326 | invocation of a function.) The frame whose line point is on is | ||
| 327 | considered the @dfn{current frame}. Some of the debugger commands | ||
| 328 | operate on the current frame. If a line starts with a star, that means | ||
| 329 | that exiting that frame will call the debugger again. This is useful | ||
| 330 | for examining the return value of a function. | ||
| 331 | |||
| 332 | If a function name is underlined, that means the debugger knows | ||
| 333 | where its source code is located. You can click @kbd{Mouse-2} on that | ||
| 334 | name, or move to it and type @key{RET}, to visit the source code. | ||
| 335 | |||
| 336 | The debugger itself must be run byte-compiled, since it makes | ||
| 337 | assumptions about how many stack frames are used for the debugger | ||
| 338 | itself. These assumptions are false if the debugger is running | ||
| 339 | interpreted. | ||
| 340 | |||
| 341 | @node Debugger Commands | ||
| 342 | @subsection Debugger Commands | ||
| 343 | @cindex debugger command list | ||
| 344 | |||
| 345 | The debugger buffer (in Debugger mode) provides special commands in | ||
| 346 | addition to the usual Emacs commands. The most important use of | ||
| 347 | debugger commands is for stepping through code, so that you can see | ||
| 348 | how control flows. The debugger can step through the control | ||
| 349 | structures of an interpreted function, but cannot do so in a | ||
| 350 | byte-compiled function. If you would like to step through a | ||
| 351 | byte-compiled function, replace it with an interpreted definition of | ||
| 352 | the same function. (To do this, visit the source for the function and | ||
| 353 | type @kbd{C-M-x} on its definition.) You cannot use the Lisp debugger | ||
| 354 | to step through a primitive function. | ||
| 355 | |||
| 356 | Here is a list of Debugger mode commands: | ||
| 357 | |||
| 358 | @table @kbd | ||
| 359 | @item c | ||
| 360 | Exit the debugger and continue execution. When continuing is possible, | ||
| 361 | it resumes execution of the program as if the debugger had never been | ||
| 362 | entered (aside from any side-effects that you caused by changing | ||
| 363 | variable values or data structures while inside the debugger). | ||
| 364 | |||
| 365 | Continuing is possible after entry to the debugger due to function entry | ||
| 366 | or exit, explicit invocation, or quitting. You cannot continue if the | ||
| 367 | debugger was entered because of an error. | ||
| 368 | |||
| 369 | @item d | ||
| 370 | Continue execution, but enter the debugger the next time any Lisp | ||
| 371 | function is called. This allows you to step through the | ||
| 372 | subexpressions of an expression, seeing what values the subexpressions | ||
| 373 | compute, and what else they do. | ||
| 374 | |||
| 375 | The stack frame made for the function call which enters the debugger in | ||
| 376 | this way will be flagged automatically so that the debugger will be | ||
| 377 | called again when the frame is exited. You can use the @kbd{u} command | ||
| 378 | to cancel this flag. | ||
| 379 | |||
| 380 | @item b | ||
| 381 | Flag the current frame so that the debugger will be entered when the | ||
| 382 | frame is exited. Frames flagged in this way are marked with stars | ||
| 383 | in the backtrace buffer. | ||
| 384 | |||
| 385 | @item u | ||
| 386 | Don't enter the debugger when the current frame is exited. This | ||
| 387 | cancels a @kbd{b} command on that frame. The visible effect is to | ||
| 388 | remove the star from the line in the backtrace buffer. | ||
| 389 | |||
| 390 | @item j | ||
| 391 | Flag the current frame like @kbd{b}. Then continue execution like | ||
| 392 | @kbd{c}, but temporarily disable break-on-entry for all functions that | ||
| 393 | are set up to do so by @code{debug-on-entry}. | ||
| 394 | |||
| 395 | @item e | ||
| 396 | Read a Lisp expression in the minibuffer, evaluate it, and print the | ||
| 397 | value in the echo area. The debugger alters certain important | ||
| 398 | variables, and the current buffer, as part of its operation; @kbd{e} | ||
| 399 | temporarily restores their values from outside the debugger, so you can | ||
| 400 | examine and change them. This makes the debugger more transparent. By | ||
| 401 | contrast, @kbd{M-:} does nothing special in the debugger; it shows you | ||
| 402 | the variable values within the debugger. | ||
| 403 | |||
| 404 | @item R | ||
| 405 | Like @kbd{e}, but also save the result of evaluation in the | ||
| 406 | buffer @samp{*Debugger-record*}. | ||
| 407 | |||
| 408 | @item q | ||
| 409 | Terminate the program being debugged; return to top-level Emacs | ||
| 410 | command execution. | ||
| 411 | |||
| 412 | If the debugger was entered due to a @kbd{C-g} but you really want | ||
| 413 | to quit, and not debug, use the @kbd{q} command. | ||
| 414 | |||
| 415 | @item r | ||
| 416 | Return a value from the debugger. The value is computed by reading an | ||
| 417 | expression with the minibuffer and evaluating it. | ||
| 418 | |||
| 419 | The @kbd{r} command is useful when the debugger was invoked due to exit | ||
| 420 | from a Lisp call frame (as requested with @kbd{b} or by entering the | ||
| 421 | frame with @kbd{d}); then the value specified in the @kbd{r} command is | ||
| 422 | used as the value of that frame. It is also useful if you call | ||
| 423 | @code{debug} and use its return value. Otherwise, @kbd{r} has the same | ||
| 424 | effect as @kbd{c}, and the specified return value does not matter. | ||
| 425 | |||
| 426 | You can't use @kbd{r} when the debugger was entered due to an error. | ||
| 427 | |||
| 428 | @item l | ||
| 429 | Display a list of functions that will invoke the debugger when called. | ||
| 430 | This is a list of functions that are set to break on entry by means of | ||
| 431 | @code{debug-on-entry}. @strong{Warning:} if you redefine such a | ||
| 432 | function and thus cancel the effect of @code{debug-on-entry}, it may | ||
| 433 | erroneously show up in this list. | ||
| 434 | @end table | ||
| 435 | |||
| 436 | @node Invoking the Debugger | ||
| 437 | @subsection Invoking the Debugger | ||
| 438 | |||
| 439 | Here we describe in full detail the function @code{debug} that is used | ||
| 440 | to invoke the debugger. | ||
| 441 | |||
| 442 | @defun debug &rest debugger-args | ||
| 443 | This function enters the debugger. It switches buffers to a buffer | ||
| 444 | named @samp{*Backtrace*} (or @samp{*Backtrace*<2>} if it is the second | ||
| 445 | recursive entry to the debugger, etc.), and fills it with information | ||
| 446 | about the stack of Lisp function calls. It then enters a recursive | ||
| 447 | edit, showing the backtrace buffer in Debugger mode. | ||
| 448 | |||
| 449 | The Debugger mode @kbd{c}, @kbd{d}, @kbd{j}, and @kbd{r} commands exit | ||
| 450 | the recursive edit; then @code{debug} switches back to the previous | ||
| 451 | buffer and returns to whatever called @code{debug}. This is the only | ||
| 452 | way the function @code{debug} can return to its caller. | ||
| 453 | |||
| 454 | The use of the @var{debugger-args} is that @code{debug} displays the | ||
| 455 | rest of its arguments at the top of the @samp{*Backtrace*} buffer, so | ||
| 456 | that the user can see them. Except as described below, this is the | ||
| 457 | @emph{only} way these arguments are used. | ||
| 458 | |||
| 459 | However, certain values for first argument to @code{debug} have a | ||
| 460 | special significance. (Normally, these values are used only by the | ||
| 461 | internals of Emacs, and not by programmers calling @code{debug}.) Here | ||
| 462 | is a table of these special values: | ||
| 463 | |||
| 464 | @table @code | ||
| 465 | @item lambda | ||
| 466 | @cindex @code{lambda} in debug | ||
| 467 | A first argument of @code{lambda} means @code{debug} was called | ||
| 468 | because of entry to a function when @code{debug-on-next-call} was | ||
| 469 | non-@code{nil}. The debugger displays @samp{Debugger | ||
| 470 | entered--entering a function:} as a line of text at the top of the | ||
| 471 | buffer. | ||
| 472 | |||
| 473 | @item debug | ||
| 474 | @code{debug} as first argument means @code{debug} was called because | ||
| 475 | of entry to a function that was set to debug on entry. The debugger | ||
| 476 | displays the string @samp{Debugger entered--entering a function:}, | ||
| 477 | just as in the @code{lambda} case. It also marks the stack frame for | ||
| 478 | that function so that it will invoke the debugger when exited. | ||
| 479 | |||
| 480 | @item t | ||
| 481 | When the first argument is @code{t}, this indicates a call to | ||
| 482 | @code{debug} due to evaluation of a function call form when | ||
| 483 | @code{debug-on-next-call} is non-@code{nil}. The debugger displays | ||
| 484 | @samp{Debugger entered--beginning evaluation of function call form:} | ||
| 485 | as the top line in the buffer. | ||
| 486 | |||
| 487 | @item exit | ||
| 488 | When the first argument is @code{exit}, it indicates the exit of a | ||
| 489 | stack frame previously marked to invoke the debugger on exit. The | ||
| 490 | second argument given to @code{debug} in this case is the value being | ||
| 491 | returned from the frame. The debugger displays @samp{Debugger | ||
| 492 | entered--returning value:} in the top line of the buffer, followed by | ||
| 493 | the value being returned. | ||
| 494 | |||
| 495 | @item error | ||
| 496 | @cindex @code{error} in debug | ||
| 497 | When the first argument is @code{error}, the debugger indicates that | ||
| 498 | it is being entered because an error or @code{quit} was signaled and | ||
| 499 | not handled, by displaying @samp{Debugger entered--Lisp error:} | ||
| 500 | followed by the error signaled and any arguments to @code{signal}. | ||
| 501 | For example, | ||
| 502 | |||
| 503 | @example | ||
| 504 | @group | ||
| 505 | (let ((debug-on-error t)) | ||
| 506 | (/ 1 0)) | ||
| 507 | @end group | ||
| 508 | |||
| 509 | @group | ||
| 510 | ------ Buffer: *Backtrace* ------ | ||
| 511 | Debugger entered--Lisp error: (arith-error) | ||
| 512 | /(1 0) | ||
| 513 | ... | ||
| 514 | ------ Buffer: *Backtrace* ------ | ||
| 515 | @end group | ||
| 516 | @end example | ||
| 517 | |||
| 518 | If an error was signaled, presumably the variable | ||
| 519 | @code{debug-on-error} is non-@code{nil}. If @code{quit} was signaled, | ||
| 520 | then presumably the variable @code{debug-on-quit} is non-@code{nil}. | ||
| 521 | |||
| 522 | @item nil | ||
| 523 | Use @code{nil} as the first of the @var{debugger-args} when you want | ||
| 524 | to enter the debugger explicitly. The rest of the @var{debugger-args} | ||
| 525 | are printed on the top line of the buffer. You can use this feature to | ||
| 526 | display messages---for example, to remind yourself of the conditions | ||
| 527 | under which @code{debug} is called. | ||
| 528 | @end table | ||
| 529 | @end defun | ||
| 530 | |||
| 531 | @node Internals of Debugger | ||
| 532 | @subsection Internals of the Debugger | ||
| 533 | |||
| 534 | This section describes functions and variables used internally by the | ||
| 535 | debugger. | ||
| 536 | |||
| 537 | @defvar debugger | ||
| 538 | The value of this variable is the function to call to invoke the | ||
| 539 | debugger. Its value must be a function of any number of arguments, or, | ||
| 540 | more typically, the name of a function. This function should invoke | ||
| 541 | some kind of debugger. The default value of the variable is | ||
| 542 | @code{debug}. | ||
| 543 | |||
| 544 | The first argument that Lisp hands to the function indicates why it | ||
| 545 | was called. The convention for arguments is detailed in the description | ||
| 546 | of @code{debug} (@pxref{Invoking the Debugger}). | ||
| 547 | @end defvar | ||
| 548 | |||
| 549 | @deffn Command backtrace | ||
| 550 | @cindex run time stack | ||
| 551 | @cindex call stack | ||
| 552 | This function prints a trace of Lisp function calls currently active. | ||
| 553 | This is the function used by @code{debug} to fill up the | ||
| 554 | @samp{*Backtrace*} buffer. It is written in C, since it must have access | ||
| 555 | to the stack to determine which function calls are active. The return | ||
| 556 | value is always @code{nil}. | ||
| 557 | |||
| 558 | In the following example, a Lisp expression calls @code{backtrace} | ||
| 559 | explicitly. This prints the backtrace to the stream | ||
| 560 | @code{standard-output}, which, in this case, is the buffer | ||
| 561 | @samp{backtrace-output}. | ||
| 562 | |||
| 563 | Each line of the backtrace represents one function call. The line shows | ||
| 564 | the values of the function's arguments if they are all known; if they | ||
| 565 | are still being computed, the line says so. The arguments of special | ||
| 566 | forms are elided. | ||
| 567 | |||
| 568 | @smallexample | ||
| 569 | @group | ||
| 570 | (with-output-to-temp-buffer "backtrace-output" | ||
| 571 | (let ((var 1)) | ||
| 572 | (save-excursion | ||
| 573 | (setq var (eval '(progn | ||
| 574 | (1+ var) | ||
| 575 | (list 'testing (backtrace)))))))) | ||
| 576 | |||
| 577 | @result{} (testing nil) | ||
| 578 | @end group | ||
| 579 | |||
| 580 | @group | ||
| 581 | ----------- Buffer: backtrace-output ------------ | ||
| 582 | backtrace() | ||
| 583 | (list ...computing arguments...) | ||
| 584 | @end group | ||
| 585 | (progn ...) | ||
| 586 | eval((progn (1+ var) (list (quote testing) (backtrace)))) | ||
| 587 | (setq ...) | ||
| 588 | (save-excursion ...) | ||
| 589 | (let ...) | ||
| 590 | (with-output-to-temp-buffer ...) | ||
| 591 | eval((with-output-to-temp-buffer ...)) | ||
| 592 | eval-last-sexp-1(nil) | ||
| 593 | @group | ||
| 594 | eval-last-sexp(nil) | ||
| 595 | call-interactively(eval-last-sexp) | ||
| 596 | ----------- Buffer: backtrace-output ------------ | ||
| 597 | @end group | ||
| 598 | @end smallexample | ||
| 599 | @end deffn | ||
| 600 | |||
| 601 | @ignore @c Not worth mentioning | ||
| 602 | @defopt stack-trace-on-error | ||
| 603 | @cindex stack trace | ||
| 604 | This variable controls whether Lisp automatically displays a | ||
| 605 | backtrace buffer after every error that is not handled. A quit signal | ||
| 606 | counts as an error for this variable. If it is non-@code{nil} then a | ||
| 607 | backtrace is shown in a pop-up buffer named @samp{*Backtrace*} on every | ||
| 608 | error. If it is @code{nil}, then a backtrace is not shown. | ||
| 609 | |||
| 610 | When a backtrace is shown, that buffer is not selected. If either | ||
| 611 | @code{debug-on-quit} or @code{debug-on-error} is also non-@code{nil}, then | ||
| 612 | a backtrace is shown in one buffer, and the debugger is popped up in | ||
| 613 | another buffer with its own backtrace. | ||
| 614 | |||
| 615 | We consider this feature to be obsolete and superseded by the debugger | ||
| 616 | itself. | ||
| 617 | @end defopt | ||
| 618 | @end ignore | ||
| 619 | |||
| 620 | @defvar debug-on-next-call | ||
| 621 | @cindex @code{eval}, and debugging | ||
| 622 | @cindex @code{apply}, and debugging | ||
| 623 | @cindex @code{funcall}, and debugging | ||
| 624 | If this variable is non-@code{nil}, it says to call the debugger before | ||
| 625 | the next @code{eval}, @code{apply} or @code{funcall}. Entering the | ||
| 626 | debugger sets @code{debug-on-next-call} to @code{nil}. | ||
| 627 | |||
| 628 | The @kbd{d} command in the debugger works by setting this variable. | ||
| 629 | @end defvar | ||
| 630 | |||
| 631 | @defun backtrace-debug level flag | ||
| 632 | This function sets the debug-on-exit flag of the stack frame @var{level} | ||
| 633 | levels down the stack, giving it the value @var{flag}. If @var{flag} is | ||
| 634 | non-@code{nil}, this will cause the debugger to be entered when that | ||
| 635 | frame later exits. Even a nonlocal exit through that frame will enter | ||
| 636 | the debugger. | ||
| 637 | |||
| 638 | This function is used only by the debugger. | ||
| 639 | @end defun | ||
| 640 | |||
| 641 | @defvar command-debug-status | ||
| 642 | This variable records the debugging status of the current interactive | ||
| 643 | command. Each time a command is called interactively, this variable is | ||
| 644 | bound to @code{nil}. The debugger can set this variable to leave | ||
| 645 | information for future debugger invocations during the same command | ||
| 646 | invocation. | ||
| 647 | |||
| 648 | The advantage of using this variable rather than an ordinary global | ||
| 649 | variable is that the data will never carry over to a subsequent command | ||
| 650 | invocation. | ||
| 651 | @end defvar | ||
| 652 | |||
| 653 | @defun backtrace-frame frame-number | ||
| 654 | The function @code{backtrace-frame} is intended for use in Lisp | ||
| 655 | debuggers. It returns information about what computation is happening | ||
| 656 | in the stack frame @var{frame-number} levels down. | ||
| 657 | |||
| 658 | If that frame has not evaluated the arguments yet, or is a special | ||
| 659 | form, the value is @code{(nil @var{function} @var{arg-forms}@dots{})}. | ||
| 660 | |||
| 661 | If that frame has evaluated its arguments and called its function | ||
| 662 | already, the return value is @code{(t @var{function} | ||
| 663 | @var{arg-values}@dots{})}. | ||
| 664 | |||
| 665 | In the return value, @var{function} is whatever was supplied as the | ||
| 666 | @sc{car} of the evaluated list, or a @code{lambda} expression in the | ||
| 667 | case of a macro call. If the function has a @code{&rest} argument, that | ||
| 668 | is represented as the tail of the list @var{arg-values}. | ||
| 669 | |||
| 670 | If @var{frame-number} is out of range, @code{backtrace-frame} returns | ||
| 671 | @code{nil}. | ||
| 672 | @end defun | ||
| 673 | |||
| 674 | @include edebug.texi | ||
| 675 | |||
| 676 | @node Syntax Errors | ||
| 677 | @section Debugging Invalid Lisp Syntax | ||
| 678 | @cindex debugging invalid Lisp syntax | ||
| 679 | |||
| 680 | The Lisp reader reports invalid syntax, but cannot say where the real | ||
| 681 | problem is. For example, the error ``End of file during parsing'' in | ||
| 682 | evaluating an expression indicates an excess of open parentheses (or | ||
| 683 | square brackets). The reader detects this imbalance at the end of the | ||
| 684 | file, but it cannot figure out where the close parenthesis should have | ||
| 685 | been. Likewise, ``Invalid read syntax: ")"'' indicates an excess close | ||
| 686 | parenthesis or missing open parenthesis, but does not say where the | ||
| 687 | missing parenthesis belongs. How, then, to find what to change? | ||
| 688 | |||
| 689 | If the problem is not simply an imbalance of parentheses, a useful | ||
| 690 | technique is to try @kbd{C-M-e} at the beginning of each defun, and see | ||
| 691 | if it goes to the place where that defun appears to end. If it does | ||
| 692 | not, there is a problem in that defun. | ||
| 693 | |||
| 694 | @cindex unbalanced parentheses | ||
| 695 | @cindex parenthesis mismatch, debugging | ||
| 696 | However, unmatched parentheses are the most common syntax errors in | ||
| 697 | Lisp, and we can give further advice for those cases. (In addition, | ||
| 698 | just moving point through the code with Show Paren mode enabled might | ||
| 699 | find the mismatch.) | ||
| 700 | |||
| 701 | @menu | ||
| 702 | * Excess Open:: How to find a spurious open paren or missing close. | ||
| 703 | * Excess Close:: How to find a spurious close paren or missing open. | ||
| 704 | @end menu | ||
| 705 | |||
| 706 | @node Excess Open | ||
| 707 | @subsection Excess Open Parentheses | ||
| 708 | |||
| 709 | The first step is to find the defun that is unbalanced. If there is | ||
| 710 | an excess open parenthesis, the way to do this is to go to the end of | ||
| 711 | the file and type @kbd{C-u C-M-u}. This will move you to the | ||
| 712 | beginning of the first defun that is unbalanced. | ||
| 713 | |||
| 714 | The next step is to determine precisely what is wrong. There is no | ||
| 715 | way to be sure of this except by studying the program, but often the | ||
| 716 | existing indentation is a clue to where the parentheses should have | ||
| 717 | been. The easiest way to use this clue is to reindent with @kbd{C-M-q} | ||
| 718 | and see what moves. @strong{But don't do this yet!} Keep reading, | ||
| 719 | first. | ||
| 720 | |||
| 721 | Before you do this, make sure the defun has enough close parentheses. | ||
| 722 | Otherwise, @kbd{C-M-q} will get an error, or will reindent all the rest | ||
| 723 | of the file until the end. So move to the end of the defun and insert a | ||
| 724 | close parenthesis there. Don't use @kbd{C-M-e} to move there, since | ||
| 725 | that too will fail to work until the defun is balanced. | ||
| 726 | |||
| 727 | Now you can go to the beginning of the defun and type @kbd{C-M-q}. | ||
| 728 | Usually all the lines from a certain point to the end of the function | ||
| 729 | will shift to the right. There is probably a missing close parenthesis, | ||
| 730 | or a superfluous open parenthesis, near that point. (However, don't | ||
| 731 | assume this is true; study the code to make sure.) Once you have found | ||
| 732 | the discrepancy, undo the @kbd{C-M-q} with @kbd{C-_}, since the old | ||
| 733 | indentation is probably appropriate to the intended parentheses. | ||
| 734 | |||
| 735 | After you think you have fixed the problem, use @kbd{C-M-q} again. If | ||
| 736 | the old indentation actually fit the intended nesting of parentheses, | ||
| 737 | and you have put back those parentheses, @kbd{C-M-q} should not change | ||
| 738 | anything. | ||
| 739 | |||
| 740 | @node Excess Close | ||
| 741 | @subsection Excess Close Parentheses | ||
| 742 | |||
| 743 | To deal with an excess close parenthesis, first go to the beginning | ||
| 744 | of the file, then type @kbd{C-u -1 C-M-u} to find the end of the first | ||
| 745 | unbalanced defun. | ||
| 746 | |||
| 747 | Then find the actual matching close parenthesis by typing @kbd{C-M-f} | ||
| 748 | at the beginning of that defun. This will leave you somewhere short of | ||
| 749 | the place where the defun ought to end. It is possible that you will | ||
| 750 | find a spurious close parenthesis in that vicinity. | ||
| 751 | |||
| 752 | If you don't see a problem at that point, the next thing to do is to | ||
| 753 | type @kbd{C-M-q} at the beginning of the defun. A range of lines will | ||
| 754 | probably shift left; if so, the missing open parenthesis or spurious | ||
| 755 | close parenthesis is probably near the first of those lines. (However, | ||
| 756 | don't assume this is true; study the code to make sure.) Once you have | ||
| 757 | found the discrepancy, undo the @kbd{C-M-q} with @kbd{C-_}, since the | ||
| 758 | old indentation is probably appropriate to the intended parentheses. | ||
| 759 | |||
| 760 | After you think you have fixed the problem, use @kbd{C-M-q} again. If | ||
| 761 | the old indentation actually fits the intended nesting of parentheses, | ||
| 762 | and you have put back those parentheses, @kbd{C-M-q} should not change | ||
| 763 | anything. | ||
| 764 | |||
| 765 | @node Test Coverage | ||
| 766 | @section Test Coverage | ||
| 767 | @cindex coverage testing | ||
| 768 | |||
| 769 | @findex testcover-start | ||
| 770 | @findex testcover-mark-all | ||
| 771 | @findex testcover-next-mark | ||
| 772 | You can do coverage testing for a file of Lisp code by loading the | ||
| 773 | @code{testcover} library and using the command @kbd{M-x | ||
| 774 | testcover-start @key{RET} @var{file} @key{RET}} to instrument the | ||
| 775 | code. Then test your code by calling it one or more times. Then use | ||
| 776 | the command @kbd{M-x testcover-mark-all} to display colored highlights | ||
| 777 | on the code to show where coverage is insufficient. The command | ||
| 778 | @kbd{M-x testcover-next-mark} will move point forward to the next | ||
| 779 | highlighted spot. | ||
| 780 | |||
| 781 | Normally, a red highlight indicates the form was never completely | ||
| 782 | evaluated; a brown highlight means it always evaluated to the same | ||
| 783 | value (meaning there has been little testing of what is done with the | ||
| 784 | result). However, the red highlight is skipped for forms that can't | ||
| 785 | possibly complete their evaluation, such as @code{error}. The brown | ||
| 786 | highlight is skipped for forms that are expected to always evaluate to | ||
| 787 | the same value, such as @code{(setq x 14)}. | ||
| 788 | |||
| 789 | For difficult cases, you can add do-nothing macros to your code to | ||
| 790 | give advice to the test coverage tool. | ||
| 791 | |||
| 792 | @defmac 1value form | ||
| 793 | Evaluate @var{form} and return its value, but inform coverage testing | ||
| 794 | that @var{form}'s value should always be the same. | ||
| 795 | @end defmac | ||
| 796 | |||
| 797 | @defmac noreturn form | ||
| 798 | Evaluate @var{form}, informing coverage testing that @var{form} should | ||
| 799 | never return. If it ever does return, you get a run-time error. | ||
| 800 | @end defmac | ||
| 801 | |||
| 802 | Edebug also has a coverage testing feature (@pxref{Coverage | ||
| 803 | Testing}). These features partly duplicate each other, and it would | ||
| 804 | be cleaner to combine them. | ||
| 805 | |||
| 806 | @node Compilation Errors | ||
| 807 | @section Debugging Problems in Compilation | ||
| 808 | @cindex debugging byte compilation problems | ||
| 809 | |||
| 810 | When an error happens during byte compilation, it is normally due to | ||
| 811 | invalid syntax in the program you are compiling. The compiler prints a | ||
| 812 | suitable error message in the @samp{*Compile-Log*} buffer, and then | ||
| 813 | stops. The message may state a function name in which the error was | ||
| 814 | found, or it may not. Either way, here is how to find out where in the | ||
| 815 | file the error occurred. | ||
| 816 | |||
| 817 | What you should do is switch to the buffer @w{@samp{ *Compiler Input*}}. | ||
| 818 | (Note that the buffer name starts with a space, so it does not show | ||
| 819 | up in @kbd{M-x list-buffers}.) This buffer contains the program being | ||
| 820 | compiled, and point shows how far the byte compiler was able to read. | ||
| 821 | |||
| 822 | If the error was due to invalid Lisp syntax, point shows exactly where | ||
| 823 | the invalid syntax was @emph{detected}. The cause of the error is not | ||
| 824 | necessarily near by! Use the techniques in the previous section to find | ||
| 825 | the error. | ||
| 826 | |||
| 827 | If the error was detected while compiling a form that had been read | ||
| 828 | successfully, then point is located at the end of the form. In this | ||
| 829 | case, this technique can't localize the error precisely, but can still | ||
| 830 | show you which function to check. | ||
| 831 | |||
| 832 | @ignore | ||
| 833 | arch-tag: ddc57378-b0e6-4195-b7b6-43f8777395a7 | ||
| 834 | @end ignore | ||