code.delx.au - gnu-emacs-elpa/blob - README.md

   1 EmacsUtils
   2 ==========
   3
   4 Handy Emacs utilities
   5
   6 I've been using Gnu Emacs since it was publicly available (1985?), and have contributed some packages which are included with Emacs, notably the [Allout outliner](http://myriadicity.net/software-and-systems/craft/emacs-allout), [icomplete mode](http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/IcompleteMode), and python-mode's [pdbtrack functionality](http://myriadicity.net/software-and-systems/craft/crafty-hacks#section-1). Like many long-time Emacs users, I've use some custom code, some of which I wouldn't do without. Here's a few items that I particularly like, and think might be useful to others - I hope to include more, as time allows.
   7
   8 * **[poptoshell.el](./poptoshell.el)**
   9
  10   I use the emacs shell a lot. This code enables me to streamline and
  11   extend how I can a single one, or multiple ones in a project-oriented
  12   fashion:
  13
  14   * It simplifies getting to the input prompt, by doing the right thing when
  15     I hit the key I have bound to pop-to-shell (I use [M-space], ie
  16     meta-space:
  17   * If the cursor is in a buffer that has no subprocess, pop the window to
  18     the primary shell buffer
  19   * If there is no shell buffer, start one.
  20   * If the cursor is in a buffer which has a process, move the cursor to
  21     the process input point.
  22   * With a universal argument, even if the current buffer has a subprocess,
  23     solicit the name of the target shell buffer - defaulting to the currently
  24     chosen primary one - and pop to that.
  25     * This enables starting an alternate shell buffer, for instance, and/or
  26       switching between the main and alternate ones.
  27     * (The expected name is without the surrounding asterisks, and
  28       completion is done against existing shell buffer names stripped of
  29       their asterisks.)
  30   * With a doubled universal arg, prompt for the target shell buffer and
  31     use the provided name as the ensuing default. This is how the "primary"
  32     is chosen.
  33
  34   The last few things enable a kind of project-focus mode.  I often have
  35   various shell buffers, each one associated with a project. As I switch
  36   which project is currently my primary focus, I use the double universal
  37   argument to switch which shell buffer is the default. I can still use the
  38   single universal argument to easily switch to any of the shells, but most
  39   easily to my current primary.
  40
  41   (This code has grown gradually over many years, and undoubtedly could stand
  42   cleaning and clarifying. It works quite reliably, though, and in a choice
  43   between spending the time cleaning versus spending the time releasing it, I'm
  44   choosing to release.)
  45
  46 * **[xsel.el](./xsel.el)**
  47
  48   X copy and paste emacs region from emacs tty sessions, using a shell command.
  49
  50   If xsel or linux or cygwin equivalent is installed, and DISPLAY is
  51   working, use `klm:xsel-copy` to copy the region to the X clipboard and
  52   `klm:xsel-paste` to paste the contents of the clipboard at point.
  53
  54   One benefit is that `klm:xsel-paste` pastes are single units, rather than
  55   a sequence of individual keystrokes that constitute regular X pastes to a
  56   terminal. This avoids layers of parsing, indenting, auto-paren insertion,
  57   and so forth. (You can always do a regular X paste on occasions when you
  58   want that processing.)
  59
  60 * **[pdbtrack.el](./pdbtrack.el)**
  61
  62   [I've moved my standalone version of pdbtrack aside. I hadn't realized
  63   that the version that I derived this code from lacks my source-buffer
  64   fallback provisions. It looks like I'm going to have to do some
  65   unraveling to reconstruct the best basis.]
  66
  67   Add sensitivity to comint shells so the source file lines are automatically
  68   presented in a separate window when the Python PDB debugger steps to them.
  69
  70   This is derived from the pdb tracking code, which I originally wrote, and
  71   which has been included in (various) official Emacs Python modes. I wanted
  72   a version that I could more easily tweak and maintain, independently of
  73   the python-mode code.
  74
  75   It would be nice to eventually generalize this code, to work for things
  76   like the node.js debugger. We'll see if I (or anyone) ever gets around to
  77   that.