\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
@comment %**start of header
-@setfilename ../../info/flymake
+@setfilename ../../info/flymake.info
@set VERSION 0.3
@set UPDATED April 2004
@settitle GNU Flymake @value{VERSION}
@syncodeindex pg cp
+@documentencoding UTF-8
@comment %**end of header
@copying
This manual is for GNU Flymake (version @value{VERSION}, @value{UPDATED}),
which is a universal on-the-fly syntax checker for GNU Emacs.
-Copyright @copyright{} 2004-2012
-Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+Copyright @copyright{} 2004--2014 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@quotation
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
-Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
+Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license
is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have the freedom to copy and
-modify this GNU manual. Buying copies from the FSF supports it in
-developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
+modify this GNU manual.''
@end quotation
@end copying
@ifnottex
@node Top
@top GNU Flymake
-@insertcopying
+@insertcopying
@end ifnottex
@menu
@cindex Overview of Flymake
Flymake is a universal on-the-fly syntax checker implemented as an
-Emacs minor mode. Flymake runs the pre-configured syntax check tool
-(compiler for C++ files, @code{perl} for perl files, etc.) in the
+Emacs minor mode. Flymake runs the pre-configured syntax check tool
+(compiler for C++ files, @code{perl} for perl files, etc.)@: in the
background, passing it a temporary copy of the current buffer, and
-parses the output for known error/warning message patterns. Flymake
-then highlights erroneous lines (i.e. lines for which at least one
+parses the output for known error/warning message patterns. Flymake
+then highlights erroneous lines (i.e., lines for which at least one
error or warning has been reported by the syntax check tool), and
-displays an overall buffer status in the mode line. Status information
+displays an overall buffer status in the mode line. Status information
displayed by Flymake contains total number of errors and warnings
reported for the buffer during the last syntax check.
Calling @code{flymake-display-err-menu-for-current-line} will popup a
menu containing error messages reported by the syntax check tool for
-the current line. Errors/warnings belonging to another file, such as a
+the current line. Errors/warnings belonging to another file, such as a
@code{.h} header file included by a @code{.c} file, are shown in the
-current buffer as belonging to the first line. Menu items for such
-messages also contain a filename and a line number. Selecting such a
+current buffer as belonging to the first line. Menu items for such
+messages also contain a filename and a line number. Selecting such a
menu item will automatically open the file and jump to the line with
error.
-Syntax check is done 'on-the-fly'. It is started whenever
+Syntax check is done ``on-the-fly''. It is started whenever
@itemize @bullet
@item buffer is loaded
Flymake is a universal syntax checker in the sense that it's easily
extended to support new syntax check tools and error message
-patterns. @xref{Configuring Flymake}.
+patterns. @xref{Configuring Flymake}.
@node Installing Flymake
@chapter Installing
Flymake is packaged in a single file, @code{flymake.el}.
To install/update Flymake, place @code{flymake.el} to a directory
-somewhere on Emacs load path. You might also want to byte-compile
+somewhere on Emacs load path. You might also want to byte-compile
@code{flymake.el} to improve performance.
Also, place the following line in the @code{.emacs} file.
@section Flymake mode
@cindex flymake-mode
-Flymake is an Emacs minor mode. To use Flymake, you
+Flymake is an Emacs minor mode. To use Flymake, you
must first activate @code{flymake-mode} by using the
@code{flymake-mode} function.
Instead of manually activating @code{flymake-mode}, you can configure
Flymake to automatically enable @code{flymake-mode} upon opening any
-file for which syntax check is possible. To do so, place the following
+file for which syntax check is possible. To do so, place the following
line in @code{.emacs}:
@lisp
@cindex Manually starting the syntax check
When @code{flymake-mode} is active, syntax check is started
-automatically on any of the three conditions mentioned above. Syntax
+automatically on any of the three conditions mentioned above. Syntax
check can also be started manually by using the
-@code{flymake-start-syntax-check-for-current-buffer} function. This
+@code{flymake-start-syntax-check-for-current-buffer} function. This
can be used, for example, when changes were made to some other buffer
affecting the current buffer.
After syntax check is completed, lines for which at least one error or
warning has been reported are highlighted, and total number of errors
-and warning is shown in the mode line. Use the following functions to
+and warning is shown in the mode line. Use the following functions to
navigate the highlighted lines.
@multitable @columnfractions 0.25 0.75
@end multitable
-These functions treat erroneous lines as a linked list. Therefore,
+These functions treat erroneous lines as a linked list. Therefore,
@code{flymake-goto-next-error} will go to the first erroneous line
when invoked in the end of the buffer.
@cindex Viewing error messages
To view error messages belonging to the current line, use the
-@code{flymake-display-err-menu-for-current-line} function. If there's
+@code{flymake-display-err-menu-for-current-line} function. If there's
at least one error or warning reported for the current line, this
function will display a popup menu with error/warning texts.
Selecting the menu item whose error belongs to another file brings
@multitable @columnfractions 0.25 0.75
@item Flymake* or Flymake:E/W*
-@tab Flymake is currently running. For the second case, E/W contains the
- error and warning count for the previous run.
+@tab Flymake is currently running. For the second case, E/W contains the
+error and warning count for the previous run.
@item Flymake
-@tab Syntax check is not running. Usually this means syntax check was
- successfully passed (no errors, no warnings). Other possibilities are:
- syntax check was killed as a result of executing
- @code{flymake-compile}, or syntax check cannot start as compilation
- is currently in progress.
+@tab Syntax check is not running. Usually this means syntax check was
+successfully passed (no errors, no warnings). Other possibilities are:
+syntax check was killed as a result of executing
+@code{flymake-compile}, or syntax check cannot start as compilation
+is currently in progress.
@item Flymake:E/W
@tab Number of errors/warnings found by the syntax check process.
@multitable @columnfractions 0.25 0.75
@item CFGERR
@tab Syntax check process returned nonzero exit code, but no
- errors/warnings were reported. This indicates a possible configuration
- error (for example, no suitable error message patterns for the
- syntax check tool).
+errors/warnings were reported. This indicates a possible configuration
+error (for example, no suitable error message patterns for the
+syntax check tool).
@item NOMASTER
@tab Flymake was unable to find master file for the current buffer.
@cindex Troubleshooting
Flymake uses a simple logging facility for indicating important points
-in the control flow. The logging facility sends logging messages to
-the @code{*Messages*} buffer. The information logged can be used for
+in the control flow. The logging facility sends logging messages to
+the @file{*Messages*} buffer. The information logged can be used for
resolving various problems related to Flymake.
Logging output is controlled by the @code{flymake-log-level}
-variable. @code{3} is the most verbose level, and @code{-1} switches
+variable. @code{3} is the most verbose level, and @code{-1} switches
logging off.
@node Configuring Flymake
@item flymake-allowed-file-name-masks
A list of @code{(filename-regexp, init-function, cleanup-function
-getfname-function)} for configuring syntax check tools. @xref{Adding
+getfname-function)} for configuring syntax check tools. @xref{Adding
support for a new syntax check tool}.
+@ignore
@item flymake-buildfile-dirs
A list of directories (relative paths) for searching a
-buildfile. @xref{Locating the buildfile}.
+buildfile. @xref{Locating the buildfile}.
+@end ignore
@item flymake-master-file-dirs
-A list of directories for searching a master file. @xref{Locating a
+A list of directories for searching a master file. @xref{Locating a
master file}.
@item flymake-get-project-include-dirs-function
A function used for obtaining a list of project include dirs (C/C++
-specific). @xref{Getting the include directories}.
+specific). @xref{Getting the include directories}.
@item flymake-master-file-count-limit
@itemx flymake-check-file-limit
-Used when looking for a master file. @xref{Locating a master file}.
+Used when looking for a master file. @xref{Locating a master file}.
@item flymake-err-line-patterns
Patterns for error/warning messages in the form @code{(regexp file-idx
-line-idx col-idx err-text-idx)}. @xref{Parsing the output}.
+line-idx col-idx err-text-idx)}. @xref{Parsing the output}.
+
+@item flymake-warning-predicate
+Predicate to classify error text as warning. @xref{Parsing the output}.
@item flymake-compilation-prevents-syntax-check
A flag indicating whether compilation and syntax check of the same
@item flymake-gui-warnings-enabled
A boolean flag indicating whether Flymake will show message boxes for
-non-recoverable errors. If @code{flymake-gui-warnings-enabled} is
-@code{nil}, these errors will only be logged to the @code{*Messages*}
+non-recoverable errors. If @code{flymake-gui-warnings-enabled} is
+@code{nil}, these errors will only be logged to the @file{*Messages*}
buffer.
@item flymake-start-syntax-check-on-newline
@cindex Adding support for a new syntax check tool
@menu
-* Example -- Configuring a tool called directly::
-* Example -- Configuring a tool called via make::
+* Example---Configuring a tool called directly::
+* Example---Configuring a tool called via make::
@end menu
Syntax check tools are configured using the
-@code{flymake-allowed-file-name-masks} list. Each item of this list
+@code{flymake-allowed-file-name-masks} list. Each item of this list
has the following format:
@lisp
@item filename-regexp
This field is used as a key for locating init/cleanup/getfname
functions for the buffer. Items in
-@code{flymake-allowed-file-name-masks} are searched sequentially. The
+@code{flymake-allowed-file-name-masks} are searched sequentially. The
first item with @code{filename-regexp} matching buffer filename is
-selected. If no match is found, @code{flymake-mode} is switched off.
+selected. If no match is found, @code{flymake-mode} is switched off.
@item init-function
@code{init-function} is required to initialize the syntax check,
-usually by creating a temporary copy of the buffer contents. The
-function must return @code{(list cmd-name arg-list)}. If
+usually by creating a temporary copy of the buffer contents. The
+function must return @code{(list cmd-name arg-list)}. If
@code{init-function} returns null, syntax check is aborted, by
@code{flymake-mode} is not switched off.
@item getfname-function
This function is used for translating filenames reported by the syntax
-check tool into ``real'' filenames. Filenames reported by the tool
+check tool into ``real'' filenames. Filenames reported by the tool
will be different from the real ones, as actually the tool works with
the temporary copy. In most cases, the default implementation
provided by Flymake, @code{flymake-get-real-file-name}, can be used as
The following sections contain some examples of configuring Flymake
support for various syntax check tools.
-@node Example -- Configuring a tool called directly
-@subsection Example -- Configuring a tool called directly
+@node Example---Configuring a tool called directly
+@subsection Example---Configuring a tool called directly
@cindex Adding support for perl
In this example, we will add support for @code{perl} as a syntax check
-tool. @code{perl} supports the @code{-c} option which does syntax
+tool. @code{perl} supports the @code{-c} option which does syntax
checking.
First, we write the @code{init-function}:
flymake-err-line-patterns))
@end lisp
-@node Example -- Configuring a tool called via make
-@subsection Example -- Configuring a tool called via make
+@node Example---Configuring a tool called via make
+@subsection Example---Configuring a tool called via make
@cindex Adding support for C (gcc+make)
In this example we will add support for C files syntax checked by
@command{gcc} called via @command{make}.
We're not required to write any new functions, as Flymake already has
-functions for @command{make}. We just add a new entry to the
+functions for @command{make}. We just add a new entry to the
@code{flymake-allowed-file-name-masks}:
@lisp
@code{base-dir} is a directory containing @code{Makefile}, see @ref{Locating the buildfile}.
-Thus, @code{Makefile} must contain the @code{check-syntax} target. In
+Thus, @code{Makefile} must contain the @code{check-syntax} target. In
our case this target might look like this:
@verbatim
Syntax check is started by calling @code{flymake-start-syntax-check-for-current-buffer}.
Flymake first determines whether it is able to do syntax
-check. It then saves a copy of the buffer in a temporary file in the
-buffer's directory (or in the system temp directory -- for java
+check. It then saves a copy of the buffer in a temporary file in the
+buffer's directory (or in the system temp directory, for java
files), creates a syntax check command and launches a process with
-this command. The output is parsed using a list of error message patterns,
+this command. The output is parsed using a list of error message patterns,
and error information (file name, line number, type and text) is
-saved. After the process has finished, Flymake highlights erroneous
+saved. After the process has finished, Flymake highlights erroneous
lines in the buffer using the accumulated error information.
@node Determining whether syntax check is possible
@item
Buffer can be syntax checked in a standalone fashion, that is, the
file (its temporary copy, in fact) can be passed over to the compiler to
-do the syntax check. Examples are C/C++ (.c, .cpp) and Java (.java)
+do the syntax check. Examples are C/C++ (.c, .cpp) and Java (.java)
sources.
@item
Buffer can be syntax checked, but additional file, called master file,
-is required to perform this operation. A master file is a file that
+is required to perform this operation. A master file is a file that
includes the current file, so that running a syntax check tool on it
-will also check syntax in the current file. Examples are C/C++ (.h,
+will also check syntax in the current file. Examples are C/C++ (.h,
.hpp) headers.
@end enumerate
Flymake contains implementations of all functionality required to
support different syntax check modes described above (making temporary
copies, finding master files, etc.), as well as some tool-specific
-(routines for Make, Ant, etc.) code.
+(routines for Make, Ant, etc.)@: code.
@node Making a temporary copy
After the possibility of the syntax check has been determined, a
temporary copy of the current buffer is made so that the most recent
-unsaved changes could be seen by the syntax check tool. Making a copy
+unsaved changes could be seen by the syntax check tool. Making a copy
is quite straightforward in a standalone case (mode @code{1}), as it's
just saving buffer contents to a temporary file.
Locating a master file is discussed in the following section.
Patching just changes all appropriate lines of the master file so that they
-use the new (temporary) name of the current file. For example, suppose current
+use the new (temporary) name of the current file. For example, suppose current
file name is @code{file.h}, the master file is @code{file.cpp}, and
-it includes current file via @code{#include "file.h"}. Current file's copy
+it includes current file via @code{#include "file.h"}. Current file's copy
is saved to file @code{file_flymake.h}, so the include line must be
-changed to @code{#include "file_flymake.h"}. Finally, patched master file
+changed to @code{#include "file_flymake.h"}. Finally, patched master file
is saved to @code{file_flymake_master.cpp}, and the last one is passed to
the syntax check tool.
Master file is located in two steps.
-First, a list of possible master files is built. A simple name
-matching is used to find the files. For a C++ header @code{file.h},
+First, a list of possible master files is built. A simple name
+matching is used to find the files. For a C++ header @code{file.h},
Flymake searches for all @code{.cpp} files in the directories whose relative paths are
stored in a customizable variable @code{flymake-master-file-dirs}, which
-usually contains something like @code{("." "./src")}. No more than
+usually contains something like @code{("." "./src")}. No more than
@code{flymake-master-file-count-limit} entries is added to the master file
-list. The list is then sorted to move files with names @code{file.cpp} to
+list. The list is then sorted to move files with names @code{file.cpp} to
the top.
Next, each master file in a list is checked to contain the appropriate
-include directives. No more than @code{flymake-check-file-limit} of each
+include directives. No more than @code{flymake-check-file-limit} of each
file are parsed.
For @code{file.h}, the include directives to look for are
-@code{#include "file.h"}, @code{#include "../file.h"}, etc. Each
+@code{#include "file.h"}, @code{#include "../file.h"}, etc. Each
include is checked against a list of include directories
(see @ref{Getting the include directories}) to be sure it points to the
correct @code{file.h}.
-First matching master file found stops the search. The master file is then
-patched and saved to disk. In case no master file is found, syntax check is
+First matching master file found stops the search. The master file is then
+patched and saved to disk. In case no master file is found, syntax check is
aborted, and corresponding status (!) is reported in the mode line.
@node Getting the include directories
@cindex Include directories (C/C++ specific)
Two sets of include directories are distinguished: system include directories
-and project include directories. The former is just the contents of the
-@code{INCLUDE} environment variable. The latter is not so easy to obtain,
+and project include directories. The former is just the contents of the
+@code{INCLUDE} environment variable. The latter is not so easy to obtain,
and the way it can be obtained can vary greatly for different projects.
Therefore, a customizable variable
@code{flymake-get-project-include-dirs-function} is used to provide the
way to implement the desired behavior.
The default implementation, @code{flymake-get-project-include-dirs-imp},
-uses a @command{make} call. This requires a correct base directory, that is, a
+uses a @command{make} call. This requires a correct base directory, that is, a
directory containing a correct @file{Makefile}, to be determined.
As obtaining the project include directories might be a costly operation, its
-return value is cached in the hash table. The cache is cleared in the beginning
+return value is cached in the hash table. The cache is cleared in the beginning
of every syntax check attempt.
@node Locating the buildfile
@cindex Makefile, locating
Flymake can be configured to use different tools for performing syntax
-checks. For example, it can use direct compiler call to syntax check a perl
+checks. For example, it can use direct compiler call to syntax check a perl
script or a call to @command{make} for a more complicated case of a
-@code{C/C++} source. The general idea is that simple files, like perl
+@code{C/C++} source. The general idea is that simple files, like perl
scripts and html pages, can be checked by directly invoking a
-corresponding tool. Files that are usually more complex and generally
+corresponding tool. Files that are usually more complex and generally
used as part of larger projects, might require non-trivial options to
be passed to the syntax check tool, like include directories for
-C++. The latter files are syntax checked using some build tool, like
+C++. The latter files are syntax checked using some build tool, like
Make or Ant.
All Make configuration data is usually stored in a file called
-@code{Makefile}. To allow for future extensions, flymake uses a notion of
+@code{Makefile}. To allow for future extensions, flymake uses a notion of
buildfile to reference the 'project configuration' file.
Special function, @code{flymake-find-buildfile} is provided for locating buildfiles.
Searching for a buildfile is done in a manner similar to that of searching
-for possible master files. A customizable variable
+for possible master files.
+@ignore
+A customizable variable
@code{flymake-buildfile-dirs} holds a list of relative paths to the
-buildfile. They are checked sequentially until a buildfile is found. In case
-there's no build file, syntax check is aborted.
+buildfile. They are checked sequentially until a buildfile is found.
+@end ignore
+In case there's no build file, syntax check is aborted.
Buildfile values are also cached.
@cindex Syntax check process
The command line (command name and the list of arguments) for launching a process is returned by the
-initialization function. Flymake then just calls @code{start-process}
-to start an asynchronous process and configures process filter and
-sentinel which is used for processing the output of the syntax check
+initialization function. Flymake then just calls @code{start-process}
+to start an asynchronous process and configures a process filter and
+sentinel, which are used for processing the output of the syntax check
tool.
@node Parsing the output
The output generated by the syntax check tool is parsed in the process
filter/sentinel using the error message patterns stored in the
-@code{flymake-err-line-patterns} variable. This variable contains a
+@code{flymake-err-line-patterns} variable. This variable contains a
list of items of the form @code{(regexp file-idx line-idx
err-text-idx)}, used to determine whether a particular line is an
error message and extract file name, line number and error text,
-respectively. Error type (error/warning) is also guessed by matching
-error text with the '@code{^[wW]arning}' pattern. Anything that was not
-classified as a warning is considered an error. Type is then used to
+respectively. Error type (error/warning) is also guessed by matching
+error text with the '@code{^[wW]arning}' pattern. Anything that was not
+classified as a warning is considered an error. Type is then used to
sort error menu items, which shows error messages first.
Flymake is also able to interpret error message patterns missing err-text-idx
-information. This is done by merely taking the rest of the matched line
-(@code{(substring line (match-end 0))}) as error text. This trick allows
+information. This is done by merely taking the rest of the matched line
+(@code{(substring line (match-end 0))}) as error text. This trick allows
to make use of a huge collection of error message line patterns from
-@code{compile.el}. All these error patterns are appended to
+@code{compile.el}. All these error patterns are appended to
the end of @code{flymake-err-line-patterns}.
The error information obtained is saved in a buffer local
-variable. The buffer for which the process output belongs is
+variable. The buffer for which the process output belongs is
determined from the process-id@w{}->@w{}buffer mapping updated
after every process launch/exit.
@cindex Erroneous lines, faces
Highlighting is implemented with overlays and happens in the process
-sentinel, after calling the cleanup function. Two customizable faces
+sentinel, after calling the cleanup function. Two customizable faces
are used: @code{flymake-errline} and
@code{flymake-warnline}. Errors belonging outside the current
buffer are considered to belong to line 1 of the current buffer.
The only mode flymake currently knows about is @code{compile}.
Flymake can be configured to not start syntax check if it thinks the
-compilation is in progress. The check is made by the
+compilation is in progress. The check is made by the
@code{flymake-compilation-is-running}, which tests the
-@code{compilation-in-progress} variable. The reason why this might be
+@code{compilation-in-progress} variable. The reason why this might be
useful is saving CPU time in case both syntax check and compilation
-are very CPU intensive. The original reason for adding this feature,
-though, was working around a locking problem with MS Visual C++ compiler.
+are very CPU intensive. The original reason for adding this feature,
+though, was working around a locking problem with MS Visual C++
+compiler.
Flymake also provides an alternative command for starting compilation,
@code{flymake-compile}: