Flymake is a universal on-the-fly syntax checker for Emacs. When
enabled, Flymake contacts one or more source @dfn{backends} to
-collects information about problems in the buffer, called
+collect information about problems in the buffer, called
@dfn{diagnostics}, and visually annotates them with a special face.
-The mode line display overall status including totals for different
+The mode line displays overall status including totals for different
types of diagnostics.
-To learn about using Flymake, @xref{Using Flymake}.
+To learn about using Flymake, @pxref{Using Flymake}.
Flymake is designed to be easily extended to support new backends via
an Elisp interface. @xref{Extending Flymake}
Historically, Flymake used to accept diagnostics from a single
-backend. Although obsolete, it is still functional. To learn how to
-use and customize it, @xref{The legacy Proc backend}.
+backend. Although obsolete, it is still functional. To learn how to
+use and customize it, @pxref{The legacy Proc backend}.
Copyright @copyright{} 2004--2021 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@node Starting Flymake
@section Starting Flymake
-@cindex Starting Flymake
+@cindex starting Flymake
-To use Flymake, the minor-mode @code{flymake-mode} must be activated.
-If it's not, use the command @kbd{flymake-mode} to toggle it on. The
+To use Flymake, activate the minor-mode @code{flymake-mode}.
+Use the command @kbd{flymake-mode} to toggle it on and off. The
mode line should indicate its presence via an indicator (@pxref{Mode
line status}).
@end itemize
If the check detected errors or warnings, the respective buffer
-regions are highlighted. @xref{Finding diagnostics} for how to
+regions are highlighted. @xref{Finding diagnostics}, for how to
learn what the problems are.
@node Finding diagnostics
@section Finding diagnostics
-@cindex Read diagnostic message
+@cindex read diagnostic message
If Flymake has highlighted the buffer, you may hover the mouse on the
highlighted regions to learn what the specific problem
-is. Alternatively, place point on the highlighted regions and use the
+is. Alternatively, place point on the highlighted regions and use the
commands @code{eldoc} or @code{display-local-help}.
-@cindex Next and previous diagnostic
+@cindex next and previous diagnostic
If the diagnostics are outside the visible region of the buffer,
@code{flymake-goto-next-error} and @code{flymake-goto-prev-error} are
-let you navigate to the next/previous errorenous regions,
+let you navigate to the next/previous erroneous regions,
respectively. It might be a good idea to map them to @kbd{M-n} and
@kbd{M-p} in @code{flymake-mode}, by adding to your init file:
(define-key flymake-mode-map (kbd "M-p") 'flymake-goto-prev-error)
@end lisp
-@cindex Listing diagnostics
+@cindex listing diagnostics
Sometimes it is useful to have a detailed overview of the diagnostics
-in your files without having to jump to each one to one. The commands
+in your files without having to jump to each one. The commands
@code{flymake-show-buffer-diagnostics} and
@code{flymake-show-project-diagnostics} are designed to handle this
situation. When invoked, they bring up a separate buffer containing a
The listings is continuously updated as you edit source code, adding or
removing lines as you make or correct mistakes. Each line of this
listing includes the type of the diagnostic, its line and column in
-the file as well as the diagnostic message. You may sort the listing
+the file, as well as the diagnostic message. You may sort the listing
by each of these columns.
@node Mode line status
@section Mode line status
-@cindex Flymake mode line
-@cindex Syntax check status
+@cindex flymake mode line
+@cindex syntax check status
When enabled, Flymake displays its status in the mode line, which
provides a visual summary of diagnostic collection. It may also hint
@node Troubleshooting
@section Troubleshooting
-@cindex Troubleshooting
-@cindex Backend exceptions
+@cindex troubleshooting
+@cindex backend exceptions
@cindex disabled backends
@cindex backends, disabled
As Flymake supports multiple simutaneously active external backends,
-is becomes useful monitor their status. For example, some backends
+is becomes useful to monitor their status. For example, some backends
may take longer than others to respond or complete, and some may
decide to @emph{disable} themselves if they are not suitable for the
current buffer or encounter some unavoidable problem. A disabled
installed a needed syntax-check program). Invoking
@code{flymake-start} with a prefix argument is a way to reset the
disabled backend list, so that they will be tried again in the next
-check. Manually toggle @code{flymake-mode} off and on again also
+check. Manually toggling @code{flymake-mode} off and on again also
works.
@cindex logging
@section Locating the buildfile
@cindex locating the buildfile
@cindex buildfile, locating
-@cindex Makefile, locating
+@cindex makefile, locating
The Proc backend can be configured to use different tools for
performing syntax checks. For example, it can use direct compiler