*** Extensive customizability of operation and display, including many faces.
-** trace-function
+** Trace
-*** No prompting for the destination buffer, unless a prefix argument is used.
+---
+*** `trace-function' and `trace-function-background' no longer prompt for
+the output buffer. Unless you use a prefix argument, they output to
+`trace-buffer'.
-*** With a prefix argument, you can enter a "context"; i.e., a Lisp
-expression whose value at the time the function is entered/exited will
-be printed along with the function name and arguments. For example,
-you can use this to trace the value of current-buffer or point.
+---
+*** With a prefix argument, `trace-function' and `trace-function-background'
+will prompt for a "context". This is a Lisp expression, whose value at the
+time the function is entered/exited is printed along with the function's
+name and arguments.
** Tramp
;; Introduction:
;; =============
-;; A simple trace package that utilizes advice.el. It generates trace
+;; A simple trace package that utilizes nadvice.el. It generates trace
;; information in a Lisp-style fashion and inserts it into a trace output
-;; buffer. Tracing can be done in the background (or silently) so that
+;; buffer. Tracing can be done in the background (or silently) so that
;; generation of trace output won't interfere with what you are currently
;; doing.
;; + Compiled calls to subrs that have special byte-codes associated
;; with them (e.g., car, cdr, ...)
;; + Macros that were expanded during compilation
-;; - All the restrictions that apply to advice.el
+;; - All the restrictions that apply to nadvice.el
;; Usage:
;; ======
-;; - To trace a function say `M-x trace-function' which will ask you for the
-;; name of the function/subr/macro to trace, as well as for the buffer
-;; into which trace output should go.
+;; - To trace a function say `M-x trace-function', which will ask you for the
+;; name of the function/subr/macro to trace.
;; - If you want to trace a function that switches buffers or does other
-;; display oriented stuff use `M-x trace-function-background' which will
+;; display oriented stuff use `M-x trace-function-background', which will
;; generate the trace output silently in the background without popping
;; up windows and doing other irritating stuff.
;; - To untrace a function say `M-x untrace-function'.
(advice-member-p trace-advice-name function))
(defun trace--read-args (prompt)
+ "Read a function name, prompting with string PROMPT.
+If `current-prefix-arg' is non-nil, also read a buffer and a \"context\"
+\(Lisp expression). Return (FUNCTION BUFFER FUNCTION-CONTEXT)."
(cons
(let ((default (function-called-at-point))
(beg (string-match ":[ \t]*\\'" prompt)))
;;;###autoload
(defun trace-function-foreground (function &optional buffer context)
- "Traces FUNCTION with trace output going to BUFFER.
-For every call of FUNCTION Lisp-style trace messages that display argument
-and return values will be inserted into BUFFER. This function generates the
-trace advice for FUNCTION and activates it together with any other advice
-there might be!! The trace BUFFER will popup whenever FUNCTION is called.
-Do not use this to trace functions that switch buffers or do any other
-display oriented stuff, use `trace-function-background' instead.
-
-To untrace a function, use `untrace-function' or `untrace-all'."
+ "Trace calls to function FUNCTION.
+With a prefix argument, also prompt for the trace buffer (default
+`trace-buffer'), and a Lisp expression CONTEXT.
+
+Tracing a function causes every call to that function to insert
+into BUFFER Lisp-style trace messages that display the function's
+arguments and return values. It also evaluates CONTEXT, if that is
+non-nil, and inserts its value too. For example, you can use this
+to track the current buffer, or position of point.
+
+This function creates BUFFER if it does not exist. This buffer will
+popup whenever FUNCTION is called. Do not use this function to trace
+functions that switch buffers, or do any other display-oriented
+stuff - use `trace-function-background' instead.
+
+To stop tracing a function, use `untrace-function' or `untrace-all'."
(interactive (trace--read-args "Trace function: "))
(trace-function-internal function buffer nil context))
;;;###autoload
(defun trace-function-background (function &optional buffer context)
- "Traces FUNCTION with trace output going quietly to BUFFER.
-Like `trace-function-foreground' but without popping up the trace BUFFER or
-changing the window configuration."
+ "Trace calls to function FUNCTION, quietly.
+This is like `trace-function-foreground', but without popping up
+the output buffer or changing the window configuration."
(interactive (trace--read-args "Trace function in background: "))
(trace-function-internal function buffer t context))