path: root/doc/emacs.texi

@node Emacs Interface
@chapter Emacs Interface

@cindex Emacs
GNU Guix comes with several useful modules (known as ``guix.el'') for
GNU@tie{}Emacs which are intended to make an Emacs user interaction with
Guix convenient and fun.

@menu
* Initial Setup: Emacs Initial Setup.	Preparing @file{~/.emacs}.
* Package Management: Emacs Package Management.	Managing packages and generations.
* Popup Interface: Emacs Popup Interface.	Magit-like interface for guix commands.
* Prettify Mode: Emacs Prettify.	Abbreviating @file{/gnu/store/@dots{}} file names.
* Build Log Mode: Emacs Build Log.	Highlighting Guix build logs.
* Completions: Emacs Completions.	Completing @command{guix} shell command.
* Development: Emacs Development.	Tools for Guix developers.
@end menu


@node Emacs Initial Setup
@section Initial Setup

On the Guix System Distribution (@pxref{GNU Distribution}), ``guix.el''
is ready to use, provided Guix is installed system-wide, which is the
case by default.  So if that is what you're using, you can happily skip
this section and read about the fun stuff.

If you're not yet a happy user of GuixSD, a little bit of setup is needed.
To be able to use ``guix.el'', you need to install the following
packages:

@itemize
@item
@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/, GNU Emacs}, version 24.3 or
later;

@item
@uref{http://nongnu.org/geiser/, Geiser}, version 0.3 or later: it is
used for interacting with the Guile process.

@item
@uref{https://github.com/magit/magit/, magit-popup library}.  You
already have this library if you use Magit 2.1.0 or later.  This library
is an optional dependency---it is required only for @kbd{M-x@tie{}guix}
command (@pxref{Emacs Popup Interface}).

@end itemize

When it is done ``guix.el'' may be configured by requiring a special
@code{guix-init} file---i.e., by adding the following code into your
init file (@pxref{Init File,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}):

@example
(add-to-list 'load-path "/path/to/directory-with-guix.el")
(require 'guix-init nil t)
@end example

So the only thing you need to figure out is where the directory with
elisp files for Guix is placed.  It depends on how you installed Guix:

@itemize
@item
If it was installed by a package manager of your distribution or by a
usual @code{./configure && make && make install} command sequence, then
elisp files are placed in a standard directory with Emacs packages
(usually it is @file{/usr/share/emacs/site-lisp/}), which is already in
@code{load-path}, so there is no need to add that directory there.

@item
If you used a binary installation method (@pxref{Binary Installation}),
then Guix is installed somewhere in the store, so the elisp files are
placed in @file{/gnu/store/@dots{}-guix-0.8.2/share/emacs/site-lisp/} or
alike.  However it is not recommended to refer directly to a store
directory.  Instead you can install Guix using Guix itself with
@command{guix package -i guix} command (@pxref{Invoking guix package})
and add @file{~/.guix-profile/share/emacs/site-lisp/} directory to
@code{load-path} variable.

@item
If you did not install Guix at all and prefer a hacking way
(@pxref{Running Guix Before It Is Installed}), along with augmenting
@code{load-path} you need to set @code{guix-load-path} variable to the
same directory, so your final configuration will look like this:

@example
(let ((dir "/path/to/your-guix-git-tree/emacs"))
  (add-to-list 'load-path dir)
  (setq guix-load-path dir))
(require 'guix-init nil t)
@end example
@end itemize

By default, along with autoloading (@pxref{Autoload,,, elisp, The GNU
Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}) the main interactive commands for
``guix.el'' (@pxref{Emacs Commands}), requiring @code{guix-init} will
also autoload commands for the Emacs packages installed in your user
profile.

To disable automatic loading of installed Emacs packages, set
@code{guix-package-enable-at-startup} variable to @code{nil} before
requiring @code{guix-init}.  This variable has the same meaning for
Emacs packages installed with Guix, as @code{package-enable-at-startup}
for the built-in Emacs package system (@pxref{Package Installation,,,
emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).

You can activate Emacs packages installed in your profile whenever you
want using @kbd{M-x@tie{}guix-emacs-load-autoloads}.


@node Emacs Package Management
@section Package Management

Once ``guix.el'' has been successfully configured, you should be able to
use a visual interface for routine package management tasks, pretty much
like the @command{guix package} command (@pxref{Invoking guix package}).
Specifically, it makes it easy to:

@itemize
@item browse and display packages and generations;
@item search, install, upgrade and remove packages;
@item display packages from previous generations;
@item do some other useful things.
@end itemize

@menu
* Commands: Emacs Commands.			@kbd{M-x guix-@dots{}}
* General information: Emacs General info.	Common for both interfaces.
* ``List'' buffer: Emacs List buffer.		List-like interface.
* ``Info'' buffer: Emacs Info buffer.		Help-like interface.
* Configuration: Emacs Configuration.		Configuring the interface.
@end menu

@node Emacs Commands
@subsection Commands

All commands for displaying packages and generations use the current
profile, which can be changed with
@kbd{M-x@tie{}guix-set-current-profile}.  Alternatively, if you call any
of these commands with prefix argument (@kbd{C-u}), you will be prompted
for a profile just for that command.

Commands for displaying packages:

@table @kbd

@item M-x guix-all-available-packages
@itemx M-x guix-newest-available-packages
Display all/newest available packages.

@item M-x guix-installed-packages
Display all installed packages.

@item M-x guix-obsolete-packages
Display obsolete packages (the packages that are installed in a profile
but cannot be found among available packages).

@item M-x guix-search-by-name
Display package(s) with the specified name.

@item M-x guix-search-by-regexp
Search for packages by a specified regexp.  By default ``name'',
``synopsis'' and ``description'' of the packages will be searched.  This
can be changed by modifying @code{guix-search-params} variable.

@end table

By default, these commands display each output on a separate line.  If
you prefer to see a list of packages---i.e., a list with a package per
line, use the following setting:

@example
(setq guix-package-list-type 'package)
@end example

Commands for displaying generations:

@table @kbd

@item M-x guix-generations
List all the generations.

@item M-x guix-last-generations
List the @var{N} last generations.  You will be prompted for the number
of generations.

@item M-x guix-generations-by-time
List generations matching time period.  You will be prompted for the
period using Org mode time prompt based on Emacs calendar (@pxref{The
date/time prompt,,, org, The Org Manual}).

@end table

You can also invoke the @command{guix pull} command (@pxref{Invoking
guix pull}) from Emacs using:

@table @kbd
@item M-x guix-pull
With @kbd{C-u}, make it verbose.
@end table

Once @command{guix pull} has succeeded, the Guix REPL is restared.  This
allows you to keep using the Emacs interface with the updated Guix.

@node Emacs General info
@subsection General information

The following keys are available for both ``list'' and ``info'' types of
buffers:

@table @kbd
@item l
@itemx r
Go backward/forward by the history of the displayed results (this
history is similar to the history of the Emacs @code{help-mode} or
@code{Info-mode}).

@item g
Revert current buffer: update information about the displayed
packages/generations and redisplay it.

@item R
Redisplay current buffer (without updating information).

@item M
Apply manifest to the current profile or to a specified profile, if
prefix argument is used.  This has the same meaning as @code{--manifest}
option (@pxref{Invoking guix package}).

@item C-c C-z
Go to the Guix REPL (@pxref{The REPL,,, geiser, Geiser User Manual}).

@item h
@itemx ?
Describe current mode to see all available bindings.

@end table

@emph{Hint:} If you need several ``list'' or ``info'' buffers, you can
simlpy @kbd{M-x clone-buffer} them, and each buffer will have its own
history.

@emph{Warning:} Name/version pairs cannot be used to identify packages
(because a name is not necessarily unique), so ``guix.el'' uses special
identifiers that live only during a guile session, so if the Guix REPL
was restarted, you may want to revert ``list'' buffer (by pressing
@kbd{g}).

@node Emacs List buffer
@subsection ``List'' buffer

An interface of a ``list'' buffer is similar to the interface provided
by ``package.el'' (@pxref{Package Menu,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).

Default key bindings available for both ``package-list'' and
``generation-list'' buffers:

@table @kbd
@item m
Mark the current entry (with prefix, mark all entries).
@item u
Unmark the current entry (with prefix, unmark all entries).
@item @key{DEL}
Unmark backward.
@item S
Sort entries by a specified column.
@end table

A ``package-list'' buffer additionally provides the following bindings:

@table @kbd
@item @key{RET}
Describe marked packages (display available information in a
``package-info'' buffer).
@item i
Mark the current package for installation.
@item d
Mark the current package for deletion.
@item U
Mark the current package for upgrading.
@item ^
Mark all obsolete packages for upgrading.
@item e
Edit the definition of the curent package (go to its location).  This is
similar to @command{guix edit} command (@pxref{Invoking guix edit}), but
for opening a package recipe in the current Emacs instance.
@item x
Execute actions on the marked packages.
@end table

A ``generation-list'' buffer additionally provides the following
bindings:

@table @kbd
@item @key{RET}
List packages installed in the current generation.
@item i
Describe marked generations (display available information in a
``generation-info'' buffer).
@item s
Switch profile to the current generation.
@item d
Mark the current generation for deletion (with prefix, mark all
generations).
@item x
Execute actions on the marked generations---i.e., delete generations.
@item e
Run Ediff (@pxref{Top,,, ediff, The Ediff Manual}) on package outputs
installed in the 2 marked generations.  With prefix argument, run Ediff
on manifests of the marked generations.
@item D
@itemx =
Run Diff (@pxref{Diff Mode,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}) on package
outputs installed in the 2 marked generations.  With prefix argument,
run Diff on manifests of the marked generations.
@item +
List package outputs added to the latest marked generation comparing
with another marked generation.
@item -
List package outputs removed from the latest marked generation comparing
with another marked generation.
@end table

@node Emacs Info buffer
@subsection ``Info'' buffer

The interface of an ``info'' buffer is similar to the interface of
@code{help-mode} (@pxref{Help Mode,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).

``Info'' buffer contains some buttons (as usual you may use @key{TAB} /
@kbd{S-@key{TAB}} to move between buttons---@pxref{Mouse References,,,
emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}) which can be used to:

@itemize @bullet
@item (in a ``package-info'' buffer)

@itemize @minus
@item install/remove a package;
@item jump to a package location;
@item browse home page of a package;
@item describe packages from ``Inputs'' fields.
@end itemize

@item (in a ``generation-info'' buffer)

@itemize @minus
@item remove a generation;
@item switch to a generation;
@item list packages installed in a generation;
@item jump to a generation directory.
@end itemize

@end itemize

It is also possible to copy a button label (a link to an URL or a file)
by pressing @kbd{c} on a button.


@node Emacs Configuration
@subsection Configuration

There are many variables you can modify to change the appearance or
behavior of Emacs user interface.  Some of these variables are described
in this section.  Also you can use Custom Interface (@pxref{Easy
Customization,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}) to explore/set variables
(not all) and faces.

@menu
* Guile and Build Options: Emacs Build Options.	Specifying how packages are built.
* Buffer Names: Emacs Buffer Names.	Names of Guix buffers.
* Keymaps: Emacs Keymaps.		Configuring key bindings.
* Appearance: Emacs Appearance.		Settings for visual appearance.
@end menu

@node Emacs Build Options
@subsubsection Guile and Build Options

@table @code
@item guix-guile-program
If you have some special needs for starting a Guile process, you may set
this variable, for example:

@example
(setq guix-guile-program '("/bin/guile" "--no-auto-compile"))
@end example

@item guix-use-substitutes
Has the same meaning as @code{--no-substitutes} option (@pxref{Invoking
guix build}).

@item guix-dry-run
Has the same meaning as @code{--dry-run} option (@pxref{Invoking guix
build}).

@end table

@node Emacs Buffer Names
@subsubsection Buffer Names

Default names of ``guix.el'' buffers (``*Guix@tie{}@dots{}*'') may be
changed with the following variables:

@table @code
@item guix-package-list-buffer-name
@item guix-output-list-buffer-name
@item guix-generation-list-buffer-name
@item guix-package-info-buffer-name
@item guix-output-info-buffer-name
@item guix-generation-info-buffer-name
@item guix-repl-buffer-name
@item guix-internal-repl-buffer-name
@end table

By default, the name of a profile is also displayed in a ``list'' or
``info'' buffer name.  To change this behavior, use
@code{guix-buffer-name-function} variable.

For example, if you want to display all types of results in a single
buffer (in such case you will probably use a history (@kbd{l}/@kbd{r})
extensively), you may do it like this:

@example
(let ((name "Guix Universal"))
  (setq
   guix-package-list-buffer-name    name
   guix-output-list-buffer-name     name
   guix-generation-list-buffer-name name
   guix-package-info-buffer-name    name
   guix-output-info-buffer-name     name
   guix-generation-info-buffer-name name
   guix-buffer-name-function        #'guix-buffer-name-simple))
@end example

@node Emacs Keymaps
@subsubsection Keymaps

If you want to change default key bindings, use the following keymaps
(@pxref{Init Rebinding,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}):

@table @code
@item guix-root-map
Parent keymap with general keys for all guix modes.

@item guix-list-mode-map
Parent keymap with general keys for ``list'' buffers.

@item guix-package-list-mode-map
Keymap with specific keys for ``package-list'' buffers.

@item guix-output-list-mode-map
Keymap with specific keys for ``output-list'' buffers.

@item guix-generation-list-mode-map
Keymap with specific keys for ``generation-list'' buffers.

@item guix-info-mode-map
Parent keymap with general keys for ``info'' buffers.

@item guix-package-info-mode-map
Keymap with specific keys for ``package-info'' buffers.

@item guix-output-info-mode-map
Keymap with specific keys for ``output-info'' buffers.

@item guix-generation-info-mode-map
Keymap with specific keys for ``generation-info'' buffers.

@item guix-info-button-map
Keymap with keys available when a point is placed on a button.

@end table

@node Emacs Appearance
@subsubsection Appearance

You can change almost any aspect of ``list'' / ``info'' buffers using
the following variables:

@table @code
@item guix-list-column-format
@itemx guix-list-column-titles
@itemx guix-list-column-value-methods
Specify the columns, their names, what and how is displayed in ``list''
buffers.

@item guix-info-displayed-params
@itemx guix-info-insert-methods
@itemx guix-info-ignore-empty-vals
@itemx guix-info-param-title-format
@itemx guix-info-multiline-prefix
@itemx guix-info-indent
@itemx guix-info-fill-column
@itemx guix-info-delimiter
Various settings for ``info'' buffers.

@end table


@node Emacs Popup Interface
@section Popup Interface

If you ever used Magit, you know what ``popup interface'' is
(@pxref{Top,,, magit-popup, Magit-Popup User Manual}).  Even if you are
not acquainted with Magit, there should be no worries as it is very
intuitive.

So @kbd{M-x@tie{}guix} command provides a top-level popup interface for
all available guix commands.  When you select an option, you'll be
prompted for a value in the minibuffer.  Many values have completions,
so don't hesitate to press @key{TAB} key.  Multiple values (for example,
packages or lint checkers) should be separated by commas.

After specifying all options and switches for a command, you may choose
one of the available actions.  The following default actions are
available for all commands:

@itemize

@item
Run the command in the Guix REPL.  It is faster than running
@code{guix@tie{}@dots{}} command directly in shell, as there is no
need to run another guile process and to load required modules there.

@item
Run the command in a shell buffer.  You can set
@code{guix-run-in-shell-function} variable to fine tune the shell buffer
you want to use.

@item
Add the command line to the kill ring (@pxref{Kill Ring,,, emacs, The
GNU Emacs Manual}).

@end itemize


@node Emacs Prettify
@section Guix Prettify Mode

GNU@tie{}Guix also comes with ``guix-prettify.el''.  It provides a minor
mode for abbreviating store file names by replacing hash sequences of
symbols with ``@dots{}'':

@example
/gnu/store/72f54nfp6g1hz873w8z3gfcah0h4nl9p-foo-0.1
@result{} /gnu/store/…-foo-0.1
@end example

Once you set up ``guix.el'' (@pxref{Emacs Initial Setup}), the following
commands become available:

@table @kbd

@item M-x guix-prettify-mode
Enable/disable prettifying for the current buffer.

@item M-x global-guix-prettify-mode
Enable/disable prettifying globally.

@end table

To automatically enable @code{guix-prettify-mode} globally on Emacs
start, add the following line to your init file:

@example
(global-guix-prettify-mode)
@end example

If you want to enable it only for specific major modes, add it to the
mode hooks (@pxref{Hooks,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}), for example:

@example
(add-hook 'shell-mode-hook 'guix-prettify-mode)
(add-hook 'dired-mode-hook 'guix-prettify-mode)
@end example


@node Emacs Build Log
@section Build Log Mode

GNU@tie{}Guix provides major and minor modes for highlighting build
logs.  So when you have a file with a package build output---for
example, a file returned by @command{guix build --log-file @dots{}}
command (@pxref{Invoking guix build}), you may call @kbd{M-x
guix-build-log-mode} command in the buffer with this file.  This major
mode highlights some lines specific to build output and provides the
following key bindings:

@table @kbd

@item M-n
Move to the next build phase.

@item M-p
Move to the previous build phase.

@item @key{TAB}
Toggle (show/hide) the body of the current build phase.

@item S-@key{TAB}
Toggle (show/hide) the bodies of all build phases.

@end table

There is also @kbd{M-x guix-build-log-minor-mode} which also provides
the same highlighting (but not key bindings).  And as it is a minor
mode, it can be enabled in any buffer.  For example, if you are building
some package in a shell buffer (@pxref{Interactive Shell,,, emacs, The
GNU Emacs Manual}), you may enable @command{guix-build-log-minor-mode}
to make it more colorful.  Guix build output is rather specific, so this
new highlighting shouldn't conflict with the existing one.


@node Emacs Completions
@section Shell Completions

Another feature that becomes available after configuring Emacs interface
(@pxref{Emacs Initial Setup}) is completing of @command{guix}
subcommands, options, packages and other things in @code{shell}
(@pxref{Interactive Shell,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}) and
@code{eshell} (@pxref{Top,,, eshell, Eshell: The Emacs Shell}).

It works the same way as other completions do.  Just press @key{TAB}
when your intuition tells you.

And here are some examples, where pressing @key{TAB} may complete
something:

@itemize @w{}

@item @code{guix pa}@key{TAB}
@item @code{guix package -}@key{TAB}
@item @code{guix package --}@key{TAB}
@item @code{guix package -i gei}@key{TAB}
@item @code{guix build -L/tm}@key{TAB}
@item @code{guix build --sy}@key{TAB}
@item @code{guix build --system=i}@key{TAB}
@item @code{guix system rec}@key{TAB}
@item @code{guix lint --checkers=sy}@key{TAB}
@item @code{guix lint --checkers=synopsis,des}@key{TAB}

@end itemize


@node Emacs Development
@section Development

By default, when you open a Scheme file, @code{guix-devel-mode} will be
activated (if you don't want it, set @code{guix-devel-activate-mode} to
nil).  This minor mode provides the following key bindings:

@table @kbd

@item C-c . k
Copy the name of the current Guile module into kill ring
(@code{guix-devel-copy-module-as-kill}).

@item C-c . u
Use the current Guile module.  Often after opening a Scheme file, you
want to use a module it defines, so you switch to the Geiser REPL and
write @code{,use (some module)} there.  You may just use this command
instead (@code{guix-devel-use-module}).

@item C-c . b
Build a package defined by the current variable definition.  The
building process is run in the current Geiser REPL.  If you modified the
current package definition, don't forget to reevaluate it before calling
this command---for example, with @kbd{C-M-x} (@pxref{To eval or not to
eval,,, geiser, Geiser User Manual})
(@code{guix-devel-build-package-definition}).

@item C-c . s
Build a source derivation of the package defined by the current variable
definition.  This command has the same meaning as @code{guix build -S}
shell command (@pxref{Invoking guix build})
(@code{guix-devel-build-package-source}).

@item C-c . l
Lint (check) a package defined by the current variable definition
(@pxref{Invoking guix lint}) (@code{guix-devel-lint-package}).

@end table

Unluckily, there is a limitation related to long-running REPL commands.
When there is a running process in a Geiser REPL, you are not supposed
to evaluate anything in a scheme buffer, because this will ``freeze''
the REPL: it will stop producing any output (however, the evaluating
process will continue---you will just not see any progress anymore).  Be
aware: even moving the point in a scheme buffer may ``break'' the REPL
if Autodoc (@pxref{Autodoc and friends,,, geiser, Geiser User Manual})
is enabled (which is the default).

So you have to postpone editing your scheme buffers until the running
evaluation will be finished in the REPL.

Alternatively, to avoid this limitation, you may just run another Geiser
REPL, and while something is being evaluated in the previous REPL, you
can continue editing a scheme file with the help of the current one.