README for Perl module Emacs::Lisp last updated: 20 Mar 1999 ################################################################## ###### CAUTION ###### CAUTION ###### CAUTION ###### CAUTION ###### ################################################################## ####### ####### ####### THIS IS BETA SOFTWARE. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK! ####### ####### NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CRASHES OR LOST DATA!!!!!!! ####### ####### ####### ################################################################## ###### CAUTION ###### CAUTION ###### CAUTION ###### CAUTION ###### ################################################################## WHAT ---- Perlmacs is a program based on GNU Emacs that has all the functionality of both Perl and Emacs. The Emacs::Lisp module allows Perl code to call functions and access variables of Lisp. This release uses features introduced in Perlmacs 0.9, which is based on Emacs 20.3 and requires Perl 5.005. The following table lists which versions of the various packages work together: Emacs::Lisp Emacs Perl Perlmacs =========== ===== ==== ======== 0.71 20.2 5.004 0.6.2 0.75 20.3 5.004 0.6.2.2 0.80 20.3 5.005 0.7.1 0.84 20.3 5.005 0.8 0.88+ 20.3 5.005 0.9+ WHY --- The intent is to allow Emacs modules and customization code to be written in Perl, as well as Emacs Lisp. Because we can. :-) Actually, my motives have mostly to do with becoming a better programmer, familiarizing myself with Perl and Emacs and indulging my fascination with language translation. See http://www.tux.org/~niemi/opensource/developer-motivation.html for a nice explanation by David Niemi. As for why anyone would want to install Perlmacs, your guess is as good as mine. One brave soul emailed me to say that he had made Perlmacs "a very important tool" for his y2k consulting work. You can see his code at http://john-edwin-tobey.org/perlmacs/. HOW --- You must first install PERL VERSION 5.005 or higher. Your Perl must have working ExtUtils::Embed capabilities. If not, `configure' will exclude Perl support, and you will have something close to standard GNU Emacs. If you are unsure about this, watch the messages printed by `configure'. If they say that Perl is embeddable, good. If not, make sure your Perl is at least version 5.005. If it is, have a peek at the generated config.log file for clues, and mail me any workarounds. Retrieve the Emacs 20.3 distribution from a location such as one of these: ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/emacs/emacs-20.3.tar.gz ftp://metalab.unc.edu/pub/gnu/emacs/emacs-20.3.tar.gz You may want to grab the Elisp Manual, elisp-manual-20-2.5.tar.gz, while you're there. (At this time, knowledge of Elisp is very helpful for programming with Emacs::Lisp.) Retrieve the latest Perlmacs patch from one of these locations: http://www.perl.com/CPAN/authors/id/JTOBEY/emacs-20.3-perlmacs-*.pl.gz http://john-edwin-tobey.org/perlmacs/src/emacs-20.3-perlmacs-*.pl.gz (Substitute the apporpriate version number for `*'.) Then do gzip -dc emacs-20.3.tar.gz |tar xf - cd emacs-20.3 gzip -dc ../emacs-20.3-perlmacs-*.pl.gz |perl Have a look at the patched README file for further information. The basic procedure should be familiar: ./configure make make install This will, by default, install the program in /usr/local/bin under the names `pmacs' and `perlmacs'. The program can parse its command line as either Perl or Emacs would, depending on whether "perl" appears in its name. (Using `--perl' or `--emacs' as the first arg overrides this.) (If you want, you *could* install it as `perl' and `emacs' with probably no ill effects other than slower startup, but there would be a possibility of nastiness due to Emacs' unclean C namespace.) If you wish to use an installed version of perl other than the one that's in your $PATH, set the environment variable $PERL to the desired program when running configure. For example, under bash or sh: PERL=perl5.00502 ./configure Next, build the Emacs::Lisp module in the usual way, but use perlmacs in place of perl. gzip -dc Emacs-Lisp-*.tar.gz |tar xf - cd Emacs-Lisp-* perlmacs Makefile.PL make make test make install Most of the documentation for both Perlmacs and this module is in Lisp.pm and will be accessible after installation via perldoc Emacs::Lisp Lisp functions, such as `perl-eval-expression', have Emacs docstrings accessible through `C-h f'. No texinfo docs yet, sorry. For information on getting the latest source via anonymous CVS, see http://john-edwin-tobey.org/perlmacs/. LICENSE ------- This software is licensed under the GNU General Public License. See the file COPYING for details. WARRANTY -------- What! Are you kidding? Let's see, where's a copy of that disclaimer.... oh, here we go: This software is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details. Send bug reports and inquiries to John .