Re: [Ilisp-help] Output Issues

[rif <rif@MIT.EDU>]

Summary:

I had several confusions with typeout windows and output.  I think I
understand now.  If everything I give in this summary is correct, I am
willing to write a patch to the "Typeout windows" info node, as well
as some variable docstrings.  Please confirm or correct these
hypotheses:

1.  lisp-no-popper affects exactly two functions in the ilisp
    distribution --- ilisp-display-output-default and
    ilisp-arglist-message-lisp.  

    The Info Node "Typeout Windows" is misleading on this point --- it
    mentions that ilisp-display-output-default obeys the
    lisp-no-popper variable, but doesn't mention whether any other
    functions do or don't.  It also says "An alternative to typeout
    windows is to always have the inferior Lisp buffer visible and
    have all output go there.  Setting lisp-no-popper to t will cause
    all output to go to the inferior Lisp buffer."  This should be
    clarified in various ways.

    The lisp-no-popper and ilisp-display-output-default docstrings are
    in direct contradiction on the subject of where outputs longer
    than one line are sent if lisp-no-popper is neither nil nor t.
    The lisp-no-popper docstring correctly states these go to a pop-up
    window (this is correct assuming ilisp-display-output-default is
    being used, lisp-no-popper needs to mention this), and the
    ilisp-display-output-default docstring incorrectly states it goes
    to the ilisp buffer (ie., the lisp listener).

2.  ilisp-*use-frame-for-arglist-output-p* is very poorly named.  This
    variable really refers to whether the arglist info goes somewhere
    *different* than the output from the inferior lisp --- in and of
    itself it has nothing to do with frames.  In particular, all four
    combinations of this variable being t/nil and arglist info
    appearing in a frame or not are possible.
 
    The interaction between arglists and list-no-popper should also be
    mentioned.  Basically, if list-no-popper is t, the arglist info
    will ALWAYS be shown via message.  If list-no-popper is nil, then
    the output is passed to lisp-display-output, and it is only in
    this case that the values of
    ilisp-*use-frame-for-arglist-output-p* and
    ilisp-*use-frame-for-output* become relevant.

End of summary.  If everything I said above is correct, then I have a
reasonable understanding of what's going on, and I can submit some
documentation patches.

Cheers,

rif