Kevin Ryde <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> Neil Jerram <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>>
>> ... instead of by a parameter to `readline',
>
> Is that readline function meant to be used? I assume it's emulating
> the C function of that name. If you use it and no other input it
> works does it?
Yes, it is meant to be used, and I believe it works.
Sorry if I was misleading on this before. I've refreshed my memory
now about how all this fits together. Basically (ice-9 readline)
combines two separable things.
1. One is the Scheme readline function, which basically just wraps the
C function. This allows programs to call `readline' explicitly when
they want to, and on such occasions it makes perfect sense for the
program to specify the prompt, so the readline's first arg is a prompt
string.
2. The other is the idea of using readline automatically whenever
something needs to be read from the current input port. This is what
the `activate-readline' proc does - it could equally well be named
`use-readline-for-current-input-port'. For this feature you wouldn't
expect to see an explicit `readline' call anywhere, except deep down
in the definition of a soft port that replaces the current input port.
Program code continues to use non-readline-specific calls like `read',
`read-char' or `read-line', and the port uses readline to replenish
the port's input buffer when necessary.
My explanation of the thinking behind set-readline-prompt! applies to
(2). In this case the program can't always predict when a readline
will happen, and it doesn't issue the readline call itself directly;
so set-readline-prompt! basically means "use so-and-so prompt if a
readline is needed".
Slightly confusingly, set-readline-prompt! does also set the default
prompt for an explicit `readline' call (1). I think the overall
situation would be clearer if it didn't.
The bug which Jon has noted, about the effect of set-readline-prompt!
not lasting very long, is caused by the fact that Guile's REPL code,
when using readline, does a
(set-readline-prompt! "guile>" "...")
before reading an expression from the REPL, and
(set-readline-prompt! "" "")
after the read, thus losing whatever prompt the user might have
installed for their own (non-REPL) purposes. This code should instead
save the existing prompts and restore them afterwards - I'll post a
patch for that soon.
Regards,
Neil
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