Re: guix-edit shows "Autodoc not available..." w/ 2 REPLs

[Alex Kost]

myglc2 (2016-07-12 17:22 +0300) wrote:

> Alex Kost <address@hidden> writes:
>
>> myglc2 (2016-07-11 18:09 +0300) wrote:
>>
>>> Running guix/debian ...
>>>
>>> When I do 'M-x guix-edit RET screen RET' I get ...
>>>
>>> "Autodoc not available (No Geiser REPL for this buffer (try M-x 
>>> run-geiser))"
>>
>> Ouch, I've just answered you on #guix (using sneek).
>
> Thanks, sorry I missed your IRC response. I'm not familiar with
> sneek. Can you provide a reference?

Just join #guix and say hello.  Sneek (the bot) will send you my answer.

>> This error is harmless.  It comes from Geiser and happens when you work
>> with any scheme file and did not start Geiser REPL.
>>
>> Guix REPL is used only by "M-x guix-..." commands (to show/install
>> packages, open package files, etc.).  Guix REPL does not interfere with
>> a usual editing of scheme files.  I mean "M-x guix-edit ..." just opens
>> a scheme file with the package definition, and that's it.  If you need a
>> Geiser REPL (but it's unlikely you need it) while working with this
>> file, you can start it with C-c C-z.
>
> I was thinking autodoc might help me understand guix/guile. No?

Probably.  I think Geiser is a big helper if you work with Scheme in
Emacs.

> I am trying to get all the bells and whistles working. In search of a
> more perfect setup, I switched back to GuixSD, so comments below relate
> to GuixSD. Now, when I 'M-x guix-edit RET screen' & 'M-x run-geiser' I
> get auto doc works and I see these buffers:
>
>  MR Name                    Size Mode             Filename/Process
>   -- ----                    ---- ----             ----------------
>  *  * Guile REPL *           635 REPL             (Guile REPL<1> run)

This is the Geiser REPL that you started manually.  It can be helful
when you work with scheme files.  See the Geiser manual :-)

>  *  *Guix REPL*              312 REPL             (Guile REPL run)
>  *  *Guix Internal ...       312 REPL             (*Guix Internal REPL*

These REPLs are started automatically when you run one of "M-x guix..."
command.  They are used to get various info (on packages, generations,
licenses), to install packages, etc.  They are not intended to be used
as general Guile REPLs.  There is a reason why there are 2 REPLs instead
of a single one (if you are interested you may "M-x find-library
guix-backend" and read the starting commentary).  Although it would
probably be better to hide the "internal" repl to make it less confusing
for users.

> Can you comment on whom/what each of these REPLs is used by/for?
>
> If I want to use a REPL, which one should I use?

The Geiser one (by default it is called "* Guile REPL *").  Actually,
you are free to do whatever you want (I do whatever I want all the
time).

> Would it make sense to add this info to the doc?

Sorry, what info do you mean?

>> BTW, if you don't want to use Geiser at all, you can disable it with
>> (setq geiser-mode-auto-p nil).  With this setting, scheme files will not
>> enable 'geiser-mode', so you will not see that autodoc error anymore.
>
> OK, but I am going in the other direction, trying to get '8.3 The
> Perfect Setup' working. Right now, unless I manually start the 3rd REPL,
> these commands: ‘C-c . u’ ‘C-c . b’, ‘C-c . s’, ‘C-c . l’, all produce
> 'or: Geiser REPL not found' in *Messages*.
>
> Is this normal?

Yes, because the Geiser REPL is not started.  These commands are
additions to the Geiser functionality, they work only when you have a
running Geiser REPL.  The same will happen with usual Geiser commands,
like 'C-x C-e' or 'M-.'.

> If so, would it be a helpful enhancement if guix-emacs started the 3rd
> REPL automatically?

No!  This relates to a usual editing of .scm files.  When you open .scm
file, the Geiser REPL is not started automatically, and it shouldn't!  I
think this would be a malicious behavior.  It's up to a user to decide
how (s)he wants to edit his/her files (in this case: with or without a
help of Geiser).

-- 
Alex