Re: defining functions in emacs

[Kevin Rodgers]

Matt Brown wrote:
> I wrote my first emacs function! Here's my function:
>
>
> (defun read-environment ()
>  (setq outbuf (generate-new-buffer "read-environment-outbuf"))
>  (call-process "read-environment.sh" nil outbuf nil)
>  (eval-buffer outbuf)
>  (kill-buffer outbuf))
>
> It uses read-environment.sh to generate a whole bunch of setenv lines, 
> and then evaluates them.  Basically, it sources .bashrc and sets the new 
> variables in emacs.

In Emacs there is always more than 1 way to skin a cat:

(let ((shell-file-name "/bin/bash"))
  (setq process-environment
        (split-string (shell-command-to-string ". $HOME/.bashrc; env") 
"\n")))

> It works fine, but I want to be able to run it by
> M-x read-environment
>
> This doesn't work. I have to put
> (read-environment)
> into *scratch*, move to the ')' and do C-x C-e to evaluate it.  Pretty 
> lame.
>
>  From the digging around I've done, it seems like it should just work.  
> Any ideas?  BTW, the defun is in my .emacs

Read the "Defining Commands" node of the Emacs Lisp manual, and its
subnodes.

--
Kevin Rodgers