1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
3 @setfilename ../info/eshell
4 @settitle Eshell: The Emacs Shell
9 This manual is for Eshell, the Emacs shell.
11 Copyright @copyright{} 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
12 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
15 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
16 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or
17 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
18 Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU
19 Manual'', and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the
20 license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation
21 License'' in the Emacs manual.
23 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify
24 this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free
25 Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.''
27 This document is part of a collection distributed under the GNU Free
28 Documentation License. If you want to distribute this document
29 separately from the collection, you can do so by adding a copy of the
30 license to the document, as described in section 6 of the license.
36 * Eshell: (eshell). A command shell implemented in Emacs Lisp.
43 @c The title is printed in a large font.
44 @center @titlefont{User's Guide}
46 @center @titlefont{to}
48 @center @titlefont{Eshell: The Emacs Shell}
59 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
65 @c ================================================================
66 @c The real text starts here
67 @c ================================================================
70 @node Top, What is Eshell?, (dir), (dir)
73 This manual documents Eshell, a shell-like command interpretor
74 implemented in Emacs Lisp. It invokes no external processes except for
75 those requested by the user. It is intended to be a functional
76 replacement for command shells such as @command{bash}, @command{zsh},
77 @command{rc}, or @command{4dos}; since Emacs itself is capable of
78 handling the sort of tasks accomplished by those tools.
79 @c This manual is updated to release 2.4 of Eshell.
83 * What is Eshell?:: A brief introduction to the Emacs Shell.
84 * Command basics:: The basics of command usage.
90 * Extras and Goodies::
91 * Bugs and ideas:: Known problems, and future ideas.
92 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation.
94 * Function and Variable Index::
99 @chapter What is Eshell?
100 @cindex what is Eshell?
101 @cindex Eshell, what it is
103 Eshell is a @dfn{command shell} written in Emacs Lisp. Everything it
104 does, it uses Emacs' facilities to do. This means that Eshell is as
105 portable as Emacs itself. It also means that cooperation with Lisp code
106 is natural and seamless.
108 What is a command shell? To properly understand the role of a shell,
109 it's necessary to visualize what a computer does for you. Basically, a
110 computer is a tool; in order to use that tool, you must tell it what to
111 do---or give it ``commands.'' These commands take many forms, such as
112 clicking with a mouse on certain parts of the screen. But that is only
113 one form of command input.
115 By far the most versatile way to express what you want the computer to
116 do is by using an abbreviated language called @dfn{script}. In
117 script, instead of telling the computer, ``list my files, please'',
118 one writes a standard abbreviated command word---@samp{ls}. Typing
119 @samp{ls} in a command shell is a script way of telling the computer
120 to list your files.@footnote{This is comparable to viewing the
121 contents of a folder using a graphical display.}
123 The real flexibility of this approach is apparent only when you realize
124 that there are many, many different ways to list files. Perhaps you
125 want them sorted by name, sorted by date, in reverse order, or grouped
126 by type. Most graphical browsers have simple ways to express this. But
127 what about showing only a few files, or only files that meet a certain
128 criteria? In very complex and specific situations, the request becomes
129 too difficult to express using a mouse or pointing device. It is just
130 these kinds of requests that are easily solved using a command shell.
132 For example, what if you want to list every Word file on your hard
133 drive, larger than 100 kilobytes in size, and which hasn't been looked
134 at in over six months? That is a good candidate list for deletion, when
135 you go to clean up your hard drive. But have you ever tried asking your
136 computer for such a list? There is no way to do it! At least, not
137 without using a command shell.
139 The role of a command shell is to give you more control over what your
140 computer does for you. Not everyone needs this amount of control, and
141 it does come at a cost: Learning the necessary script commands to
142 express what you want done. A complicated query, such as the example
143 above, takes time to learn. But if you find yourself using your
144 computer frequently enough, it is more than worthwhile in the long run.
145 Any tool you use often deserves the time spent learning to master it.
146 @footnote{For the understandably curious, here is what that command
147 looks like: But don't let it fool you; once you know what's going on,
148 it's easier than it looks: @code{ls -lt **/*.doc(Lk+50aM+5)}.}
151 * Contributors to Eshell:: People who have helped out!
154 @node Contributors to Eshell
155 @section Contributors to Eshell
159 Contributions to Eshell are welcome. I have limited time to work on
160 this project, but I will gladly add any code you contribute to me to
163 The following persons have made contributions to Eshell.
167 Eli Zaretskii made it possible for Eshell to run without requiring
168 asynchronous subprocess support. This is important for MS-DOS, which
169 does not have such support.@refill
172 Miles Bader contributed many fixes during the port to Emacs 21.@refill
175 Stefan Monnier fixed the things which bothered him, which of course made
176 things better for all.@refill
179 Gerd Moellmann also helped to contribute bug fixes during the initial
180 integration with Emacs 21.@refill
183 Alex Schroeder contributed code for interactively querying the user
184 before overwriting files.@refill
187 Sudish Joseph helped with some XEmacs compatibility issues.@refill
190 Apart from these, a lot of people have sent suggestions, ideas,
191 requests, bug reports and encouragement. Thanks a lot! Without you
192 there would be no new releases of Eshell.
195 @chapter Basic overview
197 A command shell is a means of entering verbally-formed commands. This
198 is really all that it does, and every feature described in this manual
199 is a means to that end. Therefore, it's important to take firm hold on
200 exactly what a command is, and how it fits in the overall picture of
204 * Commands verbs:: Commands always begin with a verb.
205 * Command arguments:: Some verbs require arguments.
209 @section Commands verbs
211 Commands are expressed using @dfn{script}, a special shorthand language
212 computers can understand with no trouble. Script is an extremely simple
213 language; oddly enough, this is what makes it look so complicated!
214 Whereas normal languages use a variety of embellishments, the form of a
215 script command is always:
218 @var{verb} [@var{arguments}]
221 The verb expresses what you want your computer to do. There are a fixed
222 number of verbs, although this number is usually quite large. On the
223 author's computer, it reaches almost 1400 in number. But of course,
224 only a handful of these are really necessary.
226 Sometimes, the verb is all that's written. A verb is always a single
227 word, usually related to the task it performs. @command{reboot} is a
228 good example. Entering that on GNU/Linux will reboot the
229 computer---assuming you have sufficient privileges.
231 Other verbs require more information. These are usually very capable
232 verbs, and must be told specifically what to do. The extra information
233 is given in the form of @dfn{arguments}. For example, the
234 @command{echo} verb prints back whatever arguments you type. It
235 requires these arguments to know what to echo. A proper use of
236 @command{echo} looks like this:
239 echo This is an example of using echo!
242 This script command causes the computer to echo back: ``This is an
243 example of using echo!''
245 Although command verbs are always simple words, like @command{reboot} or
246 @command{echo}, arguments may have a wide variety of forms. There are
247 textual arguments, numerical arguments---even Lisp arguments.
248 Distinguishing these different types of arguments requires special
249 typing, for the computer to know exactly what you mean.
251 @node Command arguments
252 @section Command arguments
254 Eshell recognizes several different kinds of command arguments:
257 @item Strings (also called textual arguments)
258 @item Numbers (floating point or integer)
262 @item Emacs process handles
265 Most users need to worry only about the first two. The third, Lisp lists,
266 occur very frequently, but almost always behind the scenes.
268 Strings are the most common type of argument, and consist of nearly any
269 character. Special characters---those used by Eshell
270 specifically---must be preceded by a backslash (@samp{\}). When in doubt, it
271 is safe to add backslashes anywhere and everywhere.
273 Here is a more complicated @command{echo} example:
276 echo A\ Multi-word\ Argument\ With\ A\ \$\ dollar
279 Beyond this, things get a bit more complicated. While not beyond the
280 reach of someone wishing to learn, it is definitely beyond the scope of
281 this manual to present it all in a simplistic manner. Get comfortable
282 with Eshell as a basic command invocation tool, and learn more about the
283 commands on your system; then come back when it all sits more familiarly
284 on your mind. Have fun!
298 Essentially, a command shell is all about invoking commands---and
299 everything that entails. So understanding how Eshell invokes commands
300 is the key to comprehending how it all works.
305 Unlike regular system shells, Eshell never invokes kernel functions
306 directly, such as @code{exec(3)}. Instead, it uses the Lisp functions
307 available in the Emacs Lisp library. It does this by transforming the
308 command you specify into a callable Lisp form.@footnote{To see the Lisp
309 form that will be invoked, type: @samp{eshell-parse-command "echo
312 This transformation, from the string of text typed at the command
313 prompt, to the ultimate invocation of either a Lisp function or external
314 command, follows these steps:
317 @item Parse the command string into separate arguments.
330 Eshell knows a few built-in variables:
336 This variable always contains the current working directory.
340 This variable always contains the previous working directory (the
341 current working directory from before the last @code{cd} command).
350 @section Built-in commands
352 Here is a list of built-in commands that Eshell knows about:
358 This command changes the current working directory. Usually, it is
359 invoked as @samp{cd foo} where @file{foo} is the new working
360 directory. But @code{cd} knows about a few special arguments:
362 When it receives no argument at all, it changes to the home directory.
364 Giving the command @samp{cd -} changes back to the previous working
365 directory (this is the same as @samp{cd $-}).
367 The command @samp{cd =} shows the directory stack. Each line is
370 With @samp{cd =foo}, Eshell searches the directory stack for a
371 directory matching the regular expression @samp{foo} and changes to
374 With @samp{cd -42}, you can access the directory stack by number.
397 @section Substitution
407 @chapter Input/Output
409 @node Process control
410 @chapter Process control
413 @node Extension modules
414 @chapter Extension modules
419 * Directory handling::
422 * Terminal emulation::
423 * Built-in UNIX commands::
426 @node Writing a module
427 @section Writing a module
430 @section Module testing
432 @node Directory handling
433 @section Directory handling
436 @section Key rebinding
438 @node Smart scrolling
439 @section Smart scrolling
441 @node Terminal emulation
442 @section Terminal emulation
444 @node Built-in UNIX commands
445 @section Built-in UNIX commands
448 @node Extras and Goodies
449 @chapter Extras and Goodies
452 @chapter Bugs and ideas
453 @cindex reporting bugs and ideas
454 @cindex bugs, how to report them
455 @cindex author, how to reach
456 @cindex email to the author
458 @cindex problems, list of common
460 If you find a bug or misfeature, don't hesitate to let me know! Send
461 email to @email{johnw@@gnu.org}. Feature requests should also be sent
462 there. I prefer discussing one thing at a time. If you find several
463 unrelated bugs, please report them separately.
465 If you have ideas for improvements, or if you have written some
466 extensions to this package, I would like to hear from you. I hope you
467 find this package useful!
474 @section Known problems
478 Below is complete list of known problems with Eshell version 2.4.2,
479 which is the version included with Emacs 22.
482 @item Documentation incomplete
484 @item Differentiate between aliases and functions
486 Allow for a bash-compatible syntax, such as:
490 function arg () @{ blah $* @}
493 @item @samp{for i in 1 2 3 @{ grep -q a b && *echo has it @} | wc -l} outputs result after prompt
495 In fact, piping to a process from a looping construct doesn't work in
496 general. If I change the call to @code{eshell-copy-handles} in
497 @code{eshell-rewrite-for-command} to use @code{eshell-protect}, it seems
498 to work, but the output occurs after the prompt is displayed. The whole
499 structured command thing is too complicated at present.
501 @item Error with @command{bc} in @code{eshell-test}
503 On some XEmacs system, the subprocess interaction test fails
504 inexplicably, although @command{bc} works fine at the command prompt.
506 @item Eshell does not delete @file{*Help*} buffers in XEmacs 21.1.8+
508 In XEmacs 21.1.8, the @file{*Help*} buffer has been renamed such that
509 multiple instances of the @file{*Help*} buffer can exist.
511 @item Pcomplete sometimes gets stuck
513 You press @key{TAB}, but no completions appear, even though the
514 directory has matching files. This behavior is rare.
516 @item @samp{grep python $<rpm -qa>} doesn't work, but using @samp{*grep} does
518 This happens because the @code{grep} Lisp function returns immediately,
519 and then the asynchronous @command{grep} process expects to examine the
520 temporary file, which has since been deleted.
522 @item Problem with C-r repeating text
524 If the text @emph{before point} reads "./run", and you type @kbd{C-r r u
525 n}, it will repeat the line for every character typed.
527 @item Backspace doesn't scroll back after continuing (in smart mode)
529 Hitting space during a process invocation, such as @command{make}, will
530 cause it to track the bottom of the output; but backspace no longer
533 @item It's not possible to fully @code{unload-feature} Eshell
535 @item Menu support was removed, but never put back
537 @item Using C-p and C-n with rebind gets into a locked state
539 This happened a few times in Emacs 21, but has been unreproducible
542 @item If an interactive process is currently running, @kbd{M-!} doesn't work
544 @item Use a timer instead of @code{sleep-for} when killing child processes
546 @item Piping to a Lisp function is not supported
548 Make it so that the Lisp command on the right of the pipe is repeatedly
549 called with the input strings as arguments. This will require changing
550 @code{eshell-do-pipeline} to handle non-process targets.
552 @item Input redirection is not supported
556 @item Problem running @command{less} without arguments on Windows
558 The result in the Eshell buffer is:
561 Spawning child process: invalid argument
564 Also a new @command{less} buffer was created with nothing in it@dots{}
565 (presumably this holds the output of @command{less}).
567 If @command{less.exe} is invoked from the Eshell command line, the
568 expected output is written to the buffer.
570 Note that this happens on NT-Emacs 20.6.1 on Windows 2000. The term.el
571 package and the supplied shell both use the @command{cmdproxy} program
574 @item Implement @samp{-r}, @samp{-n} and @samp{-s} switches for @command{cp}
576 @item Make @kbd{M-5 M-x eshell} switch to ``*eshell<5>*'', creating if need be
578 @item @samp{mv @var{dir} @var{file}.tar} does not remove directories
580 This is because the tar option --remove-files doesn't do so. Should it
583 @item Bind @code{standard-output} and @code{standard-error}
585 This would be so that if a Lisp function calls @code{print}, everything
586 will happen as it should (albeit slowly).
588 @item When an extension module fails to load, @samp{cd /} gives a Lisp error
590 @item If a globbing pattern returns one match, should it be a list?
592 @item Make sure syntax table is correct in Eshell mode
594 So that @kbd{M-DEL} acts in a predictable manner, etc.
596 @item Allow all Eshell buffers to share the same history and list-dir
598 @item There is a problem with script commands that output to @file{/dev/null}
600 If a script file, somewhere in the middle, uses @samp{> /dev/null},
601 output from all subsequent commands is swallowed.
603 @item Split up parsing of text after @samp{$} in @file{esh-var.el}
605 Make it similar to the way that @file{esh-arg.el} is structured.
606 Then add parsing of @samp{$[?\n]}.
608 @item After pressing @kbd{M-RET}, redisplay before running the next command
610 @item Argument predicates and modifiers should work anywhere in a path
613 /usr/local/src/editors/vim $ vi **/CVS(/)/Root(.)
614 Invalid regexp: "Unmatched ( or \\("
617 With @command{zsh}, the glob above expands to all files named
618 @file{Root} in directories named @file{CVS}.
620 @item Typing @samp{echo $@{locate locate@}/bin<TAB>} results in a Lisp error
622 Perhaps it should interpolate all permutations, and make that the
623 globbing result, since otherwise hitting return here will result in
624 ``(list of filenames)/bin'', which is never valuable. Thus, one could
625 @command{cat} only C backup files by using @samp{ls $@{identity *.c@}~}.
626 In that case, having an alias command name @command{glob} for
627 @command{identity} would be useful.
629 @item Once symbolic mode is supported for @command{umask}, implement @command{chmod} in Lisp
631 @item Create @code{eshell-expand-file-name}
633 This would use a data table to transform things such as @samp{~+},
636 @item Abstract @file{em-smart.el} into @file{smart-scroll.el}
638 It only really needs: to be hooked onto the output filter and the
639 pre-command hook, and to have the input-end and input-start markers.
640 And to know whether the last output group was ``successful.''
642 @item Allow for fully persisting the state of Eshell
644 This would include: variables, history, buffer, input, dir stack, etc.
646 @item Implement D as an argument predicate
648 It means that files beginning with a dot should be included in the
651 @item A comma in a predicate list should mean OR
653 At the moment, this is not supported.
655 @item Error if a glob doesn't expand due to a predicate
657 An error should be generated only if @code{eshell-error-if-no-glob} is
660 @item @samp{(+ RET SPC TAB} does not cause @code{indent-according-to-mode} to occur
662 @item Create @code{eshell-auto-accumulate-list}
664 This is a list of commands for which, if the user presses @kbd{RET}, the
665 text is staged as the next Eshell command, rather than being sent to the
666 current interactive process.
668 @item Display file and line number if an error occurs in a script
670 @item @command{wait} doesn't work with process ids at the moment
672 @item Enable the direct-to-process input code in @file{em-term.el}
674 @item Problem with repeating @samp{echo $@{find /tmp@}}
676 With smart display active, if @kbd{RET} is held down, after a while it
677 can't keep up anymore and starts outputting blank lines. It only
678 happens if an asynchronous process is involved@dots{}
680 I think the problem is that @code{eshell-send-input} is resetting the
681 input target location, so that if the asynchronous process is not done
682 by the time the next @kbd{RET} is received, the input processor thinks
683 that the input is meant for the process; which, when smart display is
684 enabled, will be the text of the last command line! That is a bug in
687 In holding down @kbd{RET} while an asynchronous process is running,
688 there will be a point in between termination of the process, and the
689 running of @code{eshell-post-command-hook}, which would cause
690 @code{eshell-send-input} to call @code{eshell-copy-old-input}, and then
691 process that text as a command to be run after the process. Perhaps
692 there should be a way of killing pending input between the death of the
693 process, and the @code{post-command-hook}.
695 @item Allow for a more aggressive smart display mode
697 Perhaps toggled by a command, that makes each output block a smart
700 @item Create more meta variables
704 The reason for the failure of the last disk command, or the text of the
708 A special associate array, which can take references of the form
709 @samp{$=[REGEXP]}. It indexes into the directory ring.
712 @item Eshell scripts can't execute in the background
714 @item Support zsh's ``Parameter Expansion'' syntax, i.e. @samp{$@{@var{name}:-@var{val}@}}
716 @item Write an @command{info} alias that can take arguments
718 So that the user can enter @samp{info chmod}, for example.
720 @item Create a mode @code{eshell-browse}
722 It would treat the Eshell buffer as a outline. Collapsing the outline
723 hides all of the output text. Collapsing again would show only the
724 first command run in each directory
726 @item Allow other revisions of a file to be referenced using @samp{file@{rev@}}
728 This would be expanded by @code{eshell-expand-file-name} (see above).
730 @item Print ``You have new mail'' when the ``Mail'' icon is turned on
732 @item Implement @kbd{M-|} for Eshell
734 @item Implement input redirection
736 If it's a Lisp function, input redirection implies @command{xargs} (in a
737 way@dots{}). If input redirection is added, also update the
738 @code{file-name-quote-list}, and the delimiter list.
740 @item Allow @samp{#<@var{word} @var{arg}>} as a generic syntax
742 With the handling of @emph{word} specified by an
743 @code{eshell-special-alist}.
745 @item In @code{eshell-veal-using-options}, allow a @code{:complete} tag
747 It would be used to provide completion rules for that command. Then the
748 macro will automagically define the completion function.
750 @item For @code{eshell-command-on-region}, apply redirections to the result
752 So that @samp{+ > 'blah} would cause the result of the @code{+} (using
753 input from the current region) to be inserting into the symbol
756 If an external command is being invoked, the input is sent as standard
757 input, as if a @samp{cat <region> |} had been invoked.
759 If a Lisp command, or an alias, is invoked, then if the line has no
760 newline characters, it is divided by whitespace and passed as arguments
761 to the Lisp function. Otherwise, it is divided at the newline
762 characters. Thus, invoking @code{+} on a series of numbers will add
763 them; @code{min} would display the smallest figure, etc.
765 @item Write @code{eshell-script-mode} as a minor mode
767 It would provide syntax, abbrev, highlighting and indenting support like
768 @code{emacs-lisp-mode} and @code{shell-mode}.
770 @item In the history mechanism, finish the @command{bash}-style support
772 This means @samp{!n}, @samp{!#}, @samp{!:%}, and @samp{!:1-} as separate
775 @item Support the -n command line option for @command{history}
777 @item Implement @command{fc} in Lisp
779 @item Specifying a frame as a redirection target should imply the currently active window's buffer
781 @item Implement @samp{>@var{func-or-func-list}}
783 This would allow for an ``output translators'', that take a function to
784 modify output with, and a target. Devise a syntax that works well with
785 pipes, and can accommodate multiple functions (i.e., @samp{>'(upcase
786 regexp-quote)} or @samp{>'upcase}).
788 @item Allow Eshell to read/write to/from standard input and output
790 This would be optional, rather than always using the Eshell buffer.
791 This would allow it to be run from the command line (perhaps).
793 @item Write a @command{help} command
795 It would call subcommands with @option{--help}, or @option{-h} or
796 @option{/?}, as appropriate.
798 @item Implement @command{stty} in Lisp
800 @item Support @command{rc}'s matching operator, e.g. @samp{~ (@var{list}) @var{regexp}}
802 @item Implement @command{bg} and @command{fg} as editors of @code{eshell-process-list}
804 Using @command{bg} on a process that is already in the background does
805 nothing. Specifying redirection targets replaces (or adds) to the list
808 @item Have @command{jobs} print only the processes for the current shell
810 @item How can Eshell learn if a background process has requested input?
812 @item Support @samp{2>&1} and @samp{>&} and @samp{2>} and @samp{|&}
814 The syntax table for parsing these should be customizable, such that the
815 user could change it to use rc syntax: @samp{>[2=1]}.
817 @item Allow @samp{$_[-1]}, which would indicate the last element of the array
819 @item Make @samp{$x[*]} equal to listing out the full contents of @samp{x}
821 Return them as a list, so that @samp{$_[*]} is all the arguments of the
824 @item Copy ANSI code handling from @file{term.el} into @file{em-term.el}
826 Make it possible for the user to send char-by-char to the underlying
827 process. Ultimately, I should be able to move away from using term.el
828 altogether, since everything but the ANSI code handling is already part
829 of Eshell. Then, things would work correctly on MS-Windows as well
830 (which doesn't have @file{/bin/sh}, although @file{term.el} tries to use
833 @item Make the shell spawning commands be visual
835 That is, make (@command{su}, @command{bash}, @command{telnet},
836 @command{rlogin}, @command{rsh}, etc.) be part of
837 @code{eshell-visual-commands}. The only exception is if the shell is
838 being used to invoke a single command. Then, the behavior should be
839 based on what that command is.
841 @item Create a smart viewing command named @command{open}
843 This would search for some way to open its argument (similar to opening
844 a file in the Windows Explorer).
846 @item Alias @command{read} to be the same as @command{open}, only read-only
848 @item Write a @command{tail} command which uses @code{view-file}
850 It would move point to the end of the buffer, and then turns on
851 auto-revert mode in that buffer at frequent intervals---and a
852 @command{head} alias which assumes an upper limit of
853 @code{eshell-maximum-line-length} characters per line.
855 @item Make @command{dgrep} load @code{dired}, mark everything, then invoke @code{dired-do-search}
859 This would run Emacs with the appropriate arguments to invoke Eshell
860 only. That way, it could be listed as a login shell.
862 @item Use an intangible @code{PS2} string for multi-line input prompts
864 @item Auto-detect when a command is visual, by checking @code{TERMCAP} usage
866 @item The first keypress after @kbd{M-x watson} triggers `eshell-send-input'
868 @item Make @kbd{/} electric
870 So that it automatically expands and corrects pathnames. Or make
871 pathname completion for Pcomplete auto-expand @samp{/u/i/std<TAB>} to
872 @samp{/usr/include/std<TAB>}.
874 @item Write the @command{pushd} stack to disk along with @code{last-dir-ring}
876 @item Add options to @code{eshell/cat} which would allow it to sort and uniq
878 @item Implement @command{wc} in Lisp
880 Add support for counting sentences, paragraphs, pages, etc.
882 @item Once piping is added, implement @command{sort} and @command{uniq} in Lisp
884 @item Implement @command{touch} in Lisp
886 @item Implement @command{comm} in Lisp
888 @item Implement an @command{epatch} command in Lisp
890 This would call @code{ediff-patch-file}, or @code{ediff-patch-buffer},
891 depending on its argument.
893 @item Have an option such that @samp{ls -l} generates a dired buffer
895 @item Write a version of @command{xargs} based on command rewriting
897 That is, @samp{find X | xargs Y} would be indicated using @samp{Y
898 $@{find X@}}. Maybe @code{eshell-do-pipelines} could be changed to
899 perform this on-thy-fly rewriting.
901 @item Write an alias for @command{less} that brings up a @code{view-mode} buffer
903 Such that the user can press @key{SPC} and @key{DEL}, and then @key{q}
904 to return to Eshell. It would be equivalent to:
905 @samp{X > #<buffer Y>; view-buffer #<buffer Y>}.
907 @item Make @code{eshell-mode} as much a full citizen as @code{shell-mode}
909 Everywhere in Emacs where @code{shell-mode} is specially noticed, add
910 @code{eshell-mode} there.
912 @item Permit the umask to be selectively set on a @command{cp} target
914 @item Problem using @kbd{M-x eshell} after using @code{eshell-command}
916 If the first thing that I do after entering Emacs is to run
917 @code{eshell-command} and invoke @command{ls}, and then use @kbd{M-x
918 eshell}, it doesn't display anything.
920 @item @kbd{M-RET} during a long command (using smart display) doesn't work
922 Since it keeps the cursor up where the command was invoked.
926 @node GNU Free Documentation License
927 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
928 @include doclicense.texi
931 @unnumbered Concept Index
935 @node Function and Variable Index
936 @unnumbered Function and Variable Index
941 @unnumbered Key Index
947 arch-tag: 776409ba-cb15-42b9-b2b6-d2bdc7ebad01