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, 2008, 2009 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 1.3 or
17 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
18 Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual'',
19 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license
20 is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
22 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have the freedom to copy and
23 modify this GNU manual. Buying copies from the FSF supports it in
24 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
30 * Eshell: (eshell). A command shell implemented in Emacs Lisp.
35 @c The title is printed in a large font.
36 @center @titlefont{User's Guide}
38 @center @titlefont{to}
40 @center @titlefont{Eshell: The Emacs Shell}
51 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
57 @c ================================================================
58 @c The real text starts here
59 @c ================================================================
62 @node Top, What is Eshell?, (dir), (dir)
65 Eshell is a shell-like command interpretor
66 implemented in Emacs Lisp. It invokes no external processes except for
67 those requested by the user. It is intended to be a functional
68 replacement for command shells such as @command{bash}, @command{zsh},
69 @command{rc}, or @command{4dos}; since Emacs itself is capable of
70 handling the sort of tasks accomplished by those tools.
71 @c This manual is updated to release 2.4 of Eshell.
77 * What is Eshell?:: A brief introduction to the Emacs Shell.
78 * Command basics:: The basics of command usage.
84 * Extras and Goodies::
85 * Bugs and ideas:: Known problems, and future ideas.
86 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation.
88 * Function and Variable Index::
93 @chapter What is Eshell?
94 @cindex what is Eshell?
95 @cindex Eshell, what it is
97 Eshell is a @dfn{command shell} written in Emacs Lisp. Everything it
98 does, it uses Emacs' facilities to do. This means that Eshell is as
99 portable as Emacs itself. It also means that cooperation with Lisp code
100 is natural and seamless.
102 What is a command shell? To properly understand the role of a shell,
103 it's necessary to visualize what a computer does for you. Basically, a
104 computer is a tool; in order to use that tool, you must tell it what to
105 do---or give it ``commands.'' These commands take many forms, such as
106 clicking with a mouse on certain parts of the screen. But that is only
107 one form of command input.
109 By far the most versatile way to express what you want the computer to
110 do is by using an abbreviated language called @dfn{script}. In
111 script, instead of telling the computer, ``list my files, please'',
112 one writes a standard abbreviated command word---@samp{ls}. Typing
113 @samp{ls} in a command shell is a script way of telling the computer
114 to list your files.@footnote{This is comparable to viewing the
115 contents of a folder using a graphical display.}
117 The real flexibility of this approach is apparent only when you realize
118 that there are many, many different ways to list files. Perhaps you
119 want them sorted by name, sorted by date, in reverse order, or grouped
120 by type. Most graphical browsers have simple ways to express this. But
121 what about showing only a few files, or only files that meet a certain
122 criteria? In very complex and specific situations, the request becomes
123 too difficult to express using a mouse or pointing device. It is just
124 these kinds of requests that are easily solved using a command shell.
126 For example, what if you want to list every Word file on your hard
127 drive, larger than 100 kilobytes in size, and which hasn't been looked
128 at in over six months? That is a good candidate list for deletion, when
129 you go to clean up your hard drive. But have you ever tried asking your
130 computer for such a list? There is no way to do it! At least, not
131 without using a command shell.
133 The role of a command shell is to give you more control over what your
134 computer does for you. Not everyone needs this amount of control, and
135 it does come at a cost: Learning the necessary script commands to
136 express what you want done. A complicated query, such as the example
137 above, takes time to learn. But if you find yourself using your
138 computer frequently enough, it is more than worthwhile in the long run.
139 Any tool you use often deserves the time spent learning to master it.
140 @footnote{For the understandably curious, here is what that command
141 looks like: But don't let it fool you; once you know what's going on,
142 it's easier than it looks: @code{ls -lt **/*.doc(Lk+50aM+5)}.}
145 * Contributors to Eshell:: People who have helped out!
148 @node Contributors to Eshell
149 @section Contributors to Eshell
153 Contributions to Eshell are welcome. I have limited time to work on
154 this project, but I will gladly add any code you contribute to me to
157 The following persons have made contributions to Eshell.
161 Eli Zaretskii made it possible for Eshell to run without requiring
162 asynchronous subprocess support. This is important for MS-DOS, which
163 does not have such support.@refill
166 Miles Bader contributed many fixes during the port to Emacs 21.@refill
169 Stefan Monnier fixed the things which bothered him, which of course made
170 things better for all.@refill
173 Gerd Moellmann also helped to contribute bug fixes during the initial
174 integration with Emacs 21.@refill
177 Alex Schroeder contributed code for interactively querying the user
178 before overwriting files.@refill
181 Sudish Joseph helped with some XEmacs compatibility issues.@refill
184 Apart from these, a lot of people have sent suggestions, ideas,
185 requests, bug reports and encouragement. Thanks a lot! Without you
186 there would be no new releases of Eshell.
189 @chapter Basic overview
191 A command shell is a means of entering verbally-formed commands. This
192 is really all that it does, and every feature described in this manual
193 is a means to that end. Therefore, it's important to take firm hold on
194 exactly what a command is, and how it fits in the overall picture of
198 * Commands verbs:: Commands always begin with a verb.
199 * Command arguments:: Some verbs require arguments.
203 @section Commands verbs
205 Commands are expressed using @dfn{script}, a special shorthand language
206 computers can understand with no trouble. Script is an extremely simple
207 language; oddly enough, this is what makes it look so complicated!
208 Whereas normal languages use a variety of embellishments, the form of a
209 script command is always:
212 @var{verb} [@var{arguments}]
215 The verb expresses what you want your computer to do. There are a fixed
216 number of verbs, although this number is usually quite large. On the
217 author's computer, it reaches almost 1400 in number. But of course,
218 only a handful of these are really necessary.
220 Sometimes, the verb is all that's written. A verb is always a single
221 word, usually related to the task it performs. @command{reboot} is a
222 good example. Entering that on GNU/Linux will reboot the
223 computer---assuming you have sufficient privileges.
225 Other verbs require more information. These are usually very capable
226 verbs, and must be told specifically what to do. The extra information
227 is given in the form of @dfn{arguments}. For example, the
228 @command{echo} verb prints back whatever arguments you type. It
229 requires these arguments to know what to echo. A proper use of
230 @command{echo} looks like this:
233 echo This is an example of using echo!
236 This script command causes the computer to echo back: ``This is an
237 example of using echo!''
239 Although command verbs are always simple words, like @command{reboot} or
240 @command{echo}, arguments may have a wide variety of forms. There are
241 textual arguments, numerical arguments---even Lisp arguments.
242 Distinguishing these different types of arguments requires special
243 typing, for the computer to know exactly what you mean.
245 @node Command arguments
246 @section Command arguments
248 Eshell recognizes several different kinds of command arguments:
251 @item Strings (also called textual arguments)
252 @item Numbers (floating point or integer)
256 @item Emacs process handles
259 Most users need to worry only about the first two. The third, Lisp lists,
260 occur very frequently, but almost always behind the scenes.
262 Strings are the most common type of argument, and consist of nearly any
263 character. Special characters---those used by Eshell
264 specifically---must be preceded by a backslash (@samp{\}). When in doubt, it
265 is safe to add backslashes anywhere and everywhere.
267 Here is a more complicated @command{echo} example:
270 echo A\ Multi-word\ Argument\ With\ A\ \$\ dollar
273 Beyond this, things get a bit more complicated. While not beyond the
274 reach of someone wishing to learn, it is definitely beyond the scope of
275 this manual to present it all in a simplistic manner. Get comfortable
276 with Eshell as a basic command invocation tool, and learn more about the
277 commands on your system; then come back when it all sits more familiarly
278 on your mind. Have fun!
292 Essentially, a command shell is all about invoking commands---and
293 everything that entails. So understanding how Eshell invokes commands
294 is the key to comprehending how it all works.
299 Unlike regular system shells, Eshell never invokes kernel functions
300 directly, such as @code{exec(3)}. Instead, it uses the Lisp functions
301 available in the Emacs Lisp library. It does this by transforming the
302 command you specify into a callable Lisp form.@footnote{To see the Lisp
303 form that will be invoked, type: @samp{eshell-parse-command "echo
306 This transformation, from the string of text typed at the command
307 prompt, to the ultimate invocation of either a Lisp function or external
308 command, follows these steps:
311 @item Parse the command string into separate arguments.
324 Eshell knows a few built-in variables:
330 This variable always contains the current working directory.
334 This variable always contains the previous working directory (the
335 current working directory from before the last @code{cd} command).
344 @section Built-in commands
346 Here is a list of built-in commands that Eshell knows about:
352 This command changes the current working directory. Usually, it is
353 invoked as @samp{cd foo} where @file{foo} is the new working
354 directory. But @code{cd} knows about a few special arguments:
356 When it receives no argument at all, it changes to the home directory.
358 Giving the command @samp{cd -} changes back to the previous working
359 directory (this is the same as @samp{cd $-}).
361 The command @samp{cd =} shows the directory stack. Each line is
364 With @samp{cd =foo}, Eshell searches the directory stack for a
365 directory matching the regular expression @samp{foo} and changes to
368 With @samp{cd -42}, you can access the directory stack by number.
391 @section Substitution
401 @chapter Input/Output
403 @node Process control
404 @chapter Process control
407 @node Extension modules
408 @chapter Extension modules
413 * Directory handling::
416 * Terminal emulation::
417 * Built-in UNIX commands::
420 @node Writing a module
421 @section Writing a module
424 @section Module testing
426 @node Directory handling
427 @section Directory handling
430 @section Key rebinding
432 @node Smart scrolling
433 @section Smart scrolling
435 @node Terminal emulation
436 @section Terminal emulation
438 @node Built-in UNIX commands
439 @section Built-in UNIX commands
442 @node Extras and Goodies
443 @chapter Extras and Goodies
446 @chapter Bugs and ideas
447 @cindex reporting bugs and ideas
448 @cindex bugs, how to report them
449 @cindex author, how to reach
450 @cindex email to the author
452 @cindex problems, list of common
454 If you find a bug or misfeature, don't hesitate to let me know! Send
455 email to @email{johnw@@gnu.org}. Feature requests should also be sent
456 there. I prefer discussing one thing at a time. If you find several
457 unrelated bugs, please report them separately.
459 If you have ideas for improvements, or if you have written some
460 extensions to this package, I would like to hear from you. I hope you
461 find this package useful!
468 @section Known problems
472 Below is complete list of known problems with Eshell version 2.4.2,
473 which is the version included with Emacs 22.
476 @item Documentation incomplete
478 @item Differentiate between aliases and functions
480 Allow for a bash-compatible syntax, such as:
484 function arg () @{ blah $* @}
487 @item @samp{for i in 1 2 3 @{ grep -q a b && *echo has it @} | wc -l} outputs result after prompt
489 In fact, piping to a process from a looping construct doesn't work in
490 general. If I change the call to @code{eshell-copy-handles} in
491 @code{eshell-rewrite-for-command} to use @code{eshell-protect}, it seems
492 to work, but the output occurs after the prompt is displayed. The whole
493 structured command thing is too complicated at present.
495 @item Error with @command{bc} in @code{eshell-test}
497 On some XEmacs system, the subprocess interaction test fails
498 inexplicably, although @command{bc} works fine at the command prompt.
500 @item Eshell does not delete @file{*Help*} buffers in XEmacs 21.1.8+
502 In XEmacs 21.1.8, the @file{*Help*} buffer has been renamed such that
503 multiple instances of the @file{*Help*} buffer can exist.
505 @item Pcomplete sometimes gets stuck
507 You press @key{TAB}, but no completions appear, even though the
508 directory has matching files. This behavior is rare.
510 @item @samp{grep python $<rpm -qa>} doesn't work, but using @samp{*grep} does
512 This happens because the @code{grep} Lisp function returns immediately,
513 and then the asynchronous @command{grep} process expects to examine the
514 temporary file, which has since been deleted.
516 @item Problem with C-r repeating text
518 If the text @emph{before point} reads "./run", and you type @kbd{C-r r u
519 n}, it will repeat the line for every character typed.
521 @item Backspace doesn't scroll back after continuing (in smart mode)
523 Hitting space during a process invocation, such as @command{make}, will
524 cause it to track the bottom of the output; but backspace no longer
527 @item It's not possible to fully @code{unload-feature} Eshell
529 @item Menu support was removed, but never put back
531 @item Using C-p and C-n with rebind gets into a locked state
533 This happened a few times in Emacs 21, but has been unreproducible
536 @item If an interactive process is currently running, @kbd{M-!} doesn't work
538 @item Use a timer instead of @code{sleep-for} when killing child processes
540 @item Piping to a Lisp function is not supported
542 Make it so that the Lisp command on the right of the pipe is repeatedly
543 called with the input strings as arguments. This will require changing
544 @code{eshell-do-pipeline} to handle non-process targets.
546 @item Input redirection is not supported
550 @item Problem running @command{less} without arguments on Windows
552 The result in the Eshell buffer is:
555 Spawning child process: invalid argument
558 Also a new @command{less} buffer was created with nothing in it@dots{}
559 (presumably this holds the output of @command{less}).
561 If @command{less.exe} is invoked from the Eshell command line, the
562 expected output is written to the buffer.
564 Note that this happens on NT-Emacs 20.6.1 on Windows 2000. The term.el
565 package and the supplied shell both use the @command{cmdproxy} program
568 @item Implement @samp{-r}, @samp{-n} and @samp{-s} switches for @command{cp}
570 @item Make @kbd{M-5 M-x eshell} switch to ``*eshell<5>*'', creating if need be
572 @item @samp{mv @var{dir} @var{file}.tar} does not remove directories
574 This is because the tar option --remove-files doesn't do so. Should it
577 @item Bind @code{standard-output} and @code{standard-error}
579 This would be so that if a Lisp function calls @code{print}, everything
580 will happen as it should (albeit slowly).
582 @item When an extension module fails to load, @samp{cd /} gives a Lisp error
584 @item If a globbing pattern returns one match, should it be a list?
586 @item Make sure syntax table is correct in Eshell mode
588 So that @kbd{M-DEL} acts in a predictable manner, etc.
590 @item Allow all Eshell buffers to share the same history and list-dir
592 @item There is a problem with script commands that output to @file{/dev/null}
594 If a script file, somewhere in the middle, uses @samp{> /dev/null},
595 output from all subsequent commands is swallowed.
597 @item Split up parsing of text after @samp{$} in @file{esh-var.el}
599 Make it similar to the way that @file{esh-arg.el} is structured.
600 Then add parsing of @samp{$[?\n]}.
602 @item After pressing @kbd{M-RET}, redisplay before running the next command
604 @item Argument predicates and modifiers should work anywhere in a path
607 /usr/local/src/editors/vim $ vi **/CVS(/)/Root(.)
608 Invalid regexp: "Unmatched ( or \\("
611 With @command{zsh}, the glob above expands to all files named
612 @file{Root} in directories named @file{CVS}.
614 @item Typing @samp{echo $@{locate locate@}/bin<TAB>} results in a Lisp error
616 Perhaps it should interpolate all permutations, and make that the
617 globbing result, since otherwise hitting return here will result in
618 ``(list of filenames)/bin'', which is never valuable. Thus, one could
619 @command{cat} only C backup files by using @samp{ls $@{identity *.c@}~}.
620 In that case, having an alias command name @command{glob} for
621 @command{identity} would be useful.
623 @item Once symbolic mode is supported for @command{umask}, implement @command{chmod} in Lisp
625 @item Create @code{eshell-expand-file-name}
627 This would use a data table to transform things such as @samp{~+},
630 @item Abstract @file{em-smart.el} into @file{smart-scroll.el}
632 It only really needs: to be hooked onto the output filter and the
633 pre-command hook, and to have the input-end and input-start markers.
634 And to know whether the last output group was ``successful.''
636 @item Allow for fully persisting the state of Eshell
638 This would include: variables, history, buffer, input, dir stack, etc.
640 @item Implement D as an argument predicate
642 It means that files beginning with a dot should be included in the
645 @item A comma in a predicate list should mean OR
647 At the moment, this is not supported.
649 @item Error if a glob doesn't expand due to a predicate
651 An error should be generated only if @code{eshell-error-if-no-glob} is
654 @item @samp{(+ RET SPC TAB} does not cause @code{indent-according-to-mode} to occur
656 @item Create @code{eshell-auto-accumulate-list}
658 This is a list of commands for which, if the user presses @kbd{RET}, the
659 text is staged as the next Eshell command, rather than being sent to the
660 current interactive process.
662 @item Display file and line number if an error occurs in a script
664 @item @command{wait} doesn't work with process ids at the moment
666 @item Enable the direct-to-process input code in @file{em-term.el}
668 @item Problem with repeating @samp{echo $@{find /tmp@}}
670 With smart display active, if @kbd{RET} is held down, after a while it
671 can't keep up anymore and starts outputting blank lines. It only
672 happens if an asynchronous process is involved@dots{}
674 I think the problem is that @code{eshell-send-input} is resetting the
675 input target location, so that if the asynchronous process is not done
676 by the time the next @kbd{RET} is received, the input processor thinks
677 that the input is meant for the process; which, when smart display is
678 enabled, will be the text of the last command line! That is a bug in
681 In holding down @kbd{RET} while an asynchronous process is running,
682 there will be a point in between termination of the process, and the
683 running of @code{eshell-post-command-hook}, which would cause
684 @code{eshell-send-input} to call @code{eshell-copy-old-input}, and then
685 process that text as a command to be run after the process. Perhaps
686 there should be a way of killing pending input between the death of the
687 process, and the @code{post-command-hook}.
689 @item Allow for a more aggressive smart display mode
691 Perhaps toggled by a command, that makes each output block a smart
694 @item Create more meta variables
698 The reason for the failure of the last disk command, or the text of the
702 A special associate array, which can take references of the form
703 @samp{$=[REGEXP]}. It indexes into the directory ring.
706 @item Eshell scripts can't execute in the background
708 @item Support zsh's ``Parameter Expansion'' syntax, i.e. @samp{$@{@var{name}:-@var{val}@}}
710 @item Write an @command{info} alias that can take arguments
712 So that the user can enter @samp{info chmod}, for example.
714 @item Create a mode @code{eshell-browse}
716 It would treat the Eshell buffer as a outline. Collapsing the outline
717 hides all of the output text. Collapsing again would show only the
718 first command run in each directory
720 @item Allow other revisions of a file to be referenced using @samp{file@{rev@}}
722 This would be expanded by @code{eshell-expand-file-name} (see above).
724 @item Print ``You have new mail'' when the ``Mail'' icon is turned on
726 @item Implement @kbd{M-|} for Eshell
728 @item Implement input redirection
730 If it's a Lisp function, input redirection implies @command{xargs} (in a
731 way@dots{}). If input redirection is added, also update the
732 @code{file-name-quote-list}, and the delimiter list.
734 @item Allow @samp{#<@var{word} @var{arg}>} as a generic syntax
736 With the handling of @emph{word} specified by an
737 @code{eshell-special-alist}.
739 @item In @code{eshell-veal-using-options}, allow a @code{:complete} tag
741 It would be used to provide completion rules for that command. Then the
742 macro will automagically define the completion function.
744 @item For @code{eshell-command-on-region}, apply redirections to the result
746 So that @samp{+ > 'blah} would cause the result of the @code{+} (using
747 input from the current region) to be inserting into the symbol
750 If an external command is being invoked, the input is sent as standard
751 input, as if a @samp{cat <region> |} had been invoked.
753 If a Lisp command, or an alias, is invoked, then if the line has no
754 newline characters, it is divided by whitespace and passed as arguments
755 to the Lisp function. Otherwise, it is divided at the newline
756 characters. Thus, invoking @code{+} on a series of numbers will add
757 them; @code{min} would display the smallest figure, etc.
759 @item Write @code{eshell-script-mode} as a minor mode
761 It would provide syntax, abbrev, highlighting and indenting support like
762 @code{emacs-lisp-mode} and @code{shell-mode}.
764 @item In the history mechanism, finish the @command{bash}-style support
766 This means @samp{!n}, @samp{!#}, @samp{!:%}, and @samp{!:1-} as separate
769 @item Support the -n command line option for @command{history}
771 @item Implement @command{fc} in Lisp
773 @item Specifying a frame as a redirection target should imply the currently active window's buffer
775 @item Implement @samp{>@var{func-or-func-list}}
777 This would allow for an ``output translators'', that take a function to
778 modify output with, and a target. Devise a syntax that works well with
779 pipes, and can accommodate multiple functions (i.e., @samp{>'(upcase
780 regexp-quote)} or @samp{>'upcase}).
782 @item Allow Eshell to read/write to/from standard input and output
784 This would be optional, rather than always using the Eshell buffer.
785 This would allow it to be run from the command line (perhaps).
787 @item Write a @command{help} command
789 It would call subcommands with @option{--help}, or @option{-h} or
790 @option{/?}, as appropriate.
792 @item Implement @command{stty} in Lisp
794 @item Support @command{rc}'s matching operator, e.g. @samp{~ (@var{list}) @var{regexp}}
796 @item Implement @command{bg} and @command{fg} as editors of @code{eshell-process-list}
798 Using @command{bg} on a process that is already in the background does
799 nothing. Specifying redirection targets replaces (or adds) to the list
802 @item Have @command{jobs} print only the processes for the current shell
804 @item How can Eshell learn if a background process has requested input?
806 @item Support @samp{2>&1} and @samp{>&} and @samp{2>} and @samp{|&}
808 The syntax table for parsing these should be customizable, such that the
809 user could change it to use rc syntax: @samp{>[2=1]}.
811 @item Allow @samp{$_[-1]}, which would indicate the last element of the array
813 @item Make @samp{$x[*]} equal to listing out the full contents of @samp{x}
815 Return them as a list, so that @samp{$_[*]} is all the arguments of the
818 @item Copy ANSI code handling from @file{term.el} into @file{em-term.el}
820 Make it possible for the user to send char-by-char to the underlying
821 process. Ultimately, I should be able to move away from using term.el
822 altogether, since everything but the ANSI code handling is already part
823 of Eshell. Then, things would work correctly on MS-Windows as well
824 (which doesn't have @file{/bin/sh}, although @file{term.el} tries to use
827 @item Make the shell spawning commands be visual
829 That is, make (@command{su}, @command{bash}, @command{telnet},
830 @command{rlogin}, @command{rsh}, etc.) be part of
831 @code{eshell-visual-commands}. The only exception is if the shell is
832 being used to invoke a single command. Then, the behavior should be
833 based on what that command is.
835 @item Create a smart viewing command named @command{open}
837 This would search for some way to open its argument (similar to opening
838 a file in the Windows Explorer).
840 @item Alias @command{read} to be the same as @command{open}, only read-only
842 @item Write a @command{tail} command which uses @code{view-file}
844 It would move point to the end of the buffer, and then turns on
845 auto-revert mode in that buffer at frequent intervals---and a
846 @command{head} alias which assumes an upper limit of
847 @code{eshell-maximum-line-length} characters per line.
849 @item Make @command{dgrep} load @code{dired}, mark everything, then invoke @code{dired-do-search}
853 This would run Emacs with the appropriate arguments to invoke Eshell
854 only. That way, it could be listed as a login shell.
856 @item Use an intangible @code{PS2} string for multi-line input prompts
858 @item Auto-detect when a command is visual, by checking @code{TERMCAP} usage
860 @item The first keypress after @kbd{M-x watson} triggers `eshell-send-input'
862 @item Make @kbd{/} electric
864 So that it automatically expands and corrects pathnames. Or make
865 pathname completion for Pcomplete auto-expand @samp{/u/i/std<TAB>} to
866 @samp{/usr/include/std<TAB>}.
868 @item Write the @command{pushd} stack to disk along with @code{last-dir-ring}
870 @item Add options to @code{eshell/cat} which would allow it to sort and uniq
872 @item Implement @command{wc} in Lisp
874 Add support for counting sentences, paragraphs, pages, etc.
876 @item Once piping is added, implement @command{sort} and @command{uniq} in Lisp
878 @item Implement @command{touch} in Lisp
880 @item Implement @command{comm} in Lisp
882 @item Implement an @command{epatch} command in Lisp
884 This would call @code{ediff-patch-file}, or @code{ediff-patch-buffer},
885 depending on its argument.
887 @item Have an option such that @samp{ls -l} generates a dired buffer
889 @item Write a version of @command{xargs} based on command rewriting
891 That is, @samp{find X | xargs Y} would be indicated using @samp{Y
892 $@{find X@}}. Maybe @code{eshell-do-pipelines} could be changed to
893 perform this on-thy-fly rewriting.
895 @item Write an alias for @command{less} that brings up a @code{view-mode} buffer
897 Such that the user can press @key{SPC} and @key{DEL}, and then @key{q}
898 to return to Eshell. It would be equivalent to:
899 @samp{X > #<buffer Y>; view-buffer #<buffer Y>}.
901 @item Make @code{eshell-mode} as much a full citizen as @code{shell-mode}
903 Everywhere in Emacs where @code{shell-mode} is specially noticed, add
904 @code{eshell-mode} there.
906 @item Permit the umask to be selectively set on a @command{cp} target
908 @item Problem using @kbd{M-x eshell} after using @code{eshell-command}
910 If the first thing that I do after entering Emacs is to run
911 @code{eshell-command} and invoke @command{ls}, and then use @kbd{M-x
912 eshell}, it doesn't display anything.
914 @item @kbd{M-RET} during a long command (using smart display) doesn't work
916 Since it keeps the cursor up where the command was invoked.
920 @node GNU Free Documentation License
921 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
922 @include doclicense.texi
925 @unnumbered Concept Index
929 @node Function and Variable Index
930 @unnumbered Function and Variable Index
935 @unnumbered Key Index
941 arch-tag: 776409ba-cb15-42b9-b2b6-d2bdc7ebad01