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-@comment $Id: user.texinfo,v 1.63 1999/08/13 00:24:30 cph Exp $
+@comment $Id: user.texinfo,v 1.64 1999/11/24 04:43:49 cph Exp $
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@setfilename user.info
@settitle MIT Scheme User's Manual
@titlepage
@title{MIT Scheme User's Manual}
-@subtitle Edition 1.63
+@subtitle Edition 1.64
@subtitle for Scheme Release 7.5
-@subtitle 12 August 1999
+@subtitle 23 November 1999
@author by Stephen Adams
@author Chris Hanson
@author and the MIT Scheme Team
@itemize @bullet
@item
-@code{-compiler} and @code{-edwin} can now be specified together, which
-specifies that a band containing both compiler and Edwin support should
-be loaded.
+Command-line options:
+
+@itemize @bullet
+@item
+The @code{-compiler} and @code{-edwin} command-line options can now be
+specified together, meaning that a band containing both compiler and
+Edwin support should be loaded.
@item
-Heap-sizing code now automatically defaults @code{-constant} to the
-correct size for the band being loaded, and adds the heap used by the
-band to the requested heap size. In consequence, it should rarely be
-necessary to specify @code{-constant}, and @code{-heap} will specify
-exactly how much heap space is available when Scheme is started.
+The heap-sizing code now automatically defaults the @code{-constant}
+command-line option to the correct size for the band being loaded, and
+adds the heap used by the band to the requested heap size. In
+consequence, it should rarely be necessary to specify @code{-constant}.
+An additional benefit is that the @code{-heap} command-line option now
+specifies exactly how much heap space is available when Scheme is
+started; previously the available amount was less than the specified
+amount due to the band's heap usage.
@item
Command-line arguments can now be defined by user code.
+@end itemize
+
+@item
+Numeric input/output:
+@itemize @bullet
@item
Several changes to the number reader and printer have resulted in
greatly improved performance, particularly for floating-point numbers.
@code{engineering}.
@item
-Regular-expression match and search are now available for strings.
+The parser now treats @code{*parser-radix*} differently: if it is set to
+a value other than @code{10} and the parser encounters radix-10 syntax
+(e.g.@: a decimal point), an error is signalled.
+@end itemize
@item
-String search procedures are now implemented, using Boyer-Moore search
-when appropriate.
+Strings and characters:
+@itemize @bullet
@item
-Synchronous subprocesses can now be run from Scheme code.
+Regular-expression match and search are now available for strings.
@item
-Date and time support has been fleshed out and now provides a rich set
-of representations and conversions. Unfortunately, this support depends
-on underlying support of the C library, which is sometimes of low
-quality.
+String search procedures are now implemented, using Boyer-Moore search
+when appropriate.
@item
-New undocumented generic-procedure dispatch mechanism and its associated
-tagged data structures provides a high-performance substrate for
-building @sc{clos}-like object-oriented programming systems. This
-mechanism has been fully integrated into the existing record and
-@code{defstruct} code. The @sc{sos} system has been added as a load
-option to allow writing object-oriented code.
+Characters now have 16 bits of character code (instead of 7) to allow
+8-bit ISO latin and Unicode characters. Strings are still based on
+8-bit characters.
+@end itemize
@item
-Transcripts (i.e.@: @code{transcript-on}) are now local to a particular
-@sc{repl}. This is usually relevant only when using Edwin, where there
-can be several @sc{repl} buffers. Previously transcripts only recorded
-activity on the Scheme console, and ignored any other @sc{repl}s,
-including Edwin @sc{repl} buffers.
+Ports:
+@itemize @bullet
@item
-Red-black trees now support operations to read or delete the minimum or
-maximum element of a tree.
+The @code{fresh-line} operation is now supported by all common port
+types.
@item
-Both @code{merge-sort} and @code{quick-sort} are now available. As
-before, @code{sort} defaults to @code{merge-sort}.
+@code{close-input-port} and @code{close-output-port} now close
+only one side of a bidirectional port; previously they closed both
+sides.
@item
-The @code{fresh-line} operation is now supported by all common port
-types. @code{close-input-port} and @code{close-output-port} now close
-only one side of a bidirectional port; previously they closed both
-sides. The following port operations have been eliminated:
+The following port operations have been eliminated:
@code{write-string}, @code{read-chars}, and @code{write-chars}.
@item
-Characters now have 16 bits of character code (instead of 7) to allow
-8-bit ISO latin and Unicode characters. Strings are still based on
-8-bit characters.
+The low-level port data abstraction has been overhauled. The new design
+has @dfn{port types} that implement the operations for the port, and are
+shared between all ports of a given type.
+@end itemize
@item
-Under X11, the BackSpace keysym is treated as Delete, as long as
-BackSpace is bound to @sc{ascii} backspace.
+Operating-system interface:
+@itemize @bullet
@item
-Under Linux, Scheme now detects various foreign filesystems such as
-@code{msdos}, @code{vfat}, @code{ntfs}, and @code{hpfs}, and sets the
-default line translation for files on those systems to @code{"\r\n"}.
+Synchronous subprocesses can now be run from Scheme code.
@item
-@file{hppacach} knows how to find kernel files for HP-UX 10.x and later.
+Date and time support has been fleshed out and now provides a rich set
+of representations and conversions. Unfortunately, this support depends
+on underlying support of the C library, which is sometimes of low
+quality.
@item
-Under OS/2, the default font for the Scheme console window has been
-changed to @code{"8.Courier"}.
+A bug in socket support has been fixed: port numbers are now specified
+normally and automatically translated to network order. Previously it
+was necessary to translate them to network order by hand.
@item
-Under OS/2 Warp 4.0, Scheme now reports the operating-system version
-correctly.
+@code{open-tcp-stream-socket} and @code{open-unix-stream-socket} now
+return one @sc{i/o} port rather than an input port and an output port.
+@sc{tcp} sockets now use @code{"\r\n"} end-of-line marker regardless of
+the operating system.
@item
-More sophisticated heuristics are used to discover the user's home
-directory on OS/2 systems.
+Under Linux, Scheme now detects various foreign filesystems such as
+@code{msdos}, @code{vfat}, @code{ntfs}, and @code{hpfs}, and sets the
+default line translation for files on those systems to @code{"\r\n"}.
+@end itemize
@item
-Undocumented interfaces now provide support for @code{gdbm}, @sc{md5}
-checksums, and blowfish encryption. The blowfish encryption is disabled
-by default, but we may later distribute a key to enable it.
+Red-black trees now support operations to read or delete the minimum or
+maximum element of a tree.
@item
-The parser now treats @code{*parser-radix*} differently: if it is set to
-a value other than @code{10} and the parser encounters radix-10 syntax
-(e.g.@: a decimal point), an error is signalled.
+Both @code{merge-sort} and @code{quick-sort} are now available. As
+before, @code{sort} defaults to @code{merge-sort}.
@item
Pathname objects can now be written (using @code{fasdump}) on one
loaded, no matter what system is being used.
@item
-Low-level port data abstraction has been overhauled. New design has
-@dfn{port types} that contain the operations for the port, and are
-shared between all ports of a given type.
+Numerous fixes to stream code, eliminating premature dereferencing of
+streams, and dropping pointers to streams as soon as possible.
+
+@item
+Transcripts (i.e.@: @code{transcript-on}) are now local to a particular
+@sc{repl}. This is usually relevant only when using Edwin, where there
+can be several @sc{repl} buffers. Previously transcripts only recorded
+activity on the Scheme console, and ignored any other @sc{repl}s,
+including Edwin @sc{repl} buffers.
@item
@code{bkpt} is no longer a macro. Instead, it extracts an environment
visiting the wrong environment.
@item
-Numerous fixes to stream code, eliminating premature dereferencing of
-streams, and dropping pointers to streams as soon as possible.
+Under X11, the BackSpace keysym is treated as Delete, as long as
+BackSpace is bound to @sc{ascii} backspace.
@item
-Fixed bug in socket support: port numbers are now specified normally and
-automatically translated to network order. Previously it was necessary
-to translate them to network order by hand.
+The @file{hppacach} program knows how to find kernel files for HP-UX
+10.x and later.
@item
-@code{open-tcp-stream-socket} and @code{open-unix-stream-socket} now
-return one I/O port rather than an input port and an output port. TCP
-sockets now use @sc{cr-lf} end-of-line marker regardless of the
-operating system.
+OS/2:
+
+@itemize @bullet
+@item
+Under OS/2, the default font for the Scheme console window has been
+changed to @code{"8.Courier"}.
+
+@item
+More sophisticated heuristics are used to discover the user's home
+directory on OS/2 systems.
+
+@item
+Under OS/2 Warp 4.0, Scheme now reports the operating-system version
+correctly.
+@end itemize
+
+@item
+A new undocumented generic-procedure dispatch mechanism and its
+associated tagged data structures provides a high-performance substrate
+for building @sc{clos}-like object-oriented programming systems. This
+mechanism has been fully integrated into the existing record and
+@code{defstruct} code. The @sc{sos} system (which @emph{is} documented)
+has been added as a load option to allow writing object-oriented code.
+
+@item
+Undocumented interfaces now provide support for @code{gdbm}, @sc{md5}
+checksums, and blowfish encryption. The blowfish encryption is disabled
+by default, but we may later distribute a key to enable it.
@end itemize
@itemize @bullet
@item
-Ability to read and write files compressed with @code{bzip2},
-@code{gzip}, or @code{compress}. Ability to read and write files
+The following are new language modes: @sc{html}, Java, @sc{php},
+Verilog, @sc{vhdl}. Some of these modes are pretty sketchy, consisting
+of little more than syntax and indentation -- they are not to be
+confused with the more powerful modes provided by Emacs.
+
+@item
+Edwin can read and write files compressed with @code{bzip2},
+@code{gzip}, or @code{compress}. It can also read and write files
encrypted with blowfish (but this is currently disabled due to export
restrictions).
+@item
+On PC systems, compressed files, encrypted files, and @sc{rmail} files
+do not have line translation; they are stored in Scheme's native format
+(i.e.@: with newlines as line terminators).
+
+@item
+Edwin now indirects through symbolic links to find the true file being
+edited, and backup files go in the directory of the true file rather
+than the link.
+
@item
Commands that read arguments from the minibuffer now have prompt
histories, which can be accessed by using @kbd{M-p} and @kbd{M-n}.
compatibility with newer versions of Emacs.
@item
-New command @code{insert-filename}, bound to @kbd{C-c C-i}, prompts for
-a filename in the minibuffer, then inserts it at point. The formatting
-of the filename is controlled by the variable
+A new command @code{insert-filename}, bound to @kbd{C-c C-i}, prompts
+for a filename in the minibuffer, then inserts it at point. The
+formatting of the filename is controlled by the variable
@code{insert-filename-format}, which by default uses Scheme string
format.
the filename-completion command @kbd{C-M-i} just as in Emacs.
@item
-New command-line option @code{-edit} causes the editor to start up when
-Scheme is started.
+A new command-line option @code{-edit} causes the editor to start up
+when Scheme is started.
@item
-New mode for Java code. This is a minimal hack, not a real
-implementation.
-
-@item
-New command @code{inferior-repl-flush-output}, bound to @kbd{C-c C-o},
+A new command @code{inferior-repl-flush-output}, bound to @kbd{C-c C-o},
deletes output from the previous command. This works similarly to the
corresponding command in shell buffers.
available. If the package's environment is unavailable, or if the
package doesn't exist, the global environment is used instead.
+@item
+The command @code{repl} now treats its argument differently, simplifying
+the creation of multiple inferior @sc{repl} buffers. A new command
+@code{set-inferior-repl-buffer} associates a Scheme buffer with an
+arbitrary inferior @sc{repl} buffer, so that evaluation commands in that
+Scheme buffer use the specified @sc{repl} buffer.
+
@item
Info now supports the variable @code{info-directory-list}, which works
like that in Emacs.
@item
-Command @code{manual-entry} now uses multiple buffers with Emacs 19
+The command @code{manual-entry} now uses multiple buffers with Emacs 19
naming conventions.
-@item
-New modes for editing Verilog code and @sc{vhdl} code.
-
-@item
-On PC systems, compressed files, encrypted files, and @sc{rmail} files
-do not have line translation; they are stored in Scheme's native format
-(i.e.@: with newlines as line terminators).
-
-@item
-Edwin now indirects through symbolic links to find the true file being
-edited, and backup files go in the directory of the true file rather
-than the link.
-
@item
Frame-related commands are now bound to @kbd{C-x 5} as in Emacs, e.g.@:
@kbd{C-x 5 f} finds a file in another frame. The command
@item
Under X11, Edwin now distinguishes between its primary frame and all
-other frames when finding resources. New X resource name for these
+other frames when finding resources. The new X resource name for these
secondary frames is @code{edwinSecondary}.
+@item
+Sending mail is now supported through a direct @sc{smtp} interface.
+This interface will work on any operating system that supports sockets
+(all of the systems we current distribute for). See the variables
+@code{mail-relay-host} and @code{smtp-require-valid-recipients}.
+
@end itemize
@node Changes to the Windows Port, , Edwin Changes, Release Notes
they should have been.
@item
-Improved command-line parser so that it will accept arguments with
-spaces in them. In order for this to work properly, the argument must
-be surrounded by double quotes. This fix allows Scheme to be installed
-in a directory whose name contains spaces.
+The command-line parser has been improved so that it will accept
+arguments with spaces in them. In order for this to work properly, the
+argument must be surrounded by double quotes. This fix allows Scheme to
+be installed in a directory whose name contains spaces.
@item
Scheme now understands about Windows 98 version strings, and furthermore
@item
Edwin printing commands now work.
-@item
-Sending mail is now supported through a direct @sc{smtp} interface.
-This interface will work on any system that supports sockets. See the
-variables @code{mail-relay-host} and
-@code{smtp-require-valid-recipients}.
-
@item
Edwin now supports cut and paste using the kill and yank commands.
@item
-All Dired commands are now supported. Dired formats directory listing
+All Dired commands are now supported. Dired formats directory listings
in native format rather than unix format. The @kbd{M} command changes
-mode bits, which are specified much like the @code{attrib} command. The
-@kbd{S} command toggles whether or not hidden/system files are shown; by
-default these files do not appear in Dired listings.
+mode bits, which are specified much like arguments to the @code{attrib}
+command. The @kbd{S} command toggles whether or not hidden/system files
+are shown; by default these files do not appear in Dired listings.
@item
New undocumented primitives provide access to the registry.
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