GNU bug report logs - #17021
24.3.50; extension to hi-lock.el

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Package: emacs;

Reported by: lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de>

Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 04:20:02 UTC

Severity: wishlist

Tags: patch

Found in version 24.3.50

Done: Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>

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Report forwarded to bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org:
bug#17021; Package emacs. (Mon, 17 Mar 2014 04:20:03 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Acknowledgement sent to lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de>:
New bug report received and forwarded. Copy sent to bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org. (Mon, 17 Mar 2014 04:20:04 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de>
To: bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Cc: koppel <at> ece.lsu.edu
Subject: 24.3.50; extension to hi-lock.el
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 05:18:59 +0100
[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]
Dear developers,

I`m attaching a patch on hi-lock.el which provides an extension.  From
the README:


,----
| This is an extension to hi-lock mode (of bzr revno 116727):
| 
| You can use the buffer-local variable `hi-lock-patterns-file' to
| specify a file to write the higlighting-patterns to.  When this
| variable is set, the highlighting-patterns will be kept in a dedicated
| buffer instead of being written into the very file you`re editing.
| 
| This is particularly useful --- and intended --- for highlighting
| source code: You might have multiple source files of a project that
| share a number of highlighting patterns.  Rather than putting (a
| lengthy list of) all the patterns into every file, you can set
| `hi-lock-patterns-file' for these files to point to a single file and
| have the patterns applied to them.  This is like a '#include
| "highlighting.patterns"'.
| 
| Some functions and faces are provided to highlight constants, global
| variables and function-like indentifiers.  Key bindings are provided:
| 
| 
| |-----------------+-------------|
| | type            | key binding |
| |-----------------+-------------|
| | constant        | C-x w c     |
| | global variable | C-x w g     |
| | function-like   | C-x w f     |
| |-----------------+-------------|
| 
| You can revert to the highlighting-patterns in the dedicated buffer
| with 'C-x w !'.
| 
| 
| The buffer is transparently maintained and saved when you use these
| key bindings.
| 
| Besides using a separate file to store the highlighting-patterns, you
| can store the patters in the same file they apply to the same as the
| unmodified hi-lock-mode does.  In case both patterns from a file and
| patterns in the same buffer are used, both types of patterns
| apply. This allows you to have a file with patterns used with multiple
| files and also per-file patterns ("local patterns") at the same time.
| The local patterns useful for instances when you want to highlight
| something in one particular file but not in others while all the files
| are using a separate file with common patterns.
`----


The patch can be applied to hi-lock.el as it is in the git repository
from a few hours ago.  I`m hoping it can be taken in.


[extension-hi-lock.el (text/plain, inline)]
diff --git a/lisp/hi-lock.el b/lisp/hi-lock.el
index 78efd86..99b504e 100644
--- a/lisp/hi-lock.el
+++ b/lisp/hi-lock.el
@@ -142,6 +142,33 @@ Instead, each hi-lock command will cycle through the faces in
   :type 'boolean
   :version "24.4")
 
+(defcustom hi-lock-file-name-specifier "\\(-\\*- \\)hi-lock-patterns-file"
+  "Expression used to find the name of a file to read hi-lock
+highlighting-patterns from.
+
+The default is set such that a line specifying the file variable
+`hi-lock-patterns-file' can be found.
+
+Please see `hi-lock-get-patterns-file-name' for how this
+expression is used."
+  :type '(string)
+  :group 'hi-lock)
+(put 'hi-lock-patterns-file 'safe-local-variable #'stringp)
+
+(defcustom hi-lock-patterns-end-marker "hi-lock-patterns-end"
+  "Expression used to mark the end of hi-lock highlighting-patterns in
+a buffer dedicated to holding such patterns.  This can be a regular
+expression.
+
+The expression that will be searched for is the return value of
+`hi-lock-make-reasonable-end-marker'.  It is appended to the buffer,
+in a new line, by `hi-lock-write-patterns-file'.
+
+`hi-lock-get-patterns-from-file' uses it to figure out when to stop
+reading the buffer."
+  :type '(string)
+  :group 'hi-lock)
+
 (defgroup hi-lock-faces nil
   "Faces for hi-lock."
   :group 'hi-lock
@@ -205,10 +232,32 @@ Instead, each hi-lock command will cycle through the faces in
   "Face for hi-lock mode."
   :group 'hi-lock-faces)
 
+(defface hi-global-variable
+  '((t (:foreground "Magenta")))
+  "Face to highlight global variables."
+  :group 'hi-lock-faces)
+
+(defface hi-functionlike
+  '((t (:foreground "LightGreen")))
+  "Face to highlight something that is like a function."
+  :group 'hi-lock-faces)
+
+(defface hi-constant
+  '((t (:foreground "brown4")))
+  "Face to highlight something that is a constant."
+  :group 'hi-faces)
+
 (defvar-local hi-lock-file-patterns nil
   "Patterns found in file for hi-lock.  Should not be changed.")
 (put 'hi-lock-file-patterns 'permanent-local t)
 
+(defvar-local hi-lock-patterns-file nil
+  "Remember the name of the file to read hi-lock highlighting-patterns
+  for this buffer from.
+
+Use this as buffer or dir local variable.")
+(put 'hi-lock-patterns-file 'permanent-local t)
+
 (defvar-local hi-lock-interactive-patterns nil
   "Patterns provided to hi-lock by user.  Should not be changed.")
 (put 'hi-lock-interactive-patterns 'permanent-local t)
@@ -242,33 +291,54 @@ a library is being loaded.")
   (let ((map (make-sparse-keymap "Hi Lock")))
     (define-key-after map [highlight-regexp]
       '(menu-item "Highlight Regexp..." highlight-regexp
-        :help "Highlight text matching PATTERN (a regexp)."))
+		  :help "Highlight text matching PATTERN (a regexp)."))
 
     (define-key-after map [highlight-phrase]
       '(menu-item "Highlight Phrase..." highlight-phrase
-        :help "Highlight text matching PATTERN (a regexp processed to match phrases)."))
+		  :help "Highlight text matching PATTERN (a regexp processed to match phrases)."))
 
     (define-key-after map [highlight-lines-matching-regexp]
       '(menu-item "Highlight Lines..." highlight-lines-matching-regexp
-        :help "Highlight lines containing match of PATTERN (a regexp)."))
+		  :help "Highlight lines containing match of PATTERN (a regexp)."))
 
     (define-key-after map [highlight-symbol-at-point]
       '(menu-item "Highlight Symbol at Point" highlight-symbol-at-point
-        :help "Highlight symbol found near point without prompting."))
+		  :help "Highlight symbol found near point without prompting."))
 
     (define-key-after map [unhighlight-regexp]
       '(menu-item "Remove Highlighting..." unhighlight-regexp
-        :help "Remove previously entered highlighting pattern."
-        :enable hi-lock-interactive-patterns))
+		  :help "Remove previously entered highlighting pattern."
+		  :enable hi-lock-interactive-patterns))
 
     (define-key-after map [hi-lock-write-interactive-patterns]
       '(menu-item "Patterns to Buffer" hi-lock-write-interactive-patterns
-        :help "Insert interactively added REGEXPs into buffer at point."
-        :enable hi-lock-interactive-patterns))
+		  :help "Insert interactively added REGEXPs into buffer at point."
+		  :enable hi-lock-interactive-patterns))
 
     (define-key-after map [hi-lock-find-patterns]
       '(menu-item "Patterns from Buffer" hi-lock-find-patterns
-        :help "Use patterns (if any) near top of buffer."))
+		  :help "Use patterns (if any) near top of buffer."))
+
+    (define-key-after map [hi-lock-constant]
+      '(menu-item "Highlight constant" hi-lock-constant
+		  :help "Highlight something at point that is a constant."))
+
+    (define-key-after map [hi-lock-functionlike]
+      '(menu-item "Highlight functionlike" hi-lock-functionlike
+		  :help "Highlight something at point that is like a function."))
+
+    (define-key-after map [hi-lock-global-variable]
+      '(menu-item "Highlight global variable" hi-lock-global-variable
+		  :help "Highlight something at point that is a global variable."))
+
+    (define-key-after map [hi-lock-revert-patterns-from-file]
+      '(menu-item "Revert patterns from buffer" hi-lock-revert-patterns-from-file
+		  :help "Revert all highlighting patters to the patterns in the dedicated buffer."
+		  :enable hi-lock-patterns-file))
+
+    (define-key-after map [hi-lock-revert-patterns-file-name]
+      '(menu-item "Revert name of patterns-file" hi-lock-revert-patterns-file-name
+		  :help "Revert the name of the file storing the highlighting patterns."))
     map)
   "Menu for hi-lock mode.")
 
@@ -281,6 +351,11 @@ a library is being loaded.")
     (define-key map "\C-xw." 'highlight-symbol-at-point)
     (define-key map "\C-xwr" 'unhighlight-regexp)
     (define-key map "\C-xwb" 'hi-lock-write-interactive-patterns)
+    (define-key map "\C-xwc" 'hi-lock-constant)
+    (define-key map "\C-xwf" 'hi-lock-functionlike)
+    (define-key map "\C-xwg" 'hi-lock-global-variable)
+    (define-key map "\C-xw!" 'hi-lock-revert-patterns-from-file)
+    (define-key map "\C-xwn" 'hi-lock-revert-patterns-file-name)
     map)
   "Key map for hi-lock.")
 
@@ -348,7 +423,56 @@ where FOO is a list of patterns.  The patterns must start before
 position \(number of characters into buffer)
 `hi-lock-file-patterns-range'.  Patterns will be read until
 Hi-lock: end is found.  A mode is excluded if it's in the list
-`hi-lock-exclude-modes'."
+`hi-lock-exclude-modes'.
+
+\\[hi-lock-revert-patterns-file-name]
+  Search the current buffer for the variable
+  `hi-lock-patterns-file' and set it (to a potentially new value)
+  even when this variable is already set.
+
+This variable is used to specify a file in which to store
+highlighting-patterns.  This allows you to keep the patterns in a
+separate file which can be shared among multiple files.  This is
+particularly useful when editing source code because you can use
+a single file with highlighting-patterns which is shared by
+multiple files of the same project.
+
+When using a separate file, highlighting-patterns can still be
+written to the current buffer with
+\\[hi-lock-write-interactive-patterns].  Both the patterns from
+the current buffer and from the separate file apply.
+
+The file with the highlighting-patterns is transparently
+maintained in a dedicated buffer.  The dedicated buffer is
+automatically saved to `hi-lock-patterns-file' when the current
+buffer is saved.
+
+You can specify `hi-lock-patterns-file' as a buffer-local
+variable.  Please note that the value of this variable (the file
+name) must be given in double-quotes.
+
+Please see also `hi-lock-file-name-specifier'.
+
+\\[hi-lock-constant]
+  Highlight the thing at point with the `hi-constant' face.
+
+\\[hi-lock-functionlike]
+  Highlight the thing at point with the `hi-functionlike' face.
+
+\\[hi-lock-global-variable]
+  Highlight the thing at point with the `hi-global' face.
+
+\\[hi-lock-revert-patterns-from-file]
+  Revert the currently used highlighting-patterns to the patterns
+  in `hi-lock-patterns-file'.
+
+\\[hi-lock-revert-patterns-file-name]
+  Once `hi-lock-patterns-file' has been set, the current buffer
+  is not searched again for a line specifying this variable.  You
+  can revert to the value specified in the current buffer with
+  \\[hi-lock-revert-patterns-file-name].  This is for instances
+  when you modified the value of the variable and want the new
+  value take effect."
   :group 'hi-lock
   :lighter (:eval (if (or hi-lock-interactive-patterns
 			  hi-lock-file-patterns)
@@ -377,7 +501,10 @@ versions before 22 use the following in your init file:
       (progn
 	(define-key-after menu-bar-edit-menu [hi-lock]
 	  (cons "Regexp Highlighting" hi-lock-menu))
+	;; order does matter, see `hi-lock-apply-patterns-from-file'
 	(hi-lock-find-patterns)
+	(hi-lock-apply-patterns-from-file)
+	(add-hook 'after-save-hook 'hi-lock-write-patterns-file t t)
         (add-hook 'font-lock-mode-hook 'hi-lock-font-lock-hook nil t)
         ;; Remove regexps from font-lock-keywords (bug#13891).
 	(add-hook 'change-major-mode-hook (lambda () (hi-lock-mode -1)) nil t))
@@ -393,7 +520,8 @@ versions before 22 use the following in your init file:
       (remove-overlays nil nil 'hi-lock-overlay t)
       (when font-lock-fontified (font-lock-fontify-buffer)))
     (define-key-after menu-bar-edit-menu [hi-lock] nil)
-    (remove-hook 'font-lock-mode-hook 'hi-lock-font-lock-hook t)))
+    (remove-hook 'font-lock-mode-hook 'hi-lock-font-lock-hook t)
+    (remove-hook 'after-save-hook 'hi-lock-write-patterns-file t)))
 
 ;;;###autoload
 (define-globalized-minor-mode global-hi-lock-mode
@@ -624,6 +752,89 @@ be found in variable `hi-lock-interactive-patterns'."
   (when (> (point) hi-lock-file-patterns-range)
     (warn "Inserted keywords not close enough to top of file")))
 
+(defsubst hi-lock-comment-start-protected ()
+  "Since `comment-start' can sometimes be nil, return a default
+for such instances, otherwise return `comment-start'."
+  (or comment-start "# "))
+
+;;;###autoload
+(defun hi-lock-get-patterns-file-name (&optional force)
+  "When `hi-lock-patterns-file' is not nil, attempt to set it from
+`hi-lock-file-name-specifier' by searching the current buffer, unless
+the variable is already set.
+
+When the optional argument FORCE is not nil, attempt to set the
+variable regardless whether it is already set or not.
+
+The search is limited to between `point-min' and (+ (point-min) 1024)."
+  (interactive)
+  (unless (or
+	   (not force)
+	   hi-lock-patterns-file)
+    (save-excursion
+      (save-restriction
+	(widen)
+	(goto-char (point-min))
+	(let ((file-name-specifier
+	       (concat "^" (hi-lock-comment-start-protected) "[:space:]*" hi-lock-file-name-specifier ": ")))
+	  (when (re-search-forward file-name-specifier (+ (point) 1024) t)
+	    (when (looking-at "\\\"") (forward-char)
+		  (setq hi-lock-patterns-file (thing-at-point 'filename t)))))))))
+
+;;;###autoload
+(defun hi-lock-revert-patterns-file-name ()
+  "Use `hi-lock-get-patterns-file-name' to revert
+`hi-lock-patterns-file' even when `hi-lock-patterns-file' is
+already set."
+  (interactive)
+  (hi-lock-get-patterns-file-name t)
+  (message "use highlighting-patterns from %s"
+	   hi-lock-patterns-file))
+
+(defsubst hi-lock-make-reasonable-end-marker (for-writing)
+  "Return a regex which is a reasonable end-marker to indicate where
+ hi-lock highlighting-patterns inserted into a dedicated buffer
+ end. Reasonable particularly means that the marker shall be usable
+ even when `comment-start' is nil.
+
+When the argument 'for-writing' is nil, return a regex which matches
+the end-marker used in the patternsĀ“ buffer.
+
+Otherwise, the returned marker is suited to be appended to a buffer."
+  (if for-writing
+      (concat (hi-lock-comment-start-protected) hi-lock-patterns-end-marker)
+    (concat "^" (hi-lock-comment-start-protected) "\\_<" hi-lock-patterns-end-marker "\\_>")))
+
+(defun hi-lock-quick-add (whichface)
+  "Highlight something at point with a face given in whichface."
+  (let* ((regexp (hi-lock-regexp-okay (find-tag-default-as-symbol-regexp))))
+    (hi-lock-set-pattern regexp whichface))
+  ;; set modified to get the dedicated patterns buffer updated
+  (if hi-lock-patterns-file
+      (set-buffer-modified-p t)
+    (message "The variable `hi-lock-patterns-file' needs to be set to specify a dedicated buffer to store patterns." )))
+
+;;;###autoload
+(defun hi-lock-constant ()
+  "Add a pattern to highlight something at point that is a
+constant."
+  (interactive)
+  (hi-lock-quick-add 'hi-constant))
+
+;;;###autoload
+(defun hi-lock-functionlike ()
+  "Add a pattern to highlight something at point that is like a
+function."
+  (interactive)
+  (hi-lock-quick-add 'hi-functionlike))
+
+;;;###autoload
+(defun hi-lock-global-variable ()
+  "Add a pattern to highlight something at point that is a
+global variable."
+  (interactive)
+  (hi-lock-quick-add 'hi-global-variable))
+
 ;; Implementation Functions
 
 (defun hi-lock-process-phrase (phrase)
@@ -753,6 +964,94 @@ with completion and history."
         (if (called-interactively-p 'interactive)
             (message "Hi-lock added %d patterns." (length all-patterns)))))))
 
+(defun hi-lock-get-patterns-from-file (file)
+  "Read hi-lock-mode highlighting-patterns from a file and return
+the patterns read."
+  (with-current-buffer
+      (find-file-noselect file)
+    (goto-char (point-min))
+    (let ((marker-pos
+	   (re-search-forward (hi-lock-make-reasonable-end-marker nil) (point-max) t)))
+      (when marker-pos
+	(goto-char marker-pos)
+	(forward-line -1)
+	(end-of-line)
+	(setq marker-pos (point))
+	(goto-char (point-min))
+	(message "reading hi-lock highlighting-patterns from %s (characters %d..%d)"
+		 (buffer-name)
+		 (point-min) marker-pos)
+	(let ((patterns nil))
+	  (while (< (point) marker-pos)
+	    (setq patterns (append (read (current-buffer)) patterns)))
+	  patterns)))))
+
+(defun hi-lock-apply-patterns-from-file ()
+  "Use hi-lock-mode highlighting-patterns from another file with this
+  file.
+
+Which file to read the patterns from is specified through
+`hi-lock-file-name-specifier'.  This variable can be set as a
+buffer-local variable.
+
+The file will be visited in another buffer, and additional patterns
+are written to the other buffer and saved to the file when this file
+is saved."
+  (hi-lock-get-patterns-file-name)
+  (when hi-lock-patterns-file
+    (let ((patterns (hi-lock-get-patterns-from-file hi-lock-patterns-file)))
+      ;; add the patterns specified within the current buffer because
+      ;; `hi-lock-set-file-patterns' unsets them
+      (setq patterns (append hi-lock-file-patterns patterns))
+      (if (not patterns)
+	  (message "found no patterns to apply to %s in %s"
+		   (buffer-name)
+		   hi-lock-patterns-file)
+	(hi-lock-set-file-patterns patterns)
+	(message "%d patterns applied from file %s to buffer %s"
+		 (length patterns)
+		 hi-lock-patterns-file
+		 (buffer-name))))))
+
+(defun hi-lock-write-patterns-file ()
+  "When `hi-lock-patterns-file' is not nil, update the dedicated
+buffer holding the hi-lock highlighting-patterns and save the
+buffer to `hi-lock-patterns-file'."
+  (interactive)
+  (hi-lock-get-patterns-file-name)
+  (when hi-lock-patterns-file
+    (let ((all-patterns
+	   (delete-dups (append
+			 ;; put most recently added into first line of buffer
+			 hi-lock-interactive-patterns
+			 (hi-lock-get-patterns-from-file hi-lock-patterns-file)))))
+      (with-current-buffer
+	  (find-file-noselect hi-lock-patterns-file)
+	(erase-buffer)
+	(mapc
+	 (lambda (this)
+	   (insert (format "(%s)\n" (prin1-to-string this))))
+	 all-patterns)
+	(insert (hi-lock-make-reasonable-end-marker t) "\n")
+	(save-buffer)))))
+
+(defun hi-lock-revert-patterns-from-file ()
+  "Unset all hi-lock highlighting-patterns for the current buffer
+and apply patterns from the buffers` patterns file.  Do nothing
+when no file for storing the patterns is specified for the
+current buffer."
+  (interactive)
+  (hi-lock-get-patterns-file-name)
+  (if (not hi-lock-patterns-file)
+      (error "No buffer with patterns to revert to has been set")
+    (when hi-lock-interactive-patterns
+      (mapc
+       (lambda (this)
+	 (hi-lock-unface-buffer (car this)))
+       hi-lock-interactive-patterns)
+      (setq hi-lock-interactive-patterns nil))
+    (hi-lock-apply-patterns-from-file)))
+
 (defun hi-lock-font-lock-hook ()
   "Add hi-lock patterns to font-lock's."
   (when font-lock-fontified
[Message part 3 (text/plain, inline)]


In GNU Emacs 24.3.50.2 (x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu, X toolkit)
 of 2014-03-17 on yun.yagibdah.de
Windowing system distributor `Fedora Project', version 11.0.11404000
Configured using:
 `configure --without-gpm --without-toolkit-scroll-bars
 --with-x-toolkit=lucid --enable-link-time-optimization'

-- 
Knowledge is volatile and fluid.  Software is power.

Information forwarded to bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org:
bug#17021; Package emacs. (Mon, 17 Mar 2014 08:22:02 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Message #8 received at 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de>
To: 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Cc: koppel <at> ece.lsu.edu
Subject: Re: bug#17021: 24.3.50; extension to hi-lock.el
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:21:23 +0100
lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de> writes:

> Dear developers,
>
> I`m attaching a patch on hi-lock.el which provides an extension.  From
> the README:
>
>
> ,----
> | This is an extension to hi-lock mode (of bzr revno 116727):
> | 
> | You can use the buffer-local variable `hi-lock-patterns-file' to
> | specify a file to write the higlighting-patterns to.
> [...]

I just found that there seems to be a problem with adding patterns to
font-lock-keywords multiple times.  I`m looking into fixing this atm.


-- 
Knowledge is volatile and fluid.  Software is power.




Information forwarded to bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org:
bug#17021; Package emacs. (Mon, 17 Mar 2014 10:54:02 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Message #11 received at 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de>
To: 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Cc: koppel <at> ece.lsu.edu
Subject: Re: bug#17021: 24.3.50; extension to hi-lock.el
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 11:53:28 +0100
lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de> writes:

> lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de> writes:
>
>> Dear developers,
>>
>> I`m attaching a patch on hi-lock.el which provides an extension.  From
>> the README:
>>
>>
>> ,----
>> | This is an extension to hi-lock mode (of bzr revno 116727):
>> | 
>> | You can use the buffer-local variable `hi-lock-patterns-file' to
>> | specify a file to write the higlighting-patterns to.
>> [...]
>
> I just found that there seems to be a problem with adding patterns to
> font-lock-keywords multiple times.  I`m looking into fixing this atm.

Please see bug#17023: (24.3.50; font-lock-add-keywords creates duplicates).


-- 
Knowledge is volatile and fluid.  Software is power.




Information forwarded to bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org:
bug#17021; Package emacs. (Mon, 24 Mar 2014 04:55:03 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Message #14 received at 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de>
To: 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: updated patch
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 05:54:06 +0100
[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]
Here`s an updated version of the patch:

[hi-lock.diff (text/x-patch, inline)]
diff --git a/lisp/hi-lock.el b/lisp/hi-lock.el
index 78efd86..85c3216 100644
--- a/lisp/hi-lock.el
+++ b/lisp/hi-lock.el
@@ -142,6 +142,33 @@ Instead, each hi-lock command will cycle through the faces in
   :type 'boolean
   :version "24.4")
 
+(defcustom hi-lock-file-name-specifier "\\(-\\*- \\)hi-lock-patterns-file"
+  "Expression used to find the name of a file to read hi-lock
+highlighting-patterns from.
+
+The default is set such that a line specifying the file variable
+`hi-lock-patterns-file' can be found.
+
+Please see `hi-lock-get-patterns-file-name' for how this
+expression is used."
+  :type '(string)
+  :group 'hi-lock)
+(put 'hi-lock-patterns-file 'safe-local-variable #'stringp)
+
+(defcustom hi-lock-patterns-end-marker "hi-lock-patterns-end"
+  "Expression used to mark the end of hi-lock highlighting-patterns in
+a buffer dedicated to holding such patterns.  This can be a regular
+expression.
+
+The expression that will be searched for is the return value of
+`hi-lock-make-reasonable-end-marker'.  It is appended to the buffer,
+in a new line, by `hi-lock-write-patterns-file'.
+
+`hi-lock-get-patterns-from-file' uses it to figure out when to stop
+reading the buffer."
+  :type '(string)
+  :group 'hi-lock)
+
 (defgroup hi-lock-faces nil
   "Faces for hi-lock."
   :group 'hi-lock
@@ -205,10 +232,36 @@ Instead, each hi-lock command will cycle through the faces in
   "Face for hi-lock mode."
   :group 'hi-lock-faces)
 
+(defface hi-global-variable
+  '((t (:foreground "Magenta")))
+  "Face to highlight global variables."
+  :group 'hi-lock-faces)
+
+(defface hi-functionlike
+  '((t (:foreground "LightGreen")))
+  "Face to highlight something that is like a function."
+  :group 'hi-lock-faces)
+
+(defface hi-constant
+  '((t (:foreground "brown4")))
+  "Face to highlight something that is a constant."
+  :group 'hi-faces)
+
 (defvar-local hi-lock-file-patterns nil
   "Patterns found in file for hi-lock.  Should not be changed.")
 (put 'hi-lock-file-patterns 'permanent-local t)
 
+(defvar-local hi-lock-other-patterns nil
+  "Patterns for hi-lock found in a separate file.  See
+`hi-lock-patterns-file'.")
+
+(defvar-local hi-lock-patterns-file nil
+  "Remember the name of the file to read hi-lock highlighting-patterns
+  for this buffer from.
+
+Use this as buffer or dir local variable.")
+(put 'hi-lock-patterns-file 'permanent-local t)
+
 (defvar-local hi-lock-interactive-patterns nil
   "Patterns provided to hi-lock by user.  Should not be changed.")
 (put 'hi-lock-interactive-patterns 'permanent-local t)
@@ -242,33 +295,54 @@ a library is being loaded.")
   (let ((map (make-sparse-keymap "Hi Lock")))
     (define-key-after map [highlight-regexp]
       '(menu-item "Highlight Regexp..." highlight-regexp
-        :help "Highlight text matching PATTERN (a regexp)."))
+		  :help "Highlight text matching PATTERN (a regexp)."))
 
     (define-key-after map [highlight-phrase]
       '(menu-item "Highlight Phrase..." highlight-phrase
-        :help "Highlight text matching PATTERN (a regexp processed to match phrases)."))
+		  :help "Highlight text matching PATTERN (a regexp processed to match phrases)."))
 
     (define-key-after map [highlight-lines-matching-regexp]
       '(menu-item "Highlight Lines..." highlight-lines-matching-regexp
-        :help "Highlight lines containing match of PATTERN (a regexp)."))
+		  :help "Highlight lines containing match of PATTERN (a regexp)."))
 
     (define-key-after map [highlight-symbol-at-point]
       '(menu-item "Highlight Symbol at Point" highlight-symbol-at-point
-        :help "Highlight symbol found near point without prompting."))
+		  :help "Highlight symbol found near point without prompting."))
 
     (define-key-after map [unhighlight-regexp]
       '(menu-item "Remove Highlighting..." unhighlight-regexp
-        :help "Remove previously entered highlighting pattern."
-        :enable hi-lock-interactive-patterns))
+		  :help "Remove previously entered highlighting pattern."
+		  :enable hi-lock-interactive-patterns))
 
     (define-key-after map [hi-lock-write-interactive-patterns]
       '(menu-item "Patterns to Buffer" hi-lock-write-interactive-patterns
-        :help "Insert interactively added REGEXPs into buffer at point."
-        :enable hi-lock-interactive-patterns))
+		  :help "Insert interactively added REGEXPs into buffer at point."
+		  :enable hi-lock-interactive-patterns))
 
     (define-key-after map [hi-lock-find-patterns]
       '(menu-item "Patterns from Buffer" hi-lock-find-patterns
-        :help "Use patterns (if any) near top of buffer."))
+		  :help "Use patterns (if any) near top of buffer."))
+
+    (define-key-after map [hi-lock-constant]
+      '(menu-item "Highlight constant" hi-lock-constant
+		  :help "Highlight something at point that is a constant."))
+
+    (define-key-after map [hi-lock-functionlike]
+      '(menu-item "Highlight functionlike" hi-lock-functionlike
+		  :help "Highlight something at point that is like a function."))
+
+    (define-key-after map [hi-lock-global-variable]
+      '(menu-item "Highlight global variable" hi-lock-global-variable
+		  :help "Highlight something at point that is a global variable."))
+
+    (define-key-after map [hi-lock-revert-patterns-from-file]
+      '(menu-item "Revert patterns from buffer" hi-lock-revert-patterns-from-file
+		  :help "Revert all highlighting patters to the patterns in the dedicated buffer."
+		  :enable hi-lock-patterns-file))
+
+    (define-key-after map [hi-lock-revert-patterns-file-name]
+      '(menu-item "Revert name of patterns-file" hi-lock-revert-patterns-file-name
+		  :help "Revert the name of the file storing the highlighting patterns."))
     map)
   "Menu for hi-lock mode.")
 
@@ -281,6 +355,11 @@ a library is being loaded.")
     (define-key map "\C-xw." 'highlight-symbol-at-point)
     (define-key map "\C-xwr" 'unhighlight-regexp)
     (define-key map "\C-xwb" 'hi-lock-write-interactive-patterns)
+    (define-key map "\C-xwc" 'hi-lock-constant)
+    (define-key map "\C-xwf" 'hi-lock-functionlike)
+    (define-key map "\C-xwg" 'hi-lock-global-variable)
+    (define-key map "\C-xw!" 'hi-lock-revert-patterns-from-file)
+    (define-key map "\C-xwn" 'hi-lock-revert-patterns-file-name)
     map)
   "Key map for hi-lock.")
 
@@ -348,7 +427,56 @@ where FOO is a list of patterns.  The patterns must start before
 position \(number of characters into buffer)
 `hi-lock-file-patterns-range'.  Patterns will be read until
 Hi-lock: end is found.  A mode is excluded if it's in the list
-`hi-lock-exclude-modes'."
+`hi-lock-exclude-modes'.
+
+\\[hi-lock-revert-patterns-file-name]
+  Search the current buffer for the variable
+  `hi-lock-patterns-file' and set it (to a potentially new value)
+  even when this variable is already set.
+
+This variable is used to specify a file in which to store
+highlighting-patterns.  This allows you to keep the patterns in a
+separate file which can be shared among multiple files.  This is
+particularly useful when editing source code because you can use
+a single file with highlighting-patterns which is shared by
+multiple files of the same project.
+
+When using a separate file, highlighting-patterns can still be
+written to the current buffer with
+\\[hi-lock-write-interactive-patterns].  Both the patterns from
+the current buffer and from the separate file apply.
+
+The file with the highlighting-patterns is transparently
+maintained in a dedicated buffer.  The dedicated buffer is
+automatically saved to `hi-lock-patterns-file' when the current
+buffer is saved.
+
+You can specify `hi-lock-patterns-file' as a buffer-local
+variable.  Please note that the value of this variable (the file
+name) must be given in double-quotes.
+
+Please see also `hi-lock-file-name-specifier'.
+
+\\[hi-lock-constant]
+  Highlight the thing at point with the `hi-constant' face.
+
+\\[hi-lock-functionlike]
+  Highlight the thing at point with the `hi-functionlike' face.
+
+\\[hi-lock-global-variable]
+  Highlight the thing at point with the `hi-global' face.
+
+\\[hi-lock-revert-patterns-from-file]
+  Revert the currently used highlighting-patterns to the patterns
+  in `hi-lock-patterns-file'.
+
+\\[hi-lock-revert-patterns-file-name]
+  Once `hi-lock-patterns-file' has been set, the current buffer
+  is not searched again for a line specifying this variable.  You
+  can revert to the value specified in the current buffer with
+  \\[hi-lock-revert-patterns-file-name].  This is for instances
+  when you modified the value of the variable and want the new
+  value take effect."
   :group 'hi-lock
   :lighter (:eval (if (or hi-lock-interactive-patterns
 			  hi-lock-file-patterns)
@@ -377,23 +505,29 @@ versions before 22 use the following in your init file:
       (progn
 	(define-key-after menu-bar-edit-menu [hi-lock]
 	  (cons "Regexp Highlighting" hi-lock-menu))
+	;; order does matter, see `hi-lock-apply-patterns-from-file'
 	(hi-lock-find-patterns)
+	(hi-lock-apply-patterns-from-file)
+	(add-hook 'after-save-hook 'hi-lock-write-patterns-file t t)
         (add-hook 'font-lock-mode-hook 'hi-lock-font-lock-hook nil t)
         ;; Remove regexps from font-lock-keywords (bug#13891).
 	(add-hook 'change-major-mode-hook (lambda () (hi-lock-mode -1)) nil t))
     ;; Turned off.
     (when (or hi-lock-interactive-patterns
-	      hi-lock-file-patterns)
+	      hi-lock-file-patterns
+	      hi-lock-other-patterns)
       (when hi-lock-interactive-patterns
 	(font-lock-remove-keywords nil hi-lock-interactive-patterns)
 	(setq hi-lock-interactive-patterns nil))
       (when hi-lock-file-patterns
 	(font-lock-remove-keywords nil hi-lock-file-patterns)
 	(setq hi-lock-file-patterns nil))
+      (hi-lock-unapply-patterns-from-file)
       (remove-overlays nil nil 'hi-lock-overlay t)
       (when font-lock-fontified (font-lock-fontify-buffer)))
     (define-key-after menu-bar-edit-menu [hi-lock] nil)
-    (remove-hook 'font-lock-mode-hook 'hi-lock-font-lock-hook t)))
+    (remove-hook 'font-lock-mode-hook 'hi-lock-font-lock-hook t)
+    (remove-hook 'after-save-hook 'hi-lock-write-patterns-file t)))
 
 ;;;###autoload
 (define-globalized-minor-mode global-hi-lock-mode
@@ -624,6 +758,94 @@ be found in variable `hi-lock-interactive-patterns'."
   (when (> (point) hi-lock-file-patterns-range)
     (warn "Inserted keywords not close enough to top of file")))
 
+(defsubst hi-lock-comment-start-protected ()
+  "Since `comment-start' can sometimes be nil, return a default
+for such instances, otherwise return `comment-start'."
+  (or comment-start "# "))
+
+;;;###autoload
+(defun hi-lock-get-patterns-file-name (&optional force)
+  "When `hi-lock-patterns-file' is not nil, attempt to set it from
+`hi-lock-file-name-specifier' by searching the current buffer, unless
+the variable is already set.
+
+When the optional argument FORCE is not nil, attempt to set the
+variable regardless whether it is already set or not.
+
+In any case, return the value of `hi-lock-patterns-file', which
+can be nil when not specified in the current buffer.
+
+The search is limited to between `point-min' and (+ (point-min) 1024)."
+  (interactive)
+  (if (or
+       force
+       (not hi-lock-patterns-file))
+      (save-excursion
+	(save-restriction
+	  (widen)
+	  (goto-char (point-min))
+	  (let ((file-name-specifier
+		 (concat "^" (hi-lock-comment-start-protected) "[:space:]*" hi-lock-file-name-specifier ": ")))
+	    (when (re-search-forward file-name-specifier (+ (point) 1024) t)
+	      (when (looking-at "\\\"") (forward-char)
+		    (setq hi-lock-patterns-file (thing-at-point 'filename t))))))))
+  hi-lock-patterns-file)
+
+;;;###autoload
+(defun hi-lock-revert-patterns-file-name ()
+  "Use `hi-lock-get-patterns-file-name' to revert
+`hi-lock-patterns-file' even when `hi-lock-patterns-file' is
+already set."
+  (interactive)
+  (if (hi-lock-get-patterns-file-name t)
+      (message "Use highlighting-patterns from %s"
+	       hi-lock-patterns-file)
+    (error "Nothing found to set `hi-lock-patterns-file' from")))
+
+(defsubst hi-lock-make-reasonable-end-marker (for-writing)
+  "Return a regex which is a reasonable end-marker to indicate where
+ hi-lock highlighting-patterns inserted into a dedicated buffer
+ end. Reasonable particularly means that the marker shall be usable
+ even when `comment-start' is nil.
+
+When the argument 'for-writing' is nil, return a regex which matches
+the end-marker used in the patternsĀ“ buffer.
+
+Otherwise, the returned marker is suited to be appended to a buffer."
+  (if for-writing
+      (concat (hi-lock-comment-start-protected) hi-lock-patterns-end-marker)
+    (concat "^" (hi-lock-comment-start-protected) "\\_<" hi-lock-patterns-end-marker "\\_>")))
+
+(defun hi-lock-quick-add (whichface)
+  "Highlight something at point with a face given in whichface."
+  (let* ((regexp (hi-lock-regexp-okay (find-tag-default-as-symbol-regexp))))
+    (hi-lock-set-pattern regexp whichface))
+  ;; set modified to get the dedicated patterns buffer updated
+  (if hi-lock-patterns-file
+      (set-buffer-modified-p t)
+    (message "The variable `hi-lock-patterns-file' needs to be set to specify a dedicated buffer to store patterns." )))
+
+;;;###autoload
+(defun hi-lock-constant ()
+  "Add a pattern to highlight something at point that is a
+constant."
+  (interactive)
+  (hi-lock-quick-add 'hi-constant))
+
+;;;###autoload
+(defun hi-lock-functionlike ()
+  "Add a pattern to highlight something at point that is like a
+function."
+  (interactive)
+  (hi-lock-quick-add 'hi-functionlike))
+
+;;;###autoload
+(defun hi-lock-global-variable ()
+  "Add a pattern to highlight something at point that is a
+global variable."
+  (interactive)
+  (hi-lock-quick-add 'hi-global-variable))
+
 ;; Implementation Functions
 
 (defun hi-lock-process-phrase (phrase)
@@ -753,10 +975,100 @@ with completion and history."
         (if (called-interactively-p 'interactive)
             (message "Hi-lock added %d patterns." (length all-patterns)))))))
 
+(defun hi-lock-get-patterns-from-file (file)
+  "Read hi-lock-mode highlighting-patterns from a file and return
+the patterns read."
+  (with-current-buffer
+      (find-file-noselect file)
+    (goto-char (point-min))
+    (let ((marker-pos
+	   (re-search-forward (hi-lock-make-reasonable-end-marker nil) (point-max) t)))
+      (when marker-pos
+	(goto-char marker-pos)
+	(forward-line -1)
+	(end-of-line)
+	(setq marker-pos (point))
+	(goto-char (point-min))
+	(message "reading hi-lock highlighting-patterns from %s (characters %d..%d)"
+		 (buffer-name)
+		 (point-min) marker-pos)
+	(let ((patterns nil))
+	  (while (< (point) marker-pos)
+	    (setq patterns (append (read (current-buffer)) patterns)))
+	  patterns)))))
+
+(defsubst hi-lock-unapply-patterns-from-file ()
+  "Disable all highlighting-patterns from another file which is
+used with this file.  The patterns are not deleted or otherwise
+modified; only the highlighting they bring about is disabled."
+  (font-lock-remove-keywords nil hi-lock-other-patterns)
+  (setq hi-lock-other-patterns nil))
+
+(defun hi-lock-apply-patterns-from-file ()
+  "Use hi-lock-mode highlighting-patterns from another file with this
+  file.
+
+Which file to read the patterns from is specified through
+`hi-lock-file-name-specifier'.  This variable can be set as a
+buffer-local variable.
+
+The file will be visited in another buffer, and additional patterns
+are written to the other buffer and saved to the file when this file
+is saved."
+  (hi-lock-unapply-patterns-from-file)
+  (when (hi-lock-get-patterns-file-name)
+    (setq hi-lock-other-patterns (hi-lock-get-patterns-from-file hi-lock-patterns-file)))
+  (if (not hi-lock-other-patterns)
+      (message "found no patterns to apply to %s in %s"
+	       (buffer-name)
+	       hi-lock-patterns-file)
+    (font-lock-add-keywords nil hi-lock-other-patterns)
+    (message "%d patterns applied from file %s to buffer %s"
+	     (length hi-lock-other-patterns)
+	     hi-lock-patterns-file
+	     (buffer-name)))
+  (font-lock-fontify-buffer))
+
+(defun hi-lock-write-patterns-file ()
+  "When `hi-lock-patterns-file' is not nil, update the dedicated
+buffer holding the hi-lock highlighting-patterns and save the
+buffer to `hi-lock-patterns-file'."
+  (interactive)
+  (when (hi-lock-get-patterns-file-name)
+    (let ((all-patterns
+	   (delete-dups (append
+			 ;; put most recently added into first line of buffer
+			 hi-lock-interactive-patterns
+			 ;; the patterns buffer may have been edited,
+			 ;; hence do not append `hi-lock-other-patterns'
+			 (hi-lock-get-patterns-from-file hi-lock-patterns-file)))))
+      (with-current-buffer (find-file-noselect hi-lock-patterns-file)
+	(erase-buffer)
+	(mapc
+	 (lambda (this)
+	   (insert (format "(%s)\n" (prin1-to-string this))))
+	 all-patterns)
+	(insert (hi-lock-make-reasonable-end-marker t) "\n")
+	(save-buffer)))))
+
+(defun hi-lock-revert-patterns-from-file ()
+  "Unset all hi-lock highlighting-patterns for the current buffer
+and apply patterns from the buffers` patterns file.  Do nothing
+when no file for storing the patterns is specified for the
+current buffer."
+  (interactive)
+  (hi-lock-unface-buffer t)
+  (hi-lock-unapply-patterns-from-file)
+  (if (not (hi-lock-get-patterns-file-name))
+      (error "No buffer with patterns to revert to has been set")
+    (hi-lock-find-patterns)
+    (hi-lock-apply-patterns-from-file)))
+
 (defun hi-lock-font-lock-hook ()
   "Add hi-lock patterns to font-lock's."
   (when font-lock-fontified
     (font-lock-add-keywords nil hi-lock-file-patterns t)
+    (font-lock-add-keywords nil hi-lock-other-patterns t)
     (font-lock-add-keywords nil hi-lock-interactive-patterns t)))
 
 (defvar hi-lock--hashcons-hash
[Message part 3 (text/plain, inline)]

-- 
Knowledge is volatile and fluid.  Software is power.

Added tag(s) patch. Request was from Stefan Kangas <stefan <at> marxist.se> to control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. (Mon, 30 Sep 2019 03:48:02 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Information forwarded to bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org:
bug#17021; Package emacs. (Thu, 13 Aug 2020 10:34:01 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Message #19 received at 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>
To: lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de>
Cc: koppel <at> ece.lsu.edu, 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#17021: 24.3.50; extension to hi-lock.el
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2020 12:32:48 +0200
lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de> writes:

> | This is an extension to hi-lock mode (of bzr revno 116727):
> | 
> | You can use the buffer-local variable `hi-lock-patterns-file' to
> | specify a file to write the higlighting-patterns to.  When this
> | variable is set, the highlighting-patterns will be kept in a dedicated
> | buffer instead of being written into the very file you`re editing.

This patch unfortunately got no attention when it was posted seven years
ago, and it no longer applies to Emacs 28.

I am not a hi-lock user myself -- are there anybody else on the bugs
mailing list here that can comment on whether this is something we'd
want to add?  It does sound useful to me, but I'm not really familiar
with how hi-lock works.

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
   bloggy blog: http://lars.ingebrigtsen.no




Added tag(s) moreinfo. Request was from Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org> to control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. (Thu, 13 Aug 2020 10:34:02 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Information forwarded to bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org:
bug#17021; Package emacs. (Thu, 13 Aug 2020 18:44:02 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Message #24 received at 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: David Koppelman <koppel <at> ece.lsu.edu>
To: Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>
Cc: lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de>, 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#17021: 24.3.50; extension to hi-lock.el
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2020 13:43:03 -0500
This does sound useful, but I'd need to see the patch. Use of this
variable should be guarded by hi-lock-file-patterns-policy too.


Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org> writes:

> lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de> writes:
>
>> | This is an extension to hi-lock mode (of bzr revno 116727):
>> | 
>> | You can use the buffer-local variable `hi-lock-patterns-file' to
>> | specify a file to write the higlighting-patterns to.  When this
>> | variable is set, the highlighting-patterns will be kept in a dedicated
>> | buffer instead of being written into the very file you`re editing.
>
> This patch unfortunately got no attention when it was posted seven years
> ago, and it no longer applies to Emacs 28.
>
> I am not a hi-lock user myself -- are there anybody else on the bugs
> mailing list here that can comment on whether this is something we'd
> want to add?  It does sound useful to me, but I'm not really familiar
> with how hi-lock works.




Information forwarded to bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org:
bug#17021; Package emacs. (Thu, 13 Aug 2020 19:51:01 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Message #27 received at 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Stefan Kangas <stefankangas <at> gmail.com>
To: David Koppelman <koppel <at> ece.lsu.edu>, Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>
Cc: lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de>, 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#17021: 24.3.50; extension to hi-lock.el
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2020 12:50:20 -0700
David Koppelman <koppel <at> ece.lsu.edu> writes:

> This does sound useful, but I'd need to see the patch. Use of this
> variable should be guarded by hi-lock-file-patterns-policy too.

The patch is available at:
https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=17021#14

Best regards,
Stefan Kangas




Information forwarded to bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org:
bug#17021; Package emacs. (Thu, 13 Aug 2020 21:47:02 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Message #30 received at 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: David Koppelman <koppel <at> ece.lsu.edu>
To: Stefan Kangas <stefankangas <at> gmail.com>
Cc: lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de>, Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>,
 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#17021: 24.3.50; extension to hi-lock.el
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2020 16:46:14 -0500
I've looked at the patch, but haven't tried to apply it to the current
hi-lock. There are two things that need to be addressed before I would
be happy with it landing.

First, this patch should not include the code for highlighting global
variables, function-like text, and constants. (Perhaps this code was
included by accident.) Those situations are best handled by the
font-lock modes for specific languages.

Second, I don't feel comfortable reading a pattern file path from
within the file being visited. Instead, some kind of identifier could
be read from the file, such as xyz-report-patterns. That identifier
would then be used to locate patterns from a file in some default
location, such as ~/.emacs.d/hi-lock-patterns, or it could be used to
construct a file name (but not a path) that would be expected in some
directory, such as ~/.emacs.d/hi-lock-patterns/.

David Koppelman




Information forwarded to bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org:
bug#17021; Package emacs. (Sun, 16 Aug 2020 17:50:02 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Message #33 received at 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: hw <hw <at> adminart.net>
To: 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Cc: Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>, koppel <at> ece.lsu.edu,
 stefankangas <at> gmail.com
Subject: Re: bug#17021: 24.3.50; extension to hi-lock.el
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2020 19:49:38 +0200
On Thu, 2020-08-13 at 16:46 -0500, David Koppelman wrote:
> I've looked at the patch, but haven't tried to apply it to the current
> hi-lock. There are two things that need to be addressed before I would
> be happy with it landing.
> 
> First, this patch should not include the code for highlighting global
> variables, function-like text, and constants. (Perhaps this code was
> included by accident.) Those situations are best handled by the
> font-lock modes for specific languages.
> 
> Second, I don't feel comfortable reading a pattern file path from
> within the file being visited. Instead, some kind of identifier could
> be read from the file, such as xyz-report-patterns. That identifier
> would then be used to locate patterns from a file in some default
> location, such as ~/.emacs.d/hi-lock-patterns, or it could be used to
> construct a file name (but not a path) that would be expected in some
> directory, such as ~/.emacs.d/hi-lock-patterns/.
> 
> David Koppelman

It's been a long time that I've been using this extension.  Using a default
location may be a nice option, and I definitely wouldn't want to enforce it
and wouldn't suggest it, either:

When you have a (source) file or a number of (source) files in a directory
(structure) highlighting patterns should be applied to, you probably want
to keep the pattern file(s) together with the source file(s) --- or at
least within the same directory structure.  If you somehow distribute the
source files and/or have them under version control, you are facing the
problem of how to distribute the pattern files along with the source files
when you have a bunch of unrelated pattern files together with relevant
pattern files all in the same default location (i. e. some directory
somewhere else).  And if you use the same pattern files for multiple
projects, you don't want the pattern files used by project A altered when
you revert to a previous commit of project B or when you merge changes to
project C just because all the pattern are at the same default location.

Recipients of the files may not even have a default location required for
this to work, especially when the recipients are using operating systems
that would use entirely different paths for the pattern files.  Files at a
default location might be overwritten.  All this could make it difficult to
use a default location for pattern files and to maintain the necessary
assignments between source files and pattern files.

After all this time, the first thing that comes to mind for storing the
patterns is now an SQL database ...






Information forwarded to bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org:
bug#17021; Package emacs. (Mon, 17 Aug 2020 01:11:02 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Message #36 received at 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Juri Linkov <juri <at> linkov.net>
To: hw <hw <at> adminart.net>
Cc: Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>, 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org,
 koppel <at> ece.lsu.edu, stefankangas <at> gmail.com
Subject: Re: bug#17021: 24.3.50; extension to hi-lock.el
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2020 03:32:08 +0300
> When you have a (source) file or a number of (source) files in a directory
> (structure) highlighting patterns should be applied to, you probably want
> to keep the pattern file(s) together with the source file(s) --- or at
> least within the same directory structure.  If you somehow distribute the
> source files and/or have them under version control, you are facing the
> problem of how to distribute the pattern files along with the source files
> when you have a bunch of unrelated pattern files together with relevant
> pattern files all in the same default location (i. e. some directory
> somewhere else).  And if you use the same pattern files for multiple
> projects, you don't want the pattern files used by project A altered when
> you revert to a previous commit of project B or when you merge changes to
> project C just because all the pattern are at the same default location.

All these problems were already solved long ago with the help of
Directory Local Variables.  Just put such lines to .dir-locals.el
in the root of your project:

((emacs-lisp-mode
  . ((hi-lock-file-patterns
      . ((("^;;; .*" (0 (quote hi-black-hb) t)))
         (("make-variable-buffer-\\(local\\)" (0 font-lock-keyword-face)(1 'italic append))))))))




Removed tag(s) moreinfo. Request was from Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org> to control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. (Mon, 14 Sep 2020 15:07:01 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Information forwarded to bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org:
bug#17021; Package emacs. (Mon, 14 Sep 2020 15:09:02 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

Message #41 received at 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>
To: Juri Linkov <juri <at> linkov.net>
Cc: hw <hw <at> adminart.net>, koppel <at> ece.lsu.edu, 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org,
 stefankangas <at> gmail.com
Subject: Re: bug#17021: 24.3.50; extension to hi-lock.el
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2020 17:07:53 +0200
Juri Linkov <juri <at> linkov.net> writes:

> All these problems were already solved long ago with the help of
> Directory Local Variables.  Just put such lines to .dir-locals.el
> in the root of your project:

It sounded like there was limited enthusiasm for this extension to
hi-lock.el, so I'm closing this bug report.

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
   bloggy blog: http://lars.ingebrigtsen.no




bug closed, send any further explanations to 17021 <at> debbugs.gnu.org and lee <lee <at> yun.yagibdah.de> Request was from Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org> to control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. (Mon, 14 Sep 2020 15:09:03 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

bug archived. Request was from Debbugs Internal Request <help-debbugs <at> gnu.org> to internal_control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. (Tue, 13 Oct 2020 11:24:05 GMT) Full text and rfc822 format available.

This bug report was last modified 3 years and 187 days ago.

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