GNU bug report logs - #80062
31.0.50; Feature request: Allow full Lisp in capture-templates expansions (unobtrusive opt-in)

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

From: arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com>
To: "bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org" <bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org>
Subject: 31.0.50; Feature request: Allow full Lisp in capture-templates
 expansions (unobtrusive opt-in)
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:10:44 +0000

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Currently, it is not possible to use variables directly in embedded lisp
templates in org-capture templates. For example this is not possible to
type:

%(default-directory)

since current embedded lisp evaluator can only evaluate functions.

The proposed patch suggests unintrosive, per-template opt-in that allows
for %() expansions with full lisp evaluation.

It adds a new keyword to the template keywords,
:allow-full-lisp as a selector for the new evaluator. The default is the
old one of course, so all old templates would run untouched. Newly
written templates have to explicitly opt-in with the new keyword. It also
adds a new optional argument to org-capture-fill-template, so it is
possible to select new evaluatore even if org-capture-fill-template is
called outside of org-capture itself.

New expander have also relaxed requirement for the return value of the
evaluation. Instead of asking the user to ensure that evaluation returns
a string, we are using printing representation of returned value. That
is slightly more convenient then calling (prin1 myvar) possibly in many
places in a template. With this patch we could type:

%(default-directory)    => "~/..."
%(most-positive-fixnum) => 230...
%((buffer-name))        => "Capture..."

Motivation for this is a wish to use org-capture-templates as a more
general template expansion tool. Attached is an example of a template to
generate a README file in org format. As seen from the example, a
variable may be repeated many times. In this case there is only one,
'project-name' but there could be of course more. Having to basically
repeat prin1 many times, something like this: '(prin1 project-name)',
feels elaborate and unnecessary.

There are other template engines available, I am using Skeleton myself
in several places, but I find org-capture templates with
palceholders more convenient to work with. The only nuissance is we
can't use variables directly, but that is not hard to add in. The
proposed patch is a relatively short function, and is completely
unintrusive to all existing users of org-capture templates.

This is just a preliminary test of idea, if that would be acceptable in this
form I can rework other details, docs etc. I hope this one is more
acceptable than the previous suggestion.

[Message part 2 (text/html, inline)]

[README.org (application/vnd.lotus-organizer, attachment)]

[0001-New-evaluator-for-in-capture-templates.patch (application/octet-stream, attachment)]

Message #8 received at 80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
To: arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com>
Cc: 80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#80062: 31.0.50;
 Feature request: Allow full Lisp in capture-templates expansions
 (unobtrusive opt-in)
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:35:30 +0200

> From: arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com>
> Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:10:44 +0000
> 
> Currently, it is not possible to use variables directly in embedded lisp
> templates in org-capture templates. For example this is not possible to
> type:
> 
> %(default-directory)
> 
> since current embedded lisp evaluator can only evaluate functions.
> 
> The proposed patch suggests unintrosive, per-template opt-in that allows
> for %() expansions with full lisp evaluation.

Thanks, but since this is an Org-specific issue, please submit the
patch to the Org developers.

Message #11 received at 80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com>
To: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
Cc: "80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org" <80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
Subject: Sv: bug#80062: 31.0.50; Feature request: Allow full Lisp in
 capture-templates expansions (unobtrusive opt-in)
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:17:28 +0000

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

________________________________
Från: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
Skickat: den 23 december 2025 14:36
Till: arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com>
Kopia: 80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org <80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
Ämne: Re: bug#80062: 31.0.50; Feature request: Allow full Lisp in capture-templates expansions (unobtrusive opt-in)

> Thanks, but since this is an Org-specific issue, please submit the
> patch to the Org developers.

Does org have their own bug tracker?

[Message part 2 (text/html, inline)]

Message #14 received at 80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Ihor Radchenko <yantar92 <at> posteo.net>
To: arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com>
Cc: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>,
 "80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org" <80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
Subject: Re: bug#80062: Sv: bug#80062: 31.0.50; Feature request: Allow full
 Lisp in capture-templates expansions (unobtrusive opt-in)
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2025 19:01:33 +0000

arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com> writes:

>> Thanks, but since this is an Org-specific issue, please submit the
>> patch to the Org developers.
>
> Does org have their own bug tracker?

See https://orgmode.org/manual/Feedback.html#Feedback
TL;DR: Just send to the mailing list. If you want the request to be more
visible, prefix subject with [FR].

-- 
Ihor Radchenko // yantar92,
Org mode maintainer,
Learn more about Org mode at <https://orgmode.org/>.
Support Org development at <https://liberapay.com/org-mode>,
or support my work at <https://liberapay.com/yantar92>

Message #17 received at 80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
To: arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com>
Cc: 80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#80062: 31.0.50; Feature request: Allow full Lisp in
 capture-templates expansions (unobtrusive opt-in)
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2025 21:45:28 +0200

> From: arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com>
> CC: "80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org" <80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
> Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:17:28 +0000
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Från: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
> Skickat: den 23 december 2025 14:36
> Till: arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com>
> Kopia: 80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org <80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
> Ämne: Re: bug#80062: 31.0.50; Feature request: Allow full Lisp in capture-templates expansions
> (unobtrusive opt-in)
>  
> > Thanks, but since this is an Org-specific issue, please submit the
> > patch to the Org developers.
> 
> Does org have their own bug tracker?

Yes, type "M-x org-submit-bug-report RET".

Message #20 received at 80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com>
To: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
Cc: "80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org" <80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
Subject: Sv: bug#80062: 31.0.50; Feature request: Allow full Lisp in
 capture-templates expansions (unobtrusive opt-in)
Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2025 03:00:34 +0000

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

________________________________
Från: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
Skickat: den 23 december 2025 20:45
Till: arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com>
Kopia: 80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org <80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
Ämne: Re: bug#80062: 31.0.50; Feature request: Allow full Lisp in capture-templates expansions (unobtrusive opt-in)

>> Does org have their own bug tracker?

> Yes, type "M-x org-submit-bug-report RET".

Aha. Ok. Thanks, no prob., Didn't actually know.

[Message part 2 (text/html, inline)]

Message #25 received at 80062-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
To: arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com>
Cc: 80062-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#80062: 31.0.50; Feature request: Allow full Lisp in
 capture-templates expansions (unobtrusive opt-in)
Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2025 15:59:19 +0200

> From: arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com>
> CC: "80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org" <80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
> Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2025 03:00:34 +0000
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Från: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
> Skickat: den 23 december 2025 20:45
> Till: arthur miller <arthur.miller <at> live.com>
> Kopia: 80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org <80062 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
> Ämne: Re: bug#80062: 31.0.50; Feature request: Allow full Lisp in capture-templates expansions
> (unobtrusive opt-in)
>  
> >> Does org have their own bug tracker?
> 
> > Yes, type "M-x org-submit-bug-report RET".
> 
> Aha. Ok. Thanks, no prob., Didn't actually know.

Thanks, closing.

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