So, I've got:

print "Hello World\n";

... in the buffer and it's saved. I can use the debugger command to
run it. Strangely to me, 'run' is disabled. What does 'run' do? In
other IDEs I've used, I type some code, then I either compile or don't
depending on the language, and then I run. What's different here?

More generally, when confronted by a menu command, how can I easily go
to its definition?

On Jul 24, 10:36 am, formido gmail.com> wrote:

And I found the answer to the first question, buried in cperl's page
at emacswiki: Apparently you have to install something called Mode
Compile.

On Jul 24, 10:36 am, formido gmail.com> wrote:

I don't know. But you can run it by typing Alt+x shell-command
(shortcut Alt+x !) then type “perl ‹filename›”.

Or, you can write a short elisp so that pressing a key will run the
program in current buffer.

(defun run-current-file ()
"Execute or compile the current file.
For example, if the current buffer is the file x.pl,
then it'll call “perl x.pl” in a shell.
The file can be php, perl, python, bash,...

On Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:55:29 -0700 (PDT) Xah gmail.com> wrote:

Please note that Alt is not the preferred prefix name for Emacs
purposes. It's Meta, abbreviated M (e.g. M-x), for two reasons:

1) Meta can be mapped to keys other than Alt

2) Meta can be invoked with ESC as well, which is very handy in a
terminal session (I actually use ESC all the time even in a graphical
session)

Ted

On Jul 25, 9:41 am, Ted Zlatanov lifelogs.com> wrote:

Thanks for the info, i think it's good to know.

Here're some reason i think emacs should adopt the Alt+‹key› or
Alt-‹key› notation throughout its documentation.

Xah wrote:

Xah gmail.com> writes:

Actually, Meta is the name X11 gives to one of the modifier keys. Others
are control, alt, super and hyper.

The problem with your suggestion is that while on some keyboards the key
that has ALT written on it is the one meant in Emacs by Meta, calling
Meta Alt in the documentation would be endlessly confusing for people
who make use of X for their keybindings.

On Jul 25, 5:33 pm, "Lennart Borgman (gmail)"
gmail.com> wrote:

Standard and familiarity is important. Going by tech details, each app
will argue about the superiority of their terminology to no ends.

For example, Linux's KDE and Gnome largely adated all Windows's terms.
Left mouse button, right mouse button, instead of some 1st button or
2nd button (which emacs still use). Desktop, instad of various “Window
Managers” or “File managers” (or Directory Editor in older days).
Keyboard shortcut, as apposed to keybinding. File alias or File
shortcut, as opposed to Hard Link, Soft Link. Folders, as opposed to
Directory. File names, as opposed to File ID (older unix term)... etc.

Bottom line is that words and terms change with time, in computing as
well in science. Most tech geekers likes to associate “modern” with
“Microsoft” which they hate. But if we want to be hardcore, lots of
emacs's terms is invented by itself and not logical.

Xah writes:
«The Meta name isn't in some linguistic sense superior that covers
different modifier keys on different OSes. It was one of the modifier
key on obsolete keyboards used by lisp machines in the 1980s.»

On Jul 25, 5:05 pm, Florian Beck wrote:
«Actually, Meta is the name X11 gives to one of the modifier keys.
Others are control, alt, super and hyper.»

I am sure Lisp Machine's keyboards predate X11. One way to start
research on this is to look at Wikipedia.

Unless, you actually have knowledge in the history of the subject. In
that case, sorry. Please give us more detail, i'm interested to know
about the origin of the Meta personally.

Thanks.

Xah
∑ http://xahlee.org/

☄