3.1 Writing Commands

StumpWM commands are written much like any Lisp function. The main difference is in the way command arguments are specified. The defcommand macro takes a list of arguments as its first form (similar to the defun macro), and a corresponding list of types as its second form. All arguments must belong to a “type”. Each type specification has two parts: a keyword specifying the argument type, and a string prompt that will be displayed when asking the user to enter the argument value. A typical defcommand might look like this:

(defcommand now-we-are-six (name age)
    ((:string "Enter your name: ")
     (:number "Enter your age: "))
  (message "~a, in six years you will be ~a" name (+ 6 age)))

If now-we-are-six is called interactively via the colon command, the user will be prompted for a string and a number, which will then be bound to “name” and “age”, respectively, in the body of the command.

When invoking the command via a key-binding, it is possible to provide some or all of the arguments directly:

(define-key *root-map* (kbd "L") "now-we-are-six John")

In this case, hitting C-t L will only prompt for an age (the first string argument is already bound to “John”). Argument values provided this way always bind to the earliest arguments defined: ie, it is not possible to specify an age, but prompt the user for a name.

If the type declaration does not include a prompt (ie, it looks like “(:type nil)”, or “(:type)” or just “:type”), the argument is considered optional. It can be provided via a key-binding invocation, as above, but if it isn’t, the user will not be prompted, and the argument will be bound to nil.

It is possible to limit the scope under which the command will be usable: a command can be defined to work only a specific group type; the three currently implemented are tile groups,f loating groups, and dynamic groups. This is done by replacing the name of the command with a two-element list: the name of the command as a symbol, and either the symbol tile-group or floating-group. For instance, the next command, which only functions in tile groups, is defined this way:

(defcommand (next tile-group) …)

Macro: defcommand name( &rest args)( &rest interactive-args) &body body

Create a command function and store its interactive hints in *command-hash*. The local variable %interactivep% can be used to check if the command was called interactively. If it is non-NIL then it was called from a keybinding or from the colon command.

The NAME argument can be a string, or a list of two symbols. If the latter, the first symbol names the command, and the second indicates the type of group under which this command will be usable. Currently, tile-group, floating-group and dynamic-group are the possible values.

INTERACTIVE-ARGS is a list of the following form: ((TYPE PROMPT) (TYPE PROMPT) ...)

each element in INTERACTIVE-ARGS declares the type and prompt for the command’s arguments.

TYPE can be one of the following:

:y-or-n

A yes or no question returning T or NIL.

:variable

A lisp variable

:function

A lisp function

:command

A stumpwm command as a string.

:key-seq

A key sequence starting from *TOP-MAP*

:window-number

An existing window number

:number

An integer number

:string

A string

:key

A single key chord

:window-name

An existing window’s name

:direction

A direction symbol. One of :UP :DOWN :LEFT :RIGHT

:gravity

A gravity symbol. One of :center :top :right :bottom :left :top-right :top-left :bottom-right :bottom-left

:group

An existing group

:frame

A frame

:shell

A shell command

:rest

The rest of the input yet to be parsed.

:module

An existing stumpwm module

:rotation

A rotation symbol. One of :CL, :CLOCKWISE, :CCL, OR :COUNTERCLOCKWISE

Note that new argument types can be created with DEFINE-STUMPWM-TYPE.

PROMPT can be string. In this case, if the corresponding argument is missing from an interactive call, stumpwm will use prompt for its value using PROMPT. If PROMPT is missing or nil, then the argument is considered an optional interactive argument and is not prompted for when missing.

Alternatively, instead of specifying nil for PROMPT or leaving it out, an element can just be the argument type.

Macro: defcommand-alias alias original

Since interactive commands are functions and can conflict with package symbols. But for backwards compatibility this macro creates an alias name for the command that is only accessible interactively.

Variable: *last-command*

Set to the last interactive command run.

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