bug#13156: dedicated face for parentheses in lisp modes

bug#13156: dedicated face for parentheses in lisp modes

[Jonas Bernoulli]

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Hello

Could you please add a `paren-face' that could be used in lisp modes
(and possibly others) to dim (or highlight) parentheses.  I am currently
using the attached library to do this but think it would make sense if
this functionality was built-in.

Being very simple `parenface.el' just unconditionally adds an additional
keyword to `[lisp|scheme]-font-lock-keywords' when loaded.

I see two ways of implementing this as part of Emacs.

1. Add the keyword to `[lisp|scheme]-font-lock-keywords-2' directly and
   let `paren-face' inherit from `default'.  Users who actually want
   parens to be dimmed or highlight can then customize the former.

2. Define a local minor mode that adds the additional keywords.

I would prefer (1) but maybe that is not an option because it might
negatively affects font-lock's performance.

If this has to be a mode then I am happy to write it.  I haven't done
so yet because `parenface.el' works fine for me and because I would
actually prefer (1).

  Thanks for considering,
  Jonas


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bug#13156: dedicated face for parentheses in lisp modes

[Stefan Monnier]

> Could you please add a `paren-face' that could be used in lisp modes
> (and possibly others) to dim (or highlight) parentheses.  I am currently
> using the attached library to do this but think it would make sense if
> this functionality was built-in.

I don't think it's sufficiently useful in general.

> Being very simple `parenface.el' just unconditionally adds an additional
> keyword to `[lisp|scheme]-font-lock-keywords' when loaded.

It could use font-lock-add-keywords.

BTW, if all parens are displayed the same, then you can also use the
buffer-display-table.

> If this has to be a mode then I am happy to write it.  I haven't done
> so yet because `parenface.el' works fine for me and because I would
> actually prefer (1).

Having it as a separate mode would make more sense, yes.


        Stefan

bug#13156: dedicated face for parentheses in lisp modes

[Jonas Bernoulli]

Stefan Monnier writes:

>> Could you please add a `paren-face' that could be used in lisp modes
>> (and possibly others) to dim (or highlight) parentheses.  I am currently
>> using the attached library to do this but think it would make sense if
>> this functionality was built-in.
>
> I don't think it's sufficiently useful in general.

What about all the Emacs users that are scared of lisp "because of all
the parens"?  Dimming them might reduce the shock :-)

>> Being very simple `parenface.el' just unconditionally adds an additional
>> keyword to `[lisp|scheme]-font-lock-keywords' when loaded.
>
> It could use font-lock-add-keywords.

That's what I was going to do.

> BTW, if all parens are displayed the same, then you can also use the
> buffer-display-table.

Since you are suggesting this I assume that doesn't mess with
highlighting with highlighting matching parens.  So I will try that too.

>> If this has to be a mode then I am happy to write it.  I haven't done
>> so yet because `parenface.el' works fine for me and because I would
>> actually prefer (1).
>
> Having it as a separate mode would make more sense, yes.

If you don't change your mind about this not being sufficiently useful
to be built-in, then I will do write a mode; eventually.

  Jonas

bug#13156: dedicated face for parentheses in lisp modes

[Michael Heerdegen]

Hi,

just for completeness do I want to mention "RainbowDelimiters" here:

  http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/RainbowDelimiters

It is a generalization of what you want.  It is also suitable of
reducing deterrence of Lisp, and it helps reading LISP code a lot,
without losing anything.

If anything like that should be built-in, then I would vote for that
package.


Regards,

Michael.

bug#13156: dedicated face for parentheses in lisp modes

[Stefan Monnier]

> just for completeness do I want to mention "RainbowDelimiters" here:

I'd be happy to see this package in GNU ELPA.  If someone could take
care of tracking down the copyright assignments...


        Stefan

bug#13156: dedicated face for parentheses in lisp modes

[Michael Heerdegen]

Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca> writes:

> > just for completeness do I want to mention "RainbowDelimiters" here:
>
> I'd be happy to see this package in GNU ELPA.  If someone could take
> care of tracking down the copyright assignments...

Does he just have to sign the copyright papers (normal procedure), or is
something special needed for Elpa?  If the first is true, I volunteer to
contact the author.


Regards,

Michael.

bug#13156: dedicated face for parentheses in lisp modes

[Stefan Monnier]

> Does he just have to sign the copyright papers (normal procedure), or is
> something special needed for Elpa?

From a copyright point of view, we treat GNU ELPA as being part of
Emacs, so it's the exact same paperwork (where the project name is
"Emacs").  This is so that we can easily move code between Emacs and
GNU ELPA.

> If the first is true, I volunteer to contact the author.

Thank you,


        Stefan

bug#13156: dedicated face for parentheses in lisp modes

[Michael Heerdegen]

> > I volunteer to contact the author.

Done.  I'll tell you when I got an answer.

Michael.

bug#13156: dedicated face for parentheses in lisp modes

[Michael Heerdegen]

> > If the first is true, I volunteer to contact the author.

I wrote a message to the address given in the file header, but did not
receive any answer until now, sorry.  No idea how to contact him
otherwise.


Michael.

bug#13156: dedicated face for parentheses in lisp modes

[Michael Heerdegen]

Hello,

> > Does he just have to sign the copyright papers (normal procedure), or is
> > something special needed for Elpa?
>
> From a copyright point of view, we treat GNU ELPA as being part of
> Emacs, so it's the exact same paperwork (where the project name is
> "Emacs").  This is so that we can easily move code between Emacs and
> GNU ELPA.
>
> > If the first is true, I volunteer to contact the author.

Great news!  I've now contact with the author, and he is willing to sign
the papers.  We will tell you when it's done.


Regards,

Michael.

bug#13156: dedicated face for parentheses in lisp modes

[Michael Heerdegen]

Michael Heerdegen <michael_heerdegen@web.de> writes:

> Great news!  I've now contact with the author, and he is willing to sign
> the papers.  We will tell you when it's done.

I'm very sorry, but he told me now that he wont sign the papers.

Michael.

bug#13156: dedicated face for parentheses in lisp modes

[Stefan Kangas]

tags 13156 + wontfix
thanks

Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca> writes:

>> Could you please add a `paren-face' that could be used in lisp modes
>> (and possibly others) to dim (or highlight) parentheses.  I am currently
>> using the attached library to do this but think it would make sense if
>> this functionality was built-in.
>
> I don't think it's sufficiently useful in general.

Since this was rejected in 2012, I'm closing it as wontfix.

If anyone disagrees with that, feel free to reopen.

Thanks,
Stefan Kangas