bug#19495: 25.0.50; `message` -- optional argument to suppress echo area display

bug#19495: 25.0.50; `message` -- optional argument to suppress echo area display

[Keith David Bershatsky]

As a feature request, the Emacs team may wish to consider adding an optional argument to the `message` function to permit suppression of the message being displayed in the echo area.

In my particular use case, there are certain process output strings that I prefer having printed to the `*Messages*` buffer -- instead of a dedicated process output buffer.

(defun rsync-process-filter (proc string)
  (when (not (or
      (string-match "files...\r" string)
      (string-match "files to consider\n" string)))
    (message "%s" string)))

The above example also displays in the echo area, which makes using interactive commands problematic while the ongoing process continues to print messages.  Each time a new message is generated by the ongoing process, the interactive prompt and potential minibuffer completions get erased by the message -- e.g., `execute-extended-command` or `switch-to-buffer-other-window`.

The following is my workaround:

(defun rsync-process-filter (proc string)
  (let ((inhibit-read-only t))
    (when (not (or
        (string-match "files...\r" string)
        (string-match "files to consider\n" string)))
      (with-current-buffer (get-buffer-create "*Messages*")
        (goto-char (point-max))
        (insert string)))))

Here are links to a couple of threads regarding this issue:

http://superuser.com/questions/669701/emacs-disable-some-minibuffer-messages

http://emacs.stackexchange.com/questions/5959/send-process-output-to-messages-buffer-but-bypass-the-echo-area

Thanks,

Keith

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In GNU Emacs 25.0.50.1 (x86_64-apple-darwin10.8.0, NS appkit-1038.36 Version 10.6.8 (Build 10K549))
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bug#19495: 25.0.50; `message` -- optional argument to suppress echo area display

[Lars Ingebrigtsen]

Keith David Bershatsky <esq@lawlist.com> writes:

> As a feature request, the Emacs team may wish to consider adding an
> optional argument to the `message` function to permit suppression of
> the message being displayed in the echo area.
>
> In my particular use case, there are certain process output strings
> that I prefer having printed to the `*Messages*` buffer -- instead of
> a dedicated process output buffer.

[...]

> The following is my workaround:
>
> (defun rsync-process-filter (proc string)
>   (let ((inhibit-read-only t))
>     (when (not (or
>         (string-match "files...\r" string)
>         (string-match "files to consider\n" string)))
>       (with-current-buffer (get-buffer-create "*Messages*")
>         (goto-char (point-max))
>         (insert string)))))

(I'm going through old bug reports that unfortunately have not received
any responses yet.)

I kinda don't think extending `message' in this way would be ideal.
Currently, `message' is pretty simple to understand, and to change it to
not actually message anything (in some circumstances) would be
confusing.  Doing this in the way you've done in the workaround seems
like a better idea.

So I'm closing this as a "wontfix".

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

bug#19495: 25.0.50; `message` -- optional argument to suppress echo area display

[Juri Linkov]

>> As a feature request, the Emacs team may wish to consider adding an
>> optional argument to the `message` function to permit suppression of
>> the message being displayed in the echo area.
>>
>> In my particular use case, there are certain process output strings
>> that I prefer having printed to the `*Messages*` buffer -- instead of
>> a dedicated process output buffer.
>
> [...]
>
>> The following is my workaround:
>>
>> (defun rsync-process-filter (proc string)
>>   (let ((inhibit-read-only t))
>>     (when (not (or
>>         (string-match "files...\r" string)
>>         (string-match "files to consider\n" string)))
>>       (with-current-buffer (get-buffer-create "*Messages*")
>>         (goto-char (point-max))
>>         (insert string)))))
>
> (I'm going through old bug reports that unfortunately have not received
> any responses yet.)
>
> I kinda don't think extending `message' in this way would be ideal.
> Currently, `message' is pretty simple to understand, and to change it to
> not actually message anything (in some circumstances) would be
> confusing.  Doing this in the way you've done in the workaround seems
> like a better idea.

Emacs 25 introduced a new variable 'inhibit-message' to suppress echo area display.

> So I'm closing this as a "wontfix".

This feature request was dated Jan 2015, and a new feature implemented
independently was added on Apr 2015.