text modes vs. programming language modes

text modes vs. programming language modes

[Kevin Rodgers]

Is there a reliable way to determine whether the current major mode
is a text mode vs. a programming language mode?  For example, do all
text modes use a keymap that inherits from text-mode-map or a syntax
table that inherits from text-mode-syntax-table?

I suspect not, so I'm thinking of using something like:

(defun major-mode-type ()
   (let ((lisp-directory (expand-file-name "../lisp" data-directory))
	(mode-directory (directory-file-name
			 (file-name-directory
			  (symbol-file major-mode 'defun)))))
     (and (not (equal lisp-directory mode-directory))
	 (file-relative-name mode-directory lisp-directory))))

which e.g. returns nil for dired-mode and Info-mode, "textmodes" for 
text-mode and sgml-mode,  and "progmodes" for java-mode and sql-mode.

-- 
Kevin

Re: text modes vs. programming language modes

[Eric Hanchrow]

>>>>> "Kevin" == Kevin Rodgers <ihs_4664@yahoo.com> writes:

    Kevin> Is there a reliable way to determine whether the current
    Kevin> major mode is a text mode vs. a programming language mode?

I wouldn't think so, if for no other reason than that the terms aren't
well defined.

-- 
In the movie Ghostbusters, there's a sign in the background of
one scene that says, "Danger! 10,000 Ohms!" I cannot explain to
laymen why people like me think that is uproariously funny.
        -- Steven den Beste