bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Ryan Prior via Bug reports for GNU Guix]

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Hi folks! I decided to check-in on the status of the guix-emacs​ package, since my understanding is it's had a change of maintainership a little over a year ago after its previous abandonware status.

First I installed it into my normal Spacemacs setup, and that didn't work at all. Running guix-packages-by-name yielded this error:

> if: Error in evaluating guile expression: ice-9/boot-9.scm:1685:16: In procedure raise-exception:
> Unbound variable: package-names*

But I hardly blame any package for not working with Spacemacs - most packages do just fine, but occasionally when something doesn't work it's Spacemacs fault. So I set out to create a minimal reproduction. Here's what I came up with:

To start Emacs, I ran:

> guix shell -CNPE TERM --no-cwd emacs guix emacs-guix coreutils -- emacs -nw

​
If my understanding is correct, this creates a container with only Emacs, Guix, and the emacs-guix elisp package installed in there, with network access and my TERM environment set but otherwise with none of my Spacemacs or other user config.

Inside this Emacs, I again ran guix-packages-by-name​ and got a nearly identical error:

> guix-geiser-eval: Error in evaluating guile expression: ice-9/boot-9.scm:1685:16: In procedure raise-exception:
> Unbound variable: package-names*

​
For completeness, I also tried a few other commands, like guix-installed-packages​ and guix-profiles-show​. These each have subtly different errors, but none of them remotely work.

Those of us who use Emacs and have some experience with elisp and Guile should consider swarming on this package to get it working, since it is a touted feature with Guix in the name, so people try when they're giving Guix a shot. A working Emacs integration would be something I'd use every day and a great showcase for what Guix can do when integrated into hacking workflows.

If that's proves not to be feasible, we might want to consider deprecating the package, removing it from Guix and Melpa. Its protracted state of disrepair and uselessness (it hasn't worked since I started using Guix in ~2018) may be giving people the impression that Guix is not well maintained. This should be a last resort, as getting the package working would be dramatically preferable, but there are stakes here in terms of cost to Guix reputation that imo cannot be ignored.

Cheers,
Ryan

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bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Giovanni Biscuolo]

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Hello Ryan,

unfortunately guix-emacs never worked for me too, in the last couple of
years

Ryan Prior via Bug reports for GNU Guix <bug-guix@gnu.org> writes:

[...]

> To start Emacs, I ran:
>
>> guix shell -CNPE TERM --no-cwd emacs guix emacs-guix coreutils -- emacs -nw

I'm running Guix on Debian, using a dedicated profile for Emacs with
many packages installed, emacs-guix included; I'm not using
Spacemacs... but I cannot exclude some status in my ~/emacs.d is
interfering

This is my version:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

GNU Guix 1.3.0.6907-92fdd-dirty
Emacs-Guix 0.5.2

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

GNU Guix... "dirty" version?  I have to check, but it seems unrelated.

[...]

> Inside this Emacs, I again ran guix-packages-by-name​ and got a nearly identical error:
>
>> guix-geiser-eval: Error in evaluating guile expression: ice-9/boot-9.scm:1685:16: In procedure raise-exception:
>> Unbound variable: package-names*

Running the same command "guix-packages-by-name", I also get the
(almost) same error (from *Messages* buffer):

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

Starting Guix REPL ... [5 times]
guix-geiser-eval: Error in evaluating guile expression: ice-9/boot-9.scm:1685:16: In procedure raise-exception:
error: package-names*: unbound variable

Entering a new prompt.  Type `,bt' for a backtrace or `,q' to continue.
scheme@(emacs-guix) [1]> 

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

> For completeness, I also tried a few other commands, like
> guix-installed-packages​

with "guix-installed-packages" I get this error:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

guix-geiser-eval: Error in evaluating guile expression: ice-9/boot-9.scm:1685:16: In procedure raise-exception:
error: package/output-sexps: unbound variable

Entering a new prompt.  Type `,bt' for a backtrace or `,q' to continue.
scheme@(emacs-guix) [2]> 

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

[...]

Thanks! Gio'

-- 
Giovanni Biscuolo

Xelera IT Infrastructures

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bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Giovanni Biscuolo]

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Hello Ryan,

I was able to solve.

Giovanni Biscuolo <g@xelera.eu> writes:

> unfortunately guix-emacs never worked for me too, in the last couple of
> years

actually, some command worked some time ago (e.g. profiles list) but I
was never able to use guix-emacs to view packages, for exemple

I have updated today, now my version is:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

GNU Guix eb34ff16cc9038880e87e1a58a93331fca37ad92
Emacs-Guix 0.5.2

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

but I doubt the issue was version related since the emacs-guix package
version is the same

[...]

> Running the same command "guix-packages-by-name", I also get the
> (almost) same error (from *Messages* buffer):
>
> --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
>
> Starting Guix REPL ... [5 times]
> guix-geiser-eval: Error in evaluating guile expression: ice-9/boot-9.scm:1685:16: In procedure raise-exception:
> error: package-names*: unbound variable
>
> Entering a new prompt.  Type `,bt' for a backtrace or `,q' to continue.
> scheme@(emacs-guix) [1]> 
>
> --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

The most similar upstream bug is this one:
https://gitlab.com/emacs-guix/emacs-guix/-/issues/23

In that thread Adam Porter points to this comment that explains how to
start Guix REPL instead of Guile REPL, from emacs-guix:
https://gitlab.com/emacs-guix/emacs-guix/-/issues/19#note_559028370

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

(with-eval-after-load 'guix-repl
    (setq guix-guile-program  '("guix" "repl")
          guix-config-scheme-compiled-directory  nil
          guix-repl-use-latest  nil
          guix-repl-use-server  nil))

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

Evaluating the above code /before/ starting any emacs-guix command (thus
before starting Guile REPL) all is working well now!

I repeat, I'm using emacs-guix on a foreing distro, I don't know if on
Guix System this workaround is not needed.

[...]

HTH! Ciao, Gio'

-- 
Giovanni Biscuolo

Xelera IT Infrastructures

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bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Jan Nieuwenhuizen]

Giovanni Biscuolo writes:

Hi!

> I was able to solve.

Great!

> I repeat, I'm using emacs-guix on a foreing distro, I don't know if on
> Guix System this workaround is not needed.

I'm on Guix System and emacs-guix's command line completion hasn't
worked for me for about a year.  Starting an emacs shell and typing
"guix TAB", I got

    Starting Guix REPL ... [5 times]
    guix-geiser-eval: Error in evaluating guile expression: ice-9/boot-9.scm:1685:16: In procedure raise-exception:
    /home/janneke/.config/guix/current/share/guile/site/3.0/guix/scripts/deploy.scm:169:7: Unknown # object: "#~"

    Entering a new prompt.  Type `,bt' for a backtrace or `,q' to continue.
    scheme@(emacs-guix) [1]> 

> The most similar upstream bug is this one:
> https://gitlab.com/emacs-guix/emacs-guix/-/issues/23
>
> In that thread Adam Porter points to this comment that explains how to
> start Guix REPL instead of Guile REPL, from emacs-guix:
> https://gitlab.com/emacs-guix/emacs-guix/-/issues/19#note_559028370
>
> (with-eval-after-load 'guix-repl
>     (setq guix-guile-program  '("guix" "repl")
>           guix-config-scheme-compiled-directory  nil
>           guix-repl-use-latest  nil
>           guix-repl-use-server  nil))
>
> Evaluating the above code /before/ starting any emacs-guix command (thus
> before starting Guile REPL) all is working well now!

This sort-of works for me, i.e., typing "guix TAB" in an emacs shell
buffer no longer gives this error...but there also are no completions.

My ~/.emacs/init_bash.sh is empty and I seem to remember having
something there?

Greetings,
Janneke

-- 
Jan Nieuwenhuizen <janneke@gnu.org> | GNU LilyPond http://lilypond.org
Freelance IT http://JoyofSource.com | Avatar® http://AvatarAcademy.com

bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Giovanni Biscuolo]

Hi Jan,

sorry for this late reply,

Jan Nieuwenhuizen <janneke@gnu.org> writes:

[...]

> I'm on Guix System and emacs-guix's command line completion hasn't
> worked for me for about a year.

it does not work for me too, but with a very different behaviour:

[...]

>> Evaluating the above code /before/ starting any emacs-guix command (thus
>> before starting Guile REPL) all is working well now!
>
> This sort-of works for me, i.e., typing "guix TAB" in an emacs shell
> buffer no longer gives this error...but there also are no completions.

with the completion pattern "guix <TAB>" I get "guix --help" right in
the shell (and eshell) buffer but if I try any other pattern, e.g. "guix
pa<TAB>", I just get "No match" in the minibuffer (and no debug tracing
in the "*Guix REPL*" buffer)

I read (emacs-guix)Completions and it seems I do not need to configure
anything to have completion in shell and eshell when emacs-guix is
installed: do I miss something?  Actually I never configured
shell/eshell completion for any command, so I may be missing something.

Maybe the workaround I use to start guix REPL:

[...]

>> (with-eval-after-load 'guix-repl
>>     (setq guix-guile-program  '("guix" "repl")
>>           guix-config-scheme-compiled-directory  nil
>>           guix-repl-use-latest  nil
>>           guix-repl-use-server  nil))

is breaking completion?

> My ~/.emacs/init_bash.sh is empty and I seem to remember having
> something there?

I don't have that file.

Anyway, Jan, I think this bug is different from the one in the subject,
we should have a look upsteam (eventually linking here some ref) and
open a new upsteam bug report if needed: WDYT?

>
> Greetings,
> Janneke
>
> -- 
> Jan Nieuwenhuizen <janneke@gnu.org> | GNU LilyPond http://lilypond.org
> Freelance IT http://JoyofSource.com | Avatar® http://AvatarAcademy.com
-- 
Giovanni Biscuolo

Xelera IT Infrastructures

bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Giovanni Biscuolo]

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Hi Ryan,

Giovanni Biscuolo <g@xelera.eu> writes:

[...]

> The most similar upstream bug is this one:
> https://gitlab.com/emacs-guix/emacs-guix/-/issues/23
>
> In that thread Adam Porter points to this comment that explains how to
> start Guix REPL instead of Guile REPL, from emacs-guix:
> https://gitlab.com/emacs-guix/emacs-guix/-/issues/19#note_559028370
>
> --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
>
> (with-eval-after-load 'guix-repl
>     (setq guix-guile-program  '("guix" "repl")
>           guix-config-scheme-compiled-directory  nil
>           guix-repl-use-latest  nil
>           guix-repl-use-server  nil))
>
> --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---
>
> Evaluating the above code /before/ starting any emacs-guix command (thus
> before starting Guile REPL) all is working well now!

please can you confirm the above workaround is also working for you?

In that case we should close this bug, WDYT?

[...]

Thanks, Gio'

-- 
Giovanni Biscuolo

Xelera IT Infrastructures

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bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Ricardo Wurmus]

Hi,

this no longer seems to be a problem.  Can you please confirm that this
issue can be closed now?

-- 
Ricardo

bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Giovanni Biscuolo]

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Hi,

Ricardo Wurmus <rekado@elephly.net> writes:

> Hi,
>
> this no longer seems to be a problem.  Can you please confirm that this
> issue can be closed now?

unfortunately emacs-guix still does not work (in my setup)

If I try to list packages or profiles I always get:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

Starting Guix REPL ... [2 times]
geiser-repl--wait-for-prompt: No prompt found!

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

even if I apply the "workaround" that worked for me some time ago

I don't have muchi time right now, probably tonight I'll try to check if
this depends on my configuration and will do some test

Thanks! Gio'

-- 
Giovanni Biscuolo

Xelera IT Infrastructures

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bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Giovanni Biscuolo]

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Hi,

Ricardo Wurmus <rekado@elephly.net> writes:

> this no longer seems to be a problem.  Can you please confirm that this
> issue can be closed now?

When starting guix-emacs with "M-x guix" and trying listing profiles or
packages I always get this error:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

Starting Guix REPL ... [2 times]
geiser-repl--wait-for-prompt: No prompt found!

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

Some time ago (see this bug thread, 2022-04-21) I was able to apply this
workaround:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

  (with-eval-after-load 'guix-repl
      (setq guix-guile-program  '("guix" "repl")
	    guix-config-scheme-compiled-directory  nil
	    guix-repl-use-latest  nil
	    guix-repl-use-server  nil))

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

but now it's not working anymore.

If I start emacs in a shell with:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

 guix shell -n emacs-no-x-toolkit emacs-guix -- emacs -q

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

and emacs-guix with "M-x guix", then try to list profiles or packages
but I get this error message:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

Starting Guix REPL ... [5 times]
guix-geiser-eval: Error in evaluating guile expression: ice-9/boot-9.scm:1685:16: In procedure raise-exception:
Unbound variable: %max-returned-list-size

Entering a new prompt.  Type `,bt' for a backtrace or `,q' to continue.
scheme@(emacs-guix) [1]> 

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

I'm still not able to run emacs-guix, how I can help debugging this?

Thanks! Gio'

-- 
Giovanni Biscuolo

Xelera IT Infrastructures

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bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Giovanni Biscuolo]

Hi,

Giovanni Biscuolo <g@xelera.eu> writes:

> When starting guix-emacs with "M-x guix" and trying listing profiles or
> packages I always get this error:
>
> --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
>
> Starting Guix REPL ... [2 times]
> geiser-repl--wait-for-prompt: No prompt found!
>
> --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

Sorry the above message is misleading: I did not realize that I already
had a "Guix REPL" already open, I killed the REPL and this is the error
message I get when I start "M-x guix" and then try to gel my profiles
list:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

Starting Guix REPL ... [3 times]
guix-geiser-eval: Error in evaluating guile expression: ice-9/boot-9.scm:1685:16: In procedure raise-exception:
Unbound variable: %max-returned-list-size

Entering a new prompt.  Type `,bt' for a backtrace or `,q' to continue.
scheme@(guile-user) [1]> 

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

(That's the same I get when I start emacs-guix in a guix shell)

This is the error I get in the "Guix REPL" buffer:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

GNU Guile 3.0.9
Copyright (C) 1995-2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

Guile comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details type `,show w'.
This program is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it
under certain conditions; type `,show c' for details.

Enter `,help' for help.
scheme@(guile-user)> ,m (emacs-guix)
While executing meta-command:
no code for module (guix ui)
scheme@(guile-user)> 

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

this is the backtrace

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

scheme@(guile-user)> ,bt
           2 (eval (#<procedure 7fae8f34be70 at <unknown port>:8:56 ()>) #<directory (guile-user) 7fae9151fc80>)
In current input:
     8:23  1 (_)
In ice-9/boot-9.scm:
  1685:16  0 (raise-exception _ #:continuable? _)
scheme@(guile-user) [1]> 

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

if I "manually" give the same command in the REPL buffer, I get no
error:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

scheme@(guile-user)> ,m (emacs-guix)
scheme@(emacs-guix) [1]> 

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

then I try again to list all my profiles via "M-x guix" (then select "P"
and "a") but I get the following message:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

guix-geiser-eval: Error in evaluating guile expression: ice-9/boot-9.scm:1685:16: In procedure raise-exception:
Unbound variable: user-profiles

Entering a new prompt.  Type `,bt' for a backtrace or `,q' to continue.
scheme@(emacs-guix) [2]> 

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

But now the "Guix REPL" does not give any error, it's "stopped" at the
same prompt given above ("scheme@(emacs-guix) [1]>")

[...]

Thanks! Gio'

-- 
Giovanni Biscuolo

Xelera IT Infrastructures

bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Giovanni Biscuolo]

Hi,

Giovanni Biscuolo <g@xelera.eu> writes:

> When starting guix-emacs with "M-x guix" and trying listing profiles or
> packages I always get this error:
>
> --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
>
> Starting Guix REPL ... [2 times]
> geiser-repl--wait-for-prompt: No prompt found!
>
> --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

Sorry the above message is misleading: I did not realize that I already
had a "Guix REPL" already open, I killed the REPL and this is the error
message I get when I start "M-x guix" and then try to gel my profiles
list:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

Starting Guix REPL ... [3 times]
guix-geiser-eval: Error in evaluating guile expression: ice-9/boot-9.scm:1685:16: In procedure raise-exception:
Unbound variable: %max-returned-list-size

Entering a new prompt.  Type `,bt' for a backtrace or `,q' to continue.
scheme@(guile-user) [1]> 

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

(That's the same I get when I start emacs-guix in a guix shell)

This is the error I get in the "Guix REPL" buffer:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

GNU Guile 3.0.9
Copyright (C) 1995-2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

Guile comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details type `,show w'.
This program is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it
under certain conditions; type `,show c' for details.

Enter `,help' for help.
scheme@(guile-user)> ,m (emacs-guix)
While executing meta-command:
no code for module (guix ui)
scheme@(guile-user)> 

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

this is the backtrace

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

scheme@(guile-user)> ,bt
           2 (eval (#<procedure 7fae8f34be70 at <unknown port>:8:56 ()>) #<directory (guile-user) 7fae9151fc80>)
In current input:
     8:23  1 (_)
In ice-9/boot-9.scm:
  1685:16  0 (raise-exception _ #:continuable? _)
scheme@(guile-user) [1]> 

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

if I "manually" give the same command in the REPL buffer, I get no
error:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

scheme@(guile-user)> ,m (emacs-guix)
scheme@(emacs-guix) [1]> 

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

then I try again to list all my profiles via "M-x guix" (then select "P"
and "a") but I get the following message:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

guix-geiser-eval: Error in evaluating guile expression: ice-9/boot-9.scm:1685:16: In procedure raise-exception:
Unbound variable: user-profiles

Entering a new prompt.  Type `,bt' for a backtrace or `,q' to continue.
scheme@(emacs-guix) [2]> 

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

But now the "Guix REPL" does not give any error, it's "stopped" at the
same prompt given above ("scheme@(emacs-guix) [1]>")

[...]

Thanks! Gio'

-- 
Giovanni Biscuolo

Xelera IT Infrastructures

bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Ricardo Wurmus]

Hi Giovanni,

thank you for testing.

Can you please confirm that this is reproducible even in “guix shell -C”?

-- 
Ricardo

bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Giovanni Biscuolo]

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Hi Ricardo,

Ricardo Wurmus <rekado@elephly.net> writes:

> Hi Giovanni,
>
> thank you for testing.
>
> Can you please confirm that this is reproducible even in “guix shell
> -C”?

It's reproducible but with a minor difference: I also get a buffer named
*Guix Internal REPL* (see below)

I'm not able to start a graphical emacs container, I get only a text
interface (but I guess it's the same for the scope of this bug report):

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

guix shell --preserve='^DISPLAY$' --preserve="^TERM" --preserve='^XAUTHORITY$' -C emacs-no-x-toolkit emacs-guix -- emacs -q

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

in *Messages* I get:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

Starting Guix REPL ... [5 times]
guix-geiser-eval: Error in evaluating guile expression: ice-9/boot-9.scm:1685:16: In procedure raise-exception:
Unbound variable: %max-returned-list-size

Entering a new prompt.  Type `,bt' for a backtrace or `,q' to continue.
scheme@(emacs-guix) [1]>

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

but this time I get 2 REPL: one named "*Guix REPL*" with this prompt:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

scheme@(guile-user)> ,m (emacs-guix)
While executing meta-command:
no code for module (guix ui)
scheme@(guile-user)>

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

and a second one named "*Guix Internal REPL*" (missing in my previous
tests) with this prompt:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

scheme@(guile-user)> ,m (emacs-guix)
scheme@(emacs-guix)>

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

I missed to report that I also see a third *Geiser Messages* (also
present in my previous tests) buffer with this content:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

INFO: <3>: processed

INFO: REQUEST: <4>: (begin ((@ (system repl debug) terminal-width) 999) (quote ok))

INFO: RETORT: ((error (key . retort-syntax)) (output . "$8 = ok
scheme@(guile-user)> ") (debug))

INFO: <4>: processed

INFO: REQUEST: <5>: ,use (geiser emacs)
'done

INFO: RETORT: ((error (key . retort-syntax)) (output . "$9 = done
scheme@(guile-user)> ") (debug))

INFO: <5>: processed

INFO: REQUEST: <6>: ,geiser-eval (geiser evaluation) ge:set-warnings ((quote medium)) ()

INFO: RETORT: ((result "#<unspecified>") (output . ""))

INFO: <6>: processed

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

Thanks!  Gio'

-- 
Giovanni Biscuolo

Xelera IT Infrastructures

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bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Ryan Prior via Bug reports for GNU Guix]

------- Original Message -------
On Monday, March 20th, 2023 at 7:09 PM, Ricardo Wurmus <rekado@elephly.net> wrote:


> 
> 
> Hi,
> 
> this no longer seems to be a problem. Can you please confirm that this
> issue can be closed now?

I can confirm that the emacs-guix package is still broken.

## Steps to reproduce
1. launch Emacs in a container:
  $ guix shell -C --no-cwd --expose=/gnu --expose=/var --share=/tmp  -E DISPLAY emacs emacs-guix -- emacs
2. run M-x guix-installed-packages

### Expected result
A list of installed packages should appear.

### Actual result
In *Messages* buffer:
> guix-geiser-eval: Error in evaluating guile expression: ice-9/boot-9.scm:1685:16: In procedure raise-exception:
> Unbound variable: %max-returned-list-size

## My Guix version
$ guix --version | grep guix
guix (GNU Guix) 51f8a7aced70b7f79037bd99019dddaea07ced25

## Discussion

When I was working to create an Emacs Guix package (https://github.com/ryanprior/emacs-guix-packaging) to support my own workflows, folks were critical of how I run Guix commands in the shell and parse the output instead of building on the Emacs Guix package and its Guile REPL approach. But in practice, this package has never worked for me, I always get REPL errors.

Since then, I have often discussed emacs-guix with other Emacs users in the community and thus realized I'm far from the only one who's never once got it to work. Today, despite the efforts of multiple engineers, it remains reproducibly broken.

My inclination would be to remove entirely the dependency on Geiser and the Guix REPL, opting instead to connect to a guix-ui service over a stable HTTP API. The API endpoints would be documented and tested as part of the formal interface to Guix, and the Emacs package would become a client of that interface.

Whether you like my alternative or not, do most Guix maintainers have confidence in the current approach and think emacs-guix just needs a bugfix here or there, or does anyone else get the impression that it's unsound and needs a new approach?

Ryan

bug#55013: Guix-emacs doesn't work

[Ricardo Wurmus]

Ryan Prior <rprior@protonmail.com> writes:

>> this no longer seems to be a problem. Can you please confirm that this
>> issue can be closed now?
>
> I can confirm that the emacs-guix package is still broken.
>
> ## Steps to reproduce
> 1. launch Emacs in a container:
>   $ guix shell -C --no-cwd --expose=/gnu --expose=/var --share=/tmp  -E DISPLAY emacs emacs-guix -- emacs
> 2. run M-x guix-installed-packages
>
> ### Expected result
> A list of installed packages should appear.

FWIW M-x guix-installed-packages (and all the other stuff) works for me
with my Emacs config.  I haven’t tried to reproduce this in a container
yet without my Emacs config, but I’ll try soon.

-- 
Ricardo