8.2 REPL: the “top level”
SLIME uses a custom Read-Eval-Print Loop (REPL, also known as a
“top level”, or listener). The REPL user-interface is written in
Emacs Lisp, which gives more Emacs-integration than the traditional
comint-based Lisp interaction:
- Conditions signalled in REPL expressions are debugged with SLDB.
- Return values are distinguished from printed output by separate Emacs
faces (colours).
- Emacs manages the REPL prompt with markers. This ensures that Lisp
output is inserted in the right place, and doesn't get mixed up with
user input.
To load the REPL call (slime-setup '(slime-repl)) in your
.emacs.
- C-c C-z
- M-x slime-switch-to-output-buffer
-
Select the output buffer, preferably in a different window.
- C-c C-y
- M-x slime-call-defun
-
Insert a call to the function defined around point into the REPL.