how to bind a function defined in my .emacs to a key/other command

Question

It's probably a very basic question, but I am having a hard time finding an answer to it:

I am trying to make emacs look for a makefile somewhere in the parent directories and use it for compilation.

I found this function:

(defun desperately-compile ()
  "Traveling up the path, find a Makefile and `compile'."
  (interactive)
  (when (locate-dominating-file default-directory "Makefile")
  (with-temp-buffer
    (cd (locate-dominating-file default-directory "Makefile"))
    (compile "make -k"))))

and put it in my .emacs file, but I can't figure out how to call it. replacing the compile command doesn't seem to work and I'm not sure how to bind a key to it.

It would be best to call that function using "M-x compile" or "M-x desperate-compile", but I am open for suggestions.

thanks.

Answer 1

Your question: "I'm not sure how to bind a key to it", IOW, how do you bind a command to a key?

What did you try? Did you look in the Emacs manual for how to bind a command to a key? For example: C-h r to get to the Emacs manual, then i bind TAB and choose binding-keys, to get to node Rebinding. It helps us help you if you tell us what you have already tried. If you tried using some code to bind the key, show that code, etc.

Anyway, here's an example of how to bind command desperately-compile to key C-o:

(global-set-key (kbd "C-o") 'desperately-compile)

If you want to see whether your command actually gets invoked when you hit the key you think you've bound to it, try M-x debug-on-entry RET desperately-compile RET.

If the command is bound to your key then when you hit your key the debugger will open. Use M-x cancel-debug-on-entry RET to cancel this.

(You can alternatively add a call to function message at the beginning of your command code. But as you said that you "found" that code somewhere maybe you don't want to fiddle with it yet.)

Anyway, this is an answer to your question, which is how to bind a key to a command. As to whether your command "works", and if not, why not: please post that as a separate question.

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(Suggestion: Read some of the Emacs manual. Or follow the Emacs tutorial. You will be glad to have some introductory understanding of things. And if you are going to be writing Lisp code then check out the manual Emacs Lisp Intro, which you can get to by C-h i.)