X(), for low level debugging.
*Latest release 20230331*:
Move the open-tty-for-append hacks into cs.gimmicks.open_append, fix unclosed file handle.
X() is my function for low level ad hoc debug messages.
It takes a message and optional format arguments for use with `%`.
It is presented here in its own module for reuse:
from cs.x import X
...
X("foo: x=%s, a=%r", x, a)
It normally writes directly to `sys.stderr` but accepts an optional
keyword argument `file` to specify a different filelike object.
The following globals further tune its behaviour,
absent the `file=` parameter:
* `X_logger`: if not `None` then log a warning to that logger
* `X_via_tty`: if true then a pathname to which to append messages
* `X_discard`: if true then discard the message
Otherwise write the message to `sys.stderr`.
If the environment variable `$CS_X_VIA_TTY` is empty,
`X_via_tty` will be false.
Otherwise,
if `$CS_X_VIA_TTY` has a nonempty value which is a full path
to an existing filesystem object (typically a tty)
then is will be used for `X_via_tty`,
otherwise `X_via_tty` will be set to `'/dev/tty'`.
This is handy for getting debugging out of test suites,
which often divert `sys.stderr`.
`X_discard`'s default value is `not sys.stderr.isatty()`.
## Function `X(msg, *args, **kw)`
Unconditionally write the message `msg`.
If there are positional arguments after `msg`,
format `msg` using %-expansion with those arguments.
Keyword arguments:
* `file`: optional keyword argument specifying the output file.
* `colour`: optional text colour.
If specified, surround the message with ANSI escape sequences
to render the text in that colour.
If `file` is not `None`, write to it unconditionally.
Otherwise, the following globals are consulted in order:
* `X_logger`: if not `None` then log a warning to that logger
* `X_via_tty`: if true then append the message to the path it contains
* `X_discard`: if true then discard the message
Otherwise write the message to `sys.stderr`.
`X_logger` is `None` by default.
`X_via_tty` is initialised from the environment variable `$CS_X_VIA_TTY`.
`X_discard` is true unless `sys.stderr.isatty()` is true.
## Function `Y(msg, *a, **kw)`
Wrapper for `X()` rendering in yellow.
# Release Log
*Release 20230331*:
Move the open-tty-for-append hacks into cs.gimmicks.open_append, fix unclosed file handle.
*Release 20230218*:
Accomodate idiotic Linux /dev/tty open semantics.
*Release 20221118*:
Tweak for open of /dev/tty, still not properly resolved.
*Release 20220918*:
* Drop Xtty(), obsolete.
* X(): special handling for unseeking output files - I've had a Linux system moan about opening /dev/tty for append.
*Release 20211208*:
X_via_tty: now accept full path to a tty in $CS_X_VIA_TTY to aid messaging to other terminals.
*Release 20210123*:
X: honour new $CS_X_COLOUR environment variable setting the default colour, default uncoloured.
*Release 20201227*:
New Y() which calls X(...,colour=yellow) - I now often go `from cs.x import Y as X`.
*Release 20201102*:
* Set X_via_tty if $CS_X_VIA_TTY.
* Put X() into builtins if $CS_X_BUILTIN.
*Release 20181231*:
* X: trivial ANSI colour support via new `colour` keyword argument.
* New global X_discard, False unless sys.stderr.isatty.
*Release 20180726*:
doco improvements
*Release 20170902*:
Move X() into its own module, used for ad hoc debugging everywhere.
*Release 20170707.3*:
tweak DISTINFO
*Release 20170707.2*:
Doc tweak.
*Release 20170707.1*:
Added README.
*Release 20170707*:
Separate X() out into new module cs.x for cheap import.