[Maxima] maxima-el: feature suggests

[Jay Belanger]

Leo <sdl.web at gmail.com> writes:
...
> I would like to propose two features for discussion. They are both for
> the interactive mode.
>
> 1. readonly input prompt.

comint-mode, which inferior-maxima-mode is based on, has an option for
a readonly prompt.  The only reason inferior-maxima-mode doesn't use
it is because the option is off by default.  It'd be easy to turn this
on for maxima.

> 2. Better help system.
>
>    For example if I type in "? plot2d" and choose 0, a long text will
>    be printed out on the buffer. And it is not very easy to read and
>    navigate.
>
>    I'd suggest help to be put in a separate buffer and a few
>    keybindings defined for easy navigation.

It'd be easy to have maxima-el check for an input of the form "? xxx",
strip off the "?", and then call something like maxima-apropos on
xxx.  (Try `M-x maxima-apropos' and then type "plot2d" at the prompt.)
Unfortunately, maxima-apropos isn't quite the same a "?..."; 
maxima-apropos checks the index of the Maxima manual for the "..."
string, it looks as if "? ..." will check for "..." in chapter titles
also. 

Jay