Overview

This is an extension of Slime (a "contrib") that helps you to deal with ASDF systems in ROS packages. It also adds a REPL shortcut ros-load-system to the slime REPL.

Installation

For a Debian package

$ sudo apt-get install ros-DISTRO-slime-ros

Then call the initialization script that generates .sbclrc in your home directory for configuring your SBCL.

$ rosrun slime_ros slime_ros_init

And then add the following to your Emacs configuration file:

(require 'slime-config "/opt/ros/DISTRO/share/slime_ros/slime-config.el")

From source

The most up-to-date version of slime_ros code can be found here. Installation instructions are in the README file. What you'll need to do will be something like the following:

$ cd YOUR_CATKIN_WS/src
$ wstool set ros_emacs_utils --git https://github.com/code-iai/ros_emacs_utils.git
$ wstool update ros_emacs_utils
$ cd ..
$ catkin_make
$ catkin_make install
$ emacs -nw ~/.emacs.d/init.el # edit your emacs configuration file

How to use

If you've set up your emacs init file correctly you should be able to start the REPL by typing M-x slime. Now, by pressing , (coma) in an empty REPL prompt, you can select the shortcut ros-load-system. Press enter and select a ROS package and an ASDF system inside this ROS package. Slime will set the variable ros-load:*current-ros-package* and perform a load operation on the selected system.

The package contains one customization variable, slime-ros-completion-function. It allows the user to select ido mode completion or similar completion mechanisms. To change its value, use M-x customize-group slime-ros.