*ale.txt* For Vim version 8.0. *ale* ALE - Asynchronous Lint Engine =============================================================================== CONTENTS *ale-contents* 1. Introduction.........................|ale-introduction| 2. Supported Languages & Tools..........|ale-support| 3. Global Options.......................|ale-options| 4. Fixing Problems......................|ale-fix| 5. Integration Documentation............|ale-integrations| asm...................................|ale-asm-options| gcc.................................|ale-asm-gcc| c.....................................|ale-c-options| clang...............................|ale-c-clang| cppcheck............................|ale-c-cppcheck| gcc.................................|ale-c-gcc| chef..................................|ale-chef-options| foodcritic..........................|ale-chef-foodcritic| cpp...................................|ale-cpp-options| clang...............................|ale-cpp-clang| clangtidy...........................|ale-cpp-clangtidy| cppcheck............................|ale-cpp-cppcheck| cpplint.............................|ale-cpp-cpplint| gcc.................................|ale-cpp-gcc| css...................................|ale-css-options| stylelint...........................|ale-css-stylelint| cmake.................................|ale-cmake-options| cmakelint...........................|ale-cmake-cmakelint| erlang................................|ale-erlang-options| erlc................................|ale-erlang-erlc| fortran...............................|ale-fortran-options| gcc.................................|ale-fortran-gcc| go....................................|ale-go-options| gometalinter........................|ale-go-gometalinter| handlebars............................|ale-handlebars-options| ember-template-lint.................|ale-handlebars-embertemplatelint| html..................................|ale-html-options| htmlhint............................|ale-html-htmlhint| tidy................................|ale-html-tidy| java..................................|ale-java-options| checkstyle..........................|ale-java-checkstyle| javac...............................|ale-java-javac| javascript............................|ale-javascript-options| eslint..............................|ale-javascript-eslint| flow................................|ale-javascript-flow| jshint..............................|ale-javascript-jshint| prettier............................|ale-javascript-prettier| prettier-eslint.....................|ale-javascript-prettier-eslint| standard............................|ale-javascript-standard| xo..................................|ale-javascript-xo| kotlin................................|ale-kotlin-options| kotlinc.............................|ale-kotlin-kotlinc| lua...................................|ale-lua-options| luacheck............................|ale-lua-luacheck| objc..................................|ale-objc-options| clang...............................|ale-objc-clang| objcpp................................|ale-objcpp-options| clang...............................|ale-objcpp-clang| ocaml.................................|ale-ocaml-options| merlin..............................|ale-ocaml-merlin| perl..................................|ale-perl-options| perl................................|ale-perl-perl| perlcritic..........................|ale-perl-perlcritic| php...................................|ale-php-options| phpcs...............................|ale-php-phpcs| phpmd...............................|ale-php-phpmd| python................................|ale-python-options| flake8..............................|ale-python-flake8| mypy................................|ale-python-mypy| pylint..............................|ale-python-pylint| ruby..................................|ale-ruby-options| reek................................|ale-ruby-reek| rubocop.............................|ale-ruby-rubocop| rust..................................|ale-rust-options| cargo...............................|ale-rust-cargo| rustc...............................|ale-rust-rustc| sass..................................|ale-sass-options| stylelint...........................|ale-sass-stylelint| scss..................................|ale-scss-options| stylelint...........................|ale-scss-stylelint| sh....................................|ale-sh-options| shell...............................|ale-sh-shell| shellcheck..........................|ale-sh-shellcheck| spec..................................|ale-spec-options| rpmlint.............................|ale-spec-rpmlint| tex...................................|ale-tex-options| chktex..............................|ale-tex-chktex| lacheck.............................|ale-tex-lacheck| typescript............................|ale-typescript-options| tslint..............................|ale-typescript-tslint| vim...................................|ale-vim-options| vint................................|ale-vim-vint| xml...................................|ale-xml-options| xmllint.............................|ale-xml-xmllint| yaml..................................|ale-yaml-options| yamllint............................|ale-yaml-yamllint| 6. Commands/Keybinds....................|ale-commands| 7. API..................................|ale-api| 8. Special Thanks.......................|ale-special-thanks| 9. Contact..............................|ale-contact| =============================================================================== 1. Introduction *ale-introduction* ALE provides the means to run linters asynchronously in Vim in a variety of languages and tools. ALE sends the contents of buffers to linter programs using the |job-control| features available in Vim 8 and NeoVim. For Vim 8, Vim must be compiled with the |job| and |channel| and |timer| features as a minimum. ALE supports the following key features for linting: 1. Running linters when text is changed. 2. Running linters when files are opened. 3. Running linters when files are saved. (When a global flag is set.) 4. Populating the |loclist| with warning and errors. 5. Setting |signs| with warnings and errors for error markers. 6. Using |echo| to show error messages when the cursor moves. 7. Setting syntax highlights for errors. ALE can fix problems with files with the |ALEFix| command, using the same job control functionality used for checking for problems. =============================================================================== 2. Supported Languages & Tools *ale-support* The following languages and tools are supported. * ASM: 'gcc' * Ansible: 'ansible-lint' * Asciidoc: 'proselint' * Bash: 'shell' (-n flag), 'shellcheck' * Bourne Shell: 'shell' (-n flag), 'shellcheck' * C: 'cppcheck', 'gcc', 'clang' * C++ (filetype cpp): 'clang', 'clangtidy', 'cppcheck', 'cpplint', 'gcc' * C#: 'mcs' * Chef: 'foodcritic' * CMake: 'cmakelint' * CoffeeScript: 'coffee', 'coffelint' * Crystal: 'crystal' * CSS: 'csslint', 'stylelint' * Cython (pyrex filetype): 'cython' * D: 'dmd' * Dockerfile: 'hadolint' * Elixir: 'credo', 'dogma' * Elm: 'elm-make' * Erlang: 'erlc' * Fortran: 'gcc' * Go: 'gofmt', 'go vet', 'golint', 'go build', 'gosimple', 'staticcheck' * Haml: 'hamllint' * Handlebars: 'ember-template-lint' * Haskell: 'ghc', 'ghc-mod', 'hlint', 'hdevtools' * HTML: 'HTMLHint', 'proselint', 'tidy' * Java: 'javac' * JavaScript: 'eslint', 'jscs', 'jshint', 'flow', 'prettier', 'prettier-eslint', 'xo' * JSON: 'jsonlint' * Kotlin: 'kotlinc' * LaTeX (tex): 'chktex', 'lacheck', 'proselint' * Lua: 'luacheck' * Markdown: 'mdl', 'proselint', 'vale' * MATLAB: 'mlint' * nim: 'nim check' * nix: 'nix-instantiate' * nroff: 'proselint' * Objective-C: 'clang' * Objective-C++: 'clang' * OCaml: 'merlin' (see |ale-linter-integration-ocaml-merlin|) * Perl: 'perl' (-c flag), 'perlcritic' * PHP: 'hack', 'php' (-l flag), 'phpcs', 'phpmd' * Pod: 'proselint' * Pug: 'pug-lint' * Puppet: 'puppet', 'puppet-lint' * Python: 'flake8', 'mypy', 'pylint' * ReasonML: 'merlin' * reStructuredText: 'proselint' * RPM spec: 'spec' * Rust: 'rustc' (see |ale-integration-rust|) * Ruby: 'reek', 'rubocop' * SASS: 'sasslint', 'stylelint' * SCSS: 'sasslint', 'scsslint', 'stylelint' * Scala: 'scalac' * Slim: 'slim-lint' * SML: 'smlnj' * SQL: 'sqlint' * Swift: 'swiftlint' * Texinfo: 'proselint' * Text: 'proselint', 'vale' * TypeScript: 'tslint', 'typecheck' * Verilog: 'iverilog', 'verilator' * Vim: 'vint' * Vim help: 'proselint' * XHTML: 'proselint' * XML: 'xmllint' * YAML: 'yamllint' =============================================================================== 3. Global Options *ale-options* g:airline#extensions#ale#enabled *g:airline#extensions#ale#enabled* Type: |Number| Default: `1` Enables or disables the |airline|'s native extension for ale, which displays warnings and errors in the status line, prefixed by |airline#extensions#ale#error_symbol| and |airline#extensions#ale#warning_symbol|. g:ale_change_sign_column_color *g:ale_change_sign_column_color* Type: |Number| Default: `0` When set to `1`, this option will set different highlights for the sign column itself when ALE reports problems with a file. This option can be combined with |g:ale_sign_column_always|. ALE uses the following highlight groups for highlighting the sign column: `ALESignColumnWithErrors` - Links to `error` by default. `ALESignColumnWithoutErrors` - Uses the value for `SignColumn` by default. g:ale_echo_cursor *g:ale_echo_cursor* Type: |Number| Default: `1` When this option is set to `1`, a truncated message will be echoed when a cursor is near a warning or error. ALE will attempt to find the warning or error at a column nearest to the cursor when the cursor is resting on a line which contains a warning or error. This option can be set to `0` to disable this behaviour. The format of the message can be customizable in |g:ale_echo_msg_format|. g:ale_echo_msg_error_str *g:ale_echo_msg_error_str* Type: |String| Default: `Error` The string used for error severity in the echoed message. Note |`g:ale_echo_cursor`| should be set to 1 Note |`g:ale_echo_msg_format`| should contain the `%severity%` handler g:ale_echo_msg_format *g:ale_echo_msg_format* Type: |String| Default: `%s` This variable defines the format of the echoed message. The `%s` is the error message itself, and it can contain the following handlers: - `%linter%` for linter's name - `%severity%` for the type of severity Note |`g:ale_echo_cursor`| should be setted to 1 g:ale_echo_msg_warning_str *g:ale_echo_msg_warning_str* Type: |String| Default: `Warning` The string used for warning severity in the echoed message. Note |`g:ale_echo_cursor`| should be set to 1 Note |`g:ale_echo_msg_format`| should contain the `%severity%` handler g:ale_emit_conflict_warnings *g:ale_emit_conflict_warnings* Type: |Number| Default: `1` When set to `0`, ALE will not emit any warnings on startup about conflicting plugins. ALE will probably not work if other linting plugins are installed. g:ale_enabled *g:ale_enabled* *b:ale_enabled* Type: |Number| Default: `1` When set to `0`, this option will completely disable ALE, such that no error checking will be performed, etc. ALE can be toggled on and off with the |ALEToggle| command, which changes this option. ALE can be disabled in each buffer by setting `let b:ale_enabled = 0` Disabling ALE based on filename patterns can be accomplished by setting a regular expression for |g:ale_pattern_options|. For example: > " Disable linting for all minified JS files. let g:ale_pattern_options = {'\.min.js$': {'ale_enabled': 0}} < See |g:ale_pattern_options| for more information on that option. g:ale_fixers *g:ale_fixers* *b:ale_fixers* Type: |Dictionary| Default: `{}` A mapping from filetypes to |List| values for functions for fixing errors. See |ale-fix| for more information. This variable can be overriden with variables in each buffer. g:ale_fix_on_save *g:ale_fix_on_save* Type: |Number| Default: `0` When set to 1, ALE will fix files when they are saved. If |g:ale_lint_on_save| is set to 1, files will be checked with linters after files are fixed, only when the buffer is open, or re-opened. Changes to the file will be saved to the file on disk. g:ale_history_enabled *g:ale_history_enabled* Type: |Number| Default: `1` When set to `1`, ALE will remember the last few commands which were run for every buffer which is open. This information can be viewed with the |ALEInfo| command. The size of the buffer can be controlled with the |g:ale_max_buffer_history_size| option. This option can be disabled if storing a command history is not desired. g:ale_history_log_output *g:ale_history_log_output* Type: |Number| Default: `0` When set to `1`, ALE will store the output of commands which have completed successfully in the command history, and the output will be displayed when using |ALEInfo|. |g:ale_history_enabled| must be set to `1` for this output to be stored or printed. ALE will likely consume a lot of memory if this option is on, so it should only be used for debugging problems with linters. g:ale_keep_list_window_open *g:ale_keep_list_window_open* Type: |Number| Default: `0` When set to `1`, this option will keep the loclist or quickfix windows event after all warnings/errors have been removed for files. By default the loclist or quicfix windows will be closed automatically when there are no warnings or errors. See: |g:ale_open_list| g:ale_list_window_size *g:ale_list_window_size* *b:ale_list_window_size* Type: |Number| Default: `10` This number configures the number of lines to set for the height of windows opened automatically for ALE problems. The default of `10` matches the Vim default height. See |g:ale_open_list| for information on automatically opening windows for quickfix or the loclist. g:ale_lint_delay *g:ale_lint_delay* Type: |Number| Default: `200` This variable controls the milliseconds delay after which the linters will be run after text is changed. This option is only meaningful with the |g:ale_lint_on_text_changed| variable set to `always`, `insert`, or `normal`. g:ale_lint_on_enter *g:ale_lint_on_enter* Type: |Number| Default: `1` When this option is set to `1`, the |BufWinEnter| and |BufRead| events will be used to apply linters when buffers are first opened. If this is not desired, this variable can be set to `0` in your vimrc file to disable this behaviour. g:ale_lint_on_filetype_changed *g:ale_lint_on_filetype_changed* Type: |Number| Default: `1` This option will cause ALE to run whenever the filetype is changed. A short delay will be used before linting will be done, so the filetype can be changed quickly several times in a row, but resulting in only one lint cycle. g:ale_lint_on_save *g:ale_lint_on_save* Type: |Number| Default: `1` This option will make ALE run the linters whenever a file is saved when it it set to `1` in your vimrc file. This option can be used in combination with the |g:ale_lint_on_enter| and |g:ale_lint_on_text_changed| options to make ALE only check files after that have been saved, if that is what is desired. g:ale_lint_on_text_changed *g:ale_lint_on_text_changed* Type: |String| Default: `always` By default, ALE will check files with the various supported programs when text is changed by using the |TextChanged| event. If this behaviour is not desired, then this option can be disabled by setting it to `never`. The |g:ale_lint_delay| variable will be used to set a |timer_start()| on a delay, and each change to a file will continue to call |timer_stop()| and |timer_start()| repeatedly until the timer ticks by, and the linters will be run. The checking of files will run in the background, so it should not inhibit editing files. This option can also be set to `insert` or `normal` to lint when text is changed only in insert or normal mode respectively. g:ale_lint_on_insert_leave *g:ale_lint_on_insert_leave* Type: |Number| Default: `0` This option will make ALE run the linters whenever leaving insert mode when it is set to `1` in your vimrc file. g:ale_linter_aliases *g:ale_linter_aliases* *b:ale_linter_aliases* Type: |Dictionary| Default: `{}` The |g:ale_linter_aliases| option can be used to set aliases from one filetype to another. A given filetype can be mapped to use the linters run for another given filetype. This |Dictionary| will be merged with a default dictionary containing the following values: > { \ 'zsh': 'sh', \ 'csh': 'sh', \} < For example, if you wish to map a new filetype `'foobar'` to run the `'php'` linters, you could set the following: > let g:ale_linter_aliases = {'foobar': 'php'} < When combined with the |g:ale_linters| option, the original filetype (`'foobar'`) will be used for determining which linters to run, not the aliased type (`'php'`). This allows an aliased type to run a different set of linters from the type it is being mapped to. Passing a list of filetypes is also supported. Say you want to lint javascript and css embedded in HTML (using linters that support that). You could alias `html` like so: `let g:ale_linter_aliases = {'html': ['html', 'javascript', 'css']}` Note that `html` itself was included as an alias. That is because aliases will override the original linters for the aliased filetepe. Linter aliases can be configured in each buffer with buffer-local variables. ALE will first look for aliases for filetypes in the `b:ale_linter_aliases` variable, then `g:ale_linter_aliases`, and then a default Dictionary. g:ale_linters *g:ale_linters* *b:ale_linters* Type: |Dictionary| Default: `{}` The |g:ale_linters| option sets a |Dictionary| mapping a filetype to a |List| of linter programs to be run when checking particular filetypes. Only the filetypes specified in the dictionary will be limited in terms of which linters will be run. This |Dictionary| will be merged with a default dictionary containing the following values: > { \ 'csh': ['shell'], \ 'rust': ['cargo'], \ 'text': [], \ 'zsh': ['shell'], \} < This option can be used to enable only a particular set of linters for a file. For example, you can enable only 'eslint' for JavaScript files: > let g:ale_linters = {'javascript': ['eslint']} < If you want to disable all linters for a particular filetype, you can pass an empty list of linters as the value: > let g:ale_linters = {'javascript': []} < All linters available for a given filetype can be enabled by using the string `'all'`: > let g:ale_linters = {'c': 'all'} < Linters can be configured in each buffer with buffer-local variables. ALE will first look for linters for filetypes in the `b:ale_linters` variable, then `g:ale_linters`, and then a default Dictionary. g:ale_max_buffer_history_size *g:ale_max_buffer_history_size* Type: |Number| Default: `20` This setting controls the maximum number of commands which will be stored in the command history used for |ALEInfo|. Command history will be rotated in a FIFO manner. If set to a number <= 0, then the history will be continuously set to an empty |List|. History can be disabled completely with |g:ale_history_enabled|. g:ale_maximum_file_size *g:ale_maximum_file_size* *b:ale_maximum_file_size* Type: |Number| Default: `0` A maximum file size in bytes for ALE to check. If set to any positive number, ALE will skip checking files larger than the given size. g:ale_open_list *g:ale_open_list* Type: |Number| Default: `0` When set to `1`, this will cause ALE to automatically open a window for the loclist (|lopen|) or for the quickfix list instead if |g:ale_set_quickfix| is `1`. (|copen|) The window will be kept open until all warnings or errors are cleared, including those not set by ALE, unless |g:ale_keep_list_window_open| is set to `1`, in which case the window will be kept open until closed manually. The window size can be configured with |g:ale_list_window_size|. g:ale_pattern_options *g:ale_pattern_options* Type: |Dictionary| Default: `{}` This option maps regular expression patterns to |Dictionary| values for buffer variables. This option can be set to automatically configure different settings for different files. For example: > let g:ale_pattern_options = { \ '\.foo\.js$': { \ 'ale_linters: {'javascript': ['eslint']}, \ }, \} < The above example will match any filename ending in `.foo.js`, and use only `eslint` for checking those files by setting `b:ale_linters`. Filenames are matched with |match()|, and patterns depend on the |magic| setting, unless prefixed with the special escape sequences like `'\v'`, etc. The patterns can match any part of a filename. The absolute path of the filename will be used for matching, taken from `expand('%:p')`. g:ale_pattern_options_enabled *g:ale_pattern_options_enabled* Type: |Number| Default: `!empty(g:ale_pattern_options)` This option can be used for turning the behaviour of setting |g:ale_pattern_options| on or off. By default, setting a single key for |g:ale_pattern_options| will turn this option on. g:ale_set_balloons *g:ale_set_balloons* Type: |Number| Default: `has('balloon_eval')` When this option is set to `1`, balloon messages will be displayed for problems. Problems nearest to the cursor on the line the cursor is over will be displayed. g:ale_set_highlights *g:ale_set_highlights* Type: |Number| Default: `has('syntax')` When this option is set to `1`, highlights will be set for problems. ALE will use the following highlight groups for problems: `ALEError` - Items with `'type': 'E'` `ALEWarning` - Items with `'type': 'W'` `ALEInfo` - Items with `'type': 'I'` `ALEStyleError` - Items with `'type': 'E'` and `'sub_type': 'style'` `ALEStyleWarning` - Items with `'type': 'W'` and `'sub_type': 'style'` g:ale_set_loclist *g:ale_set_loclist* Type: |Number| Default: `1` When this option is set to `1`, the |loclist| will be populated with any warnings and errors which are found by ALE. This feature can be used to implement jumping between errors through typical use of |lnext| and |lprev|. g:ale_set_quickfix *g:ale_set_quickfix* Type: |Number| Default: `0` When this option is set to `1`, the |quickfix| list will be populated with any warnings and errors which are found by ALE, instead of the |loclist|. The loclist will never be populated when this option is on. g:ale_set_signs *g:ale_set_signs* Type: |Number| Default: `has('signs')` When this option is set to `1`, the |sign| column will be populated with signs marking where problems appear in the file. ALE will use the following highlight groups for problems: `ALEErrorSign` - Items with `'type': 'E'` `ALEWarningSign` - Items with `'type': 'W'` `ALEInfoSign` - Items with `'type': 'I'` `ALEStyleErrorSign` - Items with `'type': 'E'` and `'sub_type': 'style'` `ALEStyleWarningSign` - Items with `'type': 'W'` and `'sub_type': 'style'` The markers for the highlights can be customized with the following options: |g:ale_sign_error| |g:ale_sign_warning| |g:ale_sign_info| |g:ale_sign_style_error| |g:ale_sign_style_warning| When multiple problems exist on the same line, the signs will take precedence in the order above, from highest to lowest. g:ale_sign_column_always *g:ale_sign_column_always* Type: |Number| Default: `0` By default, the sign gutter will disappear when all warnings and errors have been fixed for a file. When this option is set to `1`, the sign column will remain open. This can be preferable if you don't want the text in your file to move around as you edit a file. g:ale_sign_error *g:ale_sign_error* Type: |String| Default: `'>>'` The sign for errors in the sign gutter. g:ale_sign_info *g:ale_sign_info* Type: |String| Default: `g:ale_sign_warning` The sign for "info" markers in the sign gutter. g:ale_sign_style_error *g:ale_sign_style_error* Type: |String| Default: `g:ale_sign_error` The sign for style errors in the sign gutter. g:ale_sign_style_warning *g:ale_sign_style_warning* Type: |String| Default: `g:ale_sign_warning` The sign for style warnings in the sign gutter. g:ale_sign_offset *g:ale_sign_offset* Type: |Number| Default: `1000000` This variable controls offset from which numeric IDs will be generated for new signs. Signs cannot share the same ID values, so when two Vim plugins set signs at the same time, the IDs have to be configured such that they do not conflict with one another. If the IDs used by ALE are found to conflict with some other plugin, this offset value can be changed, and hopefully both plugins will work together. See |sign-place| for more information on how signs are set. g:ale_sign_warning *g:ale_sign_warning* Type: |String| Default: `'--'` The sign for warnings in the sign gutter. g:ale_warn_about_trailing_whitespace *g:ale_warn_about_trailing_whitespace* b:ale_warn_about_trailing_whitespace *b:ale_warn_about_trailing_whitespace* Type: |Number| Default: `1` When this option is set to `1`, warnings relating to trailing whitespace on lines will be shown in signs, the loclist, and echo messages, etc. If these errors are found to be too irritating while edits are being made, and you have configured Vim to automatically remove trailing whitespace, then you can disable these warnings for some linters by setting this option to `0`. Not all linters may respect this option. If a linter does not, please file a bug report, and it may be possible to add such support. This option may be configured on a per buffer basis. =============================================================================== 4. Fixing Problems *ale-fix* ALE can fix problems with files with the |ALEFix| command. When |ALEFix| is run, the variable |g:ale_fixers| will be read for getting a |List| of commands for filetypes, split on `.`, and the functions named in |g:ale_fixers| will be executed for fixing the errors. The values for `g:ale_fixers` can be a list of |String|, |Funcref|, or |lambda| values. String values must either name a function, or a short name for a function set in the ALE fixer registry. Each function for fixing errors must accept either one argument `(buffer)` or two arguments `(buffer, lines)`, representing the buffer being fixed and the lines to fix. The functions must return either `0`, for changing nothing, a |List| for new lines to set, or a |Dictionary| for describing a command to be run in the background. Functions receiving a variable number of arguments will not receive the second argument `lines`. Functions should name two arguments if the `lines` argument is desired. This is required to avoid unnecessary copying of the lines of the buffers being checked. When a |Dictionary| is returned for an |ALEFix| callback, the following keys are supported for running the commands. `command` A |String| for the command to run. This key is required. When `%t` is included in a command string, a temporary file will be created, containing the lines from the file after previous adjustment have been done. `read_temporary_file` When set to `1`, ALE will read the contents of the temporary file created for `%t`. This option can be used for commands which need to modify some file on disk in order to fix files. *ale-fix-configuration* Synchronous functions and asynchronous jobs will be run in a sequence for fixing files, and can be combined. For example: > let g:ale_fixers = { \ 'javascript': [ \ 'DoSomething', \ 'eslint', \ {buffer, lines -> filter(lines, 'v:val !=~ ''^\s*//''')}, \ ], \} ALEFix < The above example will call a function called `DoSomething` which could act upon some lines immediately, then run `eslint` from the ALE registry, and then call a lambda function which will remove every single line comment from the file. For convenience, a plug mapping is defined for |ALEFix|, so you can set up a keybind easily for fixing files. > " Bind F8 to fixing problems with ALE nmap (ale_fix) < Files can be fixed automatically with the following options, which are all off by default. |g:ale_fix_on_save| - Fix files when they are saved. =============================================================================== 5. Integration Documentation *ale-integrations* Linter and fixer options are documented in individual help files. See the table of contents at |ale-contents|. Every option for programs can be set globally, or individually for each buffer. For example, `b:ale_python_flake8_executable` will override any values set for `g:ale_python_flake8_executable`. =============================================================================== 6. Commands/Keybinds *ale-commands* ALEFix *ALEFix* Fix problems with the current buffer. See |ale-fix| for more information. A plug mapping `(ale_fix)` is defined for this command. ALELint *ALELint* Run ALE once for the current buffer. This command can be used to run ALE manually, instead of automatically, if desired. This command will also run linters where `lint_file` is set to `1`, or in other words linters which check the file instead of the Vim buffer. A plug mapping `(ale_lint)` is defined for this command. ALEPrevious *ALEPrevious* ALEPreviousWrap *ALEPreviousWrap* ALENext *ALENext* ALENextWrap *ALENextWrap* ALEFirst *ALEFirst* ALELast *ALELast* *ale-navigation-commands* Move between warnings or errors in a buffer. ALE will only navigate between the errors or warnings it generated, even if both |g:ale_set_quickfix| and |g:ale_set_loclist| are set to `0`. `ALEPrevious` and `ALENext` will stop at the top and bottom of a file, while `ALEPreviousWrap` and `ALENextWrap` will wrap around the file to find the last or first warning or error in the file, respectively. `ALEFirst` goes to the first error or warning in the buffer, while `ALELast` goes to the last one. The following || mappings are defined for the commands: > (ale_previous) - ALEPrevious (ale_previous_wrap) - ALEPreviousWrap (ale_next) - ALENext (ale_next_wrap) - ALENextWrap (ale_first) - ALEFirst (ale_last) - ALELast < For example, these commands could be bound to the keys Ctrl + j and Ctrl + k: > " Map movement through errors without wrapping. nmap (ale_previous) nmap (ale_next) " OR map keys to use wrapping. nmap (ale_previous_wrap) nmap (ale_next_wrap) < ALEToggle *ALEToggle* ALEEnable *ALEEnable* ALEDisable *ALEDisable* Enable or disable ALE, including all of its autocmd events, loclist items, quickfix items, signs, current jobs, etc. Calling this option will change the |g:ale_enabled| variable. ALEDetail *ALEDetail* Show the full linter message for the current line. This will only have an effect on lines that contain a linter message. A plug mapping `(ale_detail)` is defined for this command. =============================================================================== 7. API *ale-api* ale#Queue(delay, [linting_flag]) *ale#Queue()* Run linters for the current buffer, based on the filetype of the buffer, with a given `delay`. A `delay` of `0` will run the linters immediately. The linters will always be run in the background. Calling this function again from the same buffer An optional `linting_flag` argument can be given. If `linting_flag` is `'lint_file'`, then linters where the `lint_file` option is set to `1` will be run. Linters with `lint_file` set to `1` are not run by default. ale#engine#CreateDirectory(buffer) *ale#engine#CreateDirectory()* Create a new temporary directory with a unique name, and manage that directory with |ale#engine#ManageDirectory()|, so it will be removed as soon as possible. It is advised to only call this function from a callback function for returning a linter command to run. ale#engine#EscapeCommandPart(command_part) *ale#engine#EscapeCommandPart()* Given a |String|, return a |String| with all `%` characters replaced with `%%` instead. This function can be used to escape strings which are dynamically generated for commands before handing them over to ALE, so that ALE doesn't treat any strings with `%` formatting sequences specially. ale#engine#GetLoclist(buffer) *ale#engine#GetLoclist()* Given a buffer number, this function will rerurn the list of warnings and errors reported by ALE for a given buffer in the format accepted by |setqflist()|. ale#engine#ManageFile(buffer, filename) *ale#engine#ManageFile()* Given a buffer number for a buffer currently running some linting tasks and a filename, register a filename with ALE for automatic deletion after linting is complete, or when Vim exits. If Vim exits suddenly, ALE will try its best to remove temporary files, but ALE cannot guarantee with absolute certainty that the files will be removed. It is advised to create temporary files in the operating system's managed temporary file directory, such as with |tempname()|. Directory names should not be given to this function. ALE will only delete files and symlinks given to this function. This is to prevent entire directories from being accidentally deleted, say in cases of writing `dir . '/' . filename` where `filename` is actually `''`, etc. ALE instead manages directories separetly with the |ale#engine#ManageDirectory| function. ale#engine#ManageDirectory(buffer, directory) *ale#engine#ManageDirectory()* Like |ale#engine#ManageFile()|, but directories and all of their contents will be deleted, akin to `rm -rf directory`, which could lead to loss of data if mistakes are made. This command will also delete any temporary filenames given to it. It is advised to use |ale#engine#ManageFile()| instead for deleting single files. ale#fix#registry#Add(name, func, filetypes, desc) *ale#fix#registry#Add()* Given a |String| `name` for a name to add to the registry, a |String| `func` for a function name, a |List| `filetypes` for a list of filetypes to set for suggestions, and a |String| `desc` for a short description of the fixer, register a fixer in the registry. The `name` can then be used for |g:ale_fixers| in place of the function name, and suggested for fixing files. ale#linter#Define(filetype, linter) *ale#linter#Define()* Given a |String| for a filetype and a |Dictionary| Describing a linter configuration, add a linter for the given filetype. The dictionaries each offer the following options: `name` The name of the linter. These names will be used by |g:ale_linters| option for enabling/disabling particular linters. This argument is required. `callback` A |String| or |Funcref| for a callback function accepting two arguments (buffer, lines), for a buffer number the output is for, and the lines of output from a linter. This callback function should return a |List| of |Dictionary| objects in the format accepted by |setqflist()|. The |List| will be sorted by line and then column order so it can be searched with a binary search by in future before being passed on to the |loclist|, etc. This argument is required. The keys for each item in the List will be handled in the following manner: `text` - This error message is required. `lnum` - The line number is required. Any strings will be automatically converted to numbers by using `str2nr()`. Line 0 will be moved to line 1, and lines beyond the end of the file will be moved to the end. `col` - The column number is optional and will default to `0`. Any strings will be automatically coverted to number using `str2nr()`. `bufnr` - The buffer number should match the buffer being checked, and this value will default to the buffer being checked. `vcol` - Defaults to `0`. `type` - Defaults to `'E'`. `nr` - Defaults to `-1`. `executable` A |String| naming the executable itself which will be run. This value will be used to check if the program requested is installed or not. Either this or the `executable_callback` argument must be provided. `executable_callback ` A |String| or |Funcref| for a callback function accepting a buffer number. A |String| should be returned for the executable to check. This can be used in place of `executable` when more complicated processing is needed. `command` A |String| for an executable to run asynchronously. This command will be fed the lines from the buffer to check, and will produce the lines of output given to the `callback`. `command_callback` A |String| or |Funcref| for a callback function accepting a buffer number. A |String| should be returned for a command to run. This can be used in place of `command` when more complicated processing is needed. If an empty string is returned from the callback, no jobs for linting will be run for that linter. This can be used for skipping a linter call, say if no configuration file was found. *ale-command-chain* `command_chain` A |List| of |Dictionary| items defining a series of commands to be run. At least one |Dictionary| should be provided. Each Dictionary must contain the key `callback`, defining a |String| or |Funcref| for a function returning a |String| for a command to run. The callback functions for each command after the first command in in the chain should accept two arguments `(buffer, output)`, a buffer number and a |List| of lines of output from the previous command in the chain. The first callback function in a chain accepts only a `(buffer)` argument, as there are no previous commands to run which return `output`. If an empty string is returned for a command in a chain, that command in the chain will be skipped, and the next function in the chain will be called immediately instead. If the last command in a chain returns an empty string, then no linting will be performed. Commands in the chain will all use the `output_stream` value provided in the root |Dictionary|. Each command in the chain can also provide an `output_stream` key to override this value. See the `output_stream` description for more information. Commands in the chain all behave as if `read_buffer` is set to `0` by default, except for the last command in the chain, which uses the value set for `read_buffer` in the root |Dictionary|. Each command in the chain can also provide a `read_buffer` key to override these values. See the `read_buffer` description for more information. `output_stream` A |String| for the output stream the lines of output should be read from for the command which is run. The accepted values are `'stdout'`, `'stderr'`, and `'both'`. This argument defaults to `'stdout'`. This argument can be set for linter programs which output their errors and warnings to the stderr stream instead of stdout. The option `'both'` will read from both stder and stdout at the same time. `read_buffer` A |Number| (`0` or `1`) indicating whether a command should read the Vim buffer as input via stdin. This option is set to `1` by default, and can be disabled if a command manually reads from a temporary file instead, etc. *ale-lint-file* `lint_file` A |Number| (`0` or `1`) indicating whether a command should read the file instead of the Vim buffer. This option can be used for linters which must check the file on disk, and which cannot check a Vim buffer instead. Linters set with this option will not be run as a user types, per |g:ale_lint_on_text_changed|. Linters will instead be run only when events occur against the file on disk, including |g:ale_lint_on_enter| and |g:ale_lint_on_save|. Linters with this option set to `1` will also be run when linters are run manually, per |ALELint-autocmd|. When this option is set to `1`, `read_buffer` will be set automatically to `0`. The two options cannot be used together. `aliases` A |List| of aliases for the linter name. This option can be set with alternative names for for selecting the linter with |g:ale_linters|. This setting can make it easier to guess the linter name by offering a few alternatives. Only one of `command`, `command_callback`, or `command_chain` should be specified. `command_callback` is generally recommended when a command string needs to be generated dynamically, or any global options are used. `command_chain` is recommended where any system calls need to be made to retrieve some kind of information before running the final command. If temporary files or directories are created for commands run with `command_callback` or `command_chain`, then these tempoary files or directories can be managed by ALE, for automatic deletion. See |ale#engine#ManageFile()| and |ale#engine#ManageDirectory| for more information. *ale-command-format-strings* All command strings will be formatted for special character sequences. Any substring `%s` will be replaced with the full path to the current file being edited. This format option can be used to pass the exact filename being edited to a program. For example: > 'command': 'eslint -f unix --stdin --stdin-filename %s' < Any substring `%t` will be replaced with a path to a temporary file. Merely adding `%t` will cause ALE to create a temporary file containing the contents of the buffer being checked. All occurrences of `%t` in command strings will reference the one temporary file. The temporary file will be created inside a temporary directory, and the entire temporary directory will be automatically deleted, following the behaviour of |ale#engine#ManageDirectory|. This option can be used for some linters which do not support reading from stdin. For example: > 'command': 'ghc -fno-code -v0 %t', < The character sequence `%%` can be used to emit a literal `%` into a command, so literal character sequences `%s` and `%t` can be escaped by using `%%s` and `%%t` instead, etc. If a callback for a command generates part of a command string which might possibly contain `%%`, `%s`, or `%t` where the special formatting behaviour is not desired, the |ale#engine#EscapeCommandPart()| function can be used to replace those characters to avoid formatting issues. *ale-linter-loading-behaviour* Linters for ALE will be loaded by searching |runtimepath| in the following format: > ale_linters//.vim < Any linters which exist anywhere in |runtimepath| with that directory structure will be automatically loaded for the matching |filetype|. Filetypes containing `.` characters will be split into individual parts, and files will be loaded for each filetype between the `.` characters. ale#linter#Get(filetype) *ale#linter#Get()* Return all of linters configured for a given filetype as a |List| of |Dictionary| values in the format specified by |ale#linter#Define()|. Filetypes may be dot-seperated to invoke linters for multiple filetypes: for instance, the filetype `javascript.jsx` will return linters for both the `javascript` and `jsx` filetype. Aliases may be defined in as described in |g:ale_linter_aliases|. Aliases are applied after dot-seperated filetypes are broken up into their components. ale#statusline#Count(buffer) *ale#statusline#Count()* Given the number of a buffer which may have problems, return a |Dictionary| containing information about the number of problems detected by ALE. The following keys are supported: `error` -> The number of problems with type `E` and `sub_type != 'style'` `warning` -> The number of problems with type `W` and `sub_type != 'style'` `info` -> The number of problems with type `I` `style_error` -> The number of problems with type `E` and `sub_type == 'style'` `style_warning` -> The number of problems with type `W` and `sub_type == 'style'` `total` -> The total number of problems. ALELint *ALELint-autocmd* This |User| autocommand is triggered by ALE every time it completes a lint cycle. It can be used to update statuslines, send notifications, or complete any other operation that needs to be done after linting has been performed. For example, you can echo a message when linting is complete like so: > autocmd User ALELint echom "ALE run!" < =============================================================================== 8. Special Thanks *ale-special-thanks* Special thanks to Mark Grealish (https://www.bhalash.com/) for providing ALE's snazzy looking ale glass logo. Cheers, Mark! =============================================================================== 9. Contact *ale-contact* If you like this plugin, and wish to get in touch, check out the GitHub page for issues and more at https://github.com/w0rp/ale If you wish to contact the author of this plugin directly, please feel free to send an email to devw0rp@gmail.com. Please drink responsibly, or not at all, which is ironically the preference of w0rp, who is teetotal. vim:tw=78:ts=2:sts=2:sw=2:ft=help:norl: