path: root/doc/en/weechat_dev.en.txt

WeeChat Developer's Guide
=========================
Sébastien Helleu <flashcode@flashtux.org>


This manual documents WeeChat chat client, it is part of WeeChat.

Latest version of this document can be found on this page:
http://www.weechat.org/doc


[[introduction]]
Introduction
------------

WeeChat (Wee Enhanced Environment for Chat) is a free chat client, fast and
light, designed for many operating systems.

This manual documents WeeChat internals:

* repository (sources, doc, ...)
* coding rules
* core internals
* plugin internals
* how to contribute to WeeChat

[[repository]]
Repository
----------

WeeChat has two main repositories:

* core repository: it contains source code and documentation,
  URL is: http://git.savannah.gnu.org/gitweb/?p=weechat.git
* scripts: the 'official' scripts submitted on weechat.org,
  URL is: http://git.savannah.gnu.org/gitweb/?p=weechat/scripts.git;a=summary

This manual documents only core repository.

[[overview]]
Overview
~~~~~~~~

The main WeeChat directories are:

[width="100%",cols="1l,5",options="header"]
|========================================
| Directory        | Description
| debian/          | Debian packaging
| src/             | Root of sources
|    core/         | Core functions: entry point, internal structures
|    gui/          | Functions for buffers, windows, ... (used by all interfaces)
|       curses/    | Curses interface
|       gtk/       | Gtk interface (not working)
|    plugins/      | Plugin API
|       alias/     | Alias plugin
|       aspell/    | Aspell plugin
|       charset/   | Charset plugin
|       demo/      | Demo plugin
|       fifo/      | Fifo plugin (FIFO pipe used to remotely send commands to WeeChat)
|       irc/       | IRC plugin
|       logger/    | Logger plugin (write messages displayed to files)
|       relay/     | Relay plugin (irc proxy + relay for remote interfaces)
|       rmodifier/ | Rmodifier plugin (alter modifier strings with regular expressions)
|       scripts/   | Script plugins
|          python/ | Python scripting API
|          perl/   | Perl scripting API
|          ruby/   | Ruby scripting API
|          lua/    | Lua scripting API
|          tcl/    | Tcl scripting API
|          guile/  | Guile (scheme) scripting API
|       xfer/      | Xfer (IRC DCC file/chat)
| doc/             | Documentation
| po/              | Translations files (gettext)
| test/            | Weercd: WeeChat flood irc server, written in Python
|========================================

[[sources]]
Sources
~~~~~~~

[[sources_core]]
Core
^^^^

WeeChat "core" reside in following directories:

* 'src/core': core functions (for data manipulation)
* 'src/gui': functions about interface (buffers, windows, ...)

[width="100%",cols="1l,5",options="header"]
|========================================
| Path/file                     | Description
| core/                         | Core functions: entry point, internal structures
|    weechat.c                  | Entry point, command line options, main functions, startup
|    wee-backtrace.c            | Display backtrace after a segfault
|    wee-command.c              | WeeChat core commands
|    wee-completion.c           | Completion on command line
|    wee-config-file.c          | Configuration file management
|    wee-config.c               | Configuration options for WeeChat core (options weechat.*)
|    wee-debug.c                | Some debug functions
|    wee-hashtable.c            | Hashtables
|    wee-hdata.c                | Hdata (direct access to data using hashtables)
|    wee-hook.c                 | Hooks
|    wee-infolist.c             | Infolists (lists built with data about objects)
|    wee-input.c                | Input of commands/text
|    wee-list.c                 | Sorted lists
|    wee-log.c                  | Write to WeeChat log file (weechat.log)
|    wee-network.c              | Network functions (connection to servers, proxy)
|    wee-proxy.c                | Proxy management
|    wee-string.c               | Functions on strings
|    wee-upgrade-file.c         | Internal upgrade system
|    wee-upgrade.c              | Upgrade for WeeChat core (buffers, lines, history, ...)
|    wee-utf8.c                 | UTF-8 functions
|    wee-util.c                 | Some other functions
| gui/                          | Functions for buffers, windows, ... (used by all interfaces)
|    gui-bar-item.c             | Bar items
|    gui-bar-window.c           | Bar windows
|    gui-bar.c                  | Bars
|    gui-buffer.c               | Buffers
|    gui-chat.c                 | Chat functions (display message, ...)
|    gui-color.c                | Color functions
|    gui-completion.c           | Default completions
|    gui-cursor.c               | Cursor mode (free movement of cursor)
|    gui-filter.c               | Filters
|    gui-focus.c                | Functions about focus (for cursor mode and mouse)
|    gui-history.c              | commands/text saved in buffers
|    gui-hotlist.c              | Hotlist management (list of buffers with activity)
|    gui-input.c                | Input functions (input bar)
|    gui-key.c                  | Keyboard functions
|    gui-layout.c               | Layout
|    gui-line.c                 | Lines in buffers
|    gui-mouse.c                | Mouse
|    gui-nicklist.c             | Nicklist in buffers
|    gui-window.c               | Windows
|    curses/                    | Curses interface
|       gui-curses-bar-window.c | Display in bar windows
|       gui-curses-chat.c       | Display in chat area (messages)
|       gui-curses-color.c      | Color functions
|       gui-curses-key.c        | Keyboard functions (default keys, read of input)
|       gui-curses-main.c       | WeeChat main loop (waiting for keyboard/network events)
|       gui-curses-mouse.c      | Mouse
|       gui-curses-term.c       | Functions about terminal
|       gui-curses-window.c     | Windows
|    gtk/                       | Gtk interface (not working)
|       gui-gtk-bar-window.c    | Display in bar windows
|       gui-gtk-chat.c          | Display in chat area (messages)
|       gui-gtk-color.c         | Color functions
|       gui-gtk-key.c           | Keyboard functions
|       gui-gtk-main.c          | WeeChat main loop (waiting for keyboard/network events)
|       gui-gtk-mouse.c         | Mouse
|       gui-gtk-term.c          | Functions about terminal
|       gui-gtk-window.c        | Windows
|========================================

[[sources_plugins]]
Plugins
^^^^^^^

[width="100%",cols="1l,5",options="header"]
|========================================
| Path/file                         | Description
| plugins/                          | Root of plugins
|    plugin.c                       | Plugins management (load/unload dynamic C libraries)
|    plugin-api.c                   | Extra functions for plugin API (wrapper around WeeChat core functions)
|    plugin-config.c                | Plugin configuration options (file plugins.conf)
|    weechat-plugin.h               | Header designed to be distributed with WeeChat plugins, in order to compile them
|    alias/                         | Alias plugin
|       alias.c                     | Main alias functions
|       alias-config.c              | Alias config options
|       alias-info.c                | Info and infolists from alias plugin
|    aspell/                        | Aspell plugin
|       weechat-aspell.c            | Main aspell functions
|       weechat-aspell-config.c     | Aspell config options
|       weechat-aspell-speller.c    | Spellers management
|    charset/                       | Charset plugin
|       charset.c                   | Charset functions
|    demo/                          | Demo plugin
|       demo.c                      | Demo functions
|    fifo/                          | Fifo plugin
|       fifo.c                      | Main fifo functions
|       fifo-info.c                 | Info and infolists from fifo plugin
|    irc/                           | IRC (Internet Relay Chat) plugin
|       irc.c                       | Main IRC functions
|       irc-bar-item.c              | IRC bar items
|       irc-buffer.c                | IRC buffers
|       irc-channel.c               | IRC channels
|       irc-color.c                 | Color functions
|       irc-command.c               | IRC commands
|       irc-completion.c            | IRC completions
|       irc-config.c                | IRC config options
|       irc-ctcp.c                  | IRC CTCP
|       irc-debug.c                 | IRC debug functions
|       irc-display.c               | IRC display functions
|       irc-ignore.c                | IRC Ignore
|       irc-info.c                  | Info and infolists from IRC plugin
|       irc-input.c                 | Input of commands/text
|       irc-message.c               | Functions to manipulate IRC messages
|       irc-mode.c                  | Functions about channel/nick modes
|       irc-msgbuffer.c             | Target buffer for IRC messages
|       irc-nick.c                  | IRC nicks
|       irc-notify.c                | IRC notify lists
|       irc-protocol.c              | IRC protocol
|       irc-raw.c                   | IRC raw buffer
|       irc-redirect.c              | Redirection of IRC command output
|       irc-sasl.c                  | SASL authentication with IRC server
|       irc-server.c                | I/O communication with IRC servers
|       irc-upgrade.c               | Save/restore IRC data when upgrading WeeChat
|    logger/                        | Logger plugin
|       logger.c                    | Main logger functions
|       logger-buffer.c             | Logger buffer list management
|       logger-config.c             | Logger config options
|       logger-info.c               | Info and infolists from logger plugin
|       logger-tail.c               | Return last lines of a file
|    relay/                         | Relay plugin (IRC proxy and relay for remote interfaces)
|       relay.c                     | Main relay functions
|       relay-buffer.c              | Relay buffer
|       relay-client.c              | Clients of relay
|       relay-command.c             | Relay commands
|       relay-completion.c          | Relay completions
|       relay-config.c              | Relay config options
|       relay-info.c                | Info and infolists from relay plugin
|       relay-raw.c                 | Relay raw buffer
|       relay-server.c              | Relay server
|       relay-upgrade.c             | Save/restore relay data when upgrading WeeChat
|       irc/                        | IRC proxy
|          relay-irc.c              | Main IRC proxy functions
|       weechat/                    | Relay for remote interface
|          relay-weechat.c          | Relay for remote interface (main functions)
|          relay-weechat-msg.c      | Send binary messages to clients
|          relay-weechat-protocol.c | Read commands from clients
|    rmodifier/                     | Rmodifier plugin
|       rmodifier.c                 | Main rmodifier functions
|       rmodifier-command.c         | Rmodifier commands
|       rmodifier-completion.c      | Rmodifier completions
|       rmodifier-config.c          | Rmodifier config options
|       rmodifier-debug.c           | Rmodifier debug functions
|       rmodifier-info.c            | Info and infolists from rmodifier plugin
|    scripts/                       | Scripting API
|       script.c                    | Common functions used by script plugins
|       script-api.c                | Script API functions: wrappers around some plugin API functions
|       script-callback.c           | Callback management for scripts
|       python/                     | Python plugin
|          weechat-python.c         | Main python functions (load/unload scripts, execute python code)
|          weechat-python-api.c     | Python scripting API functions
|       perl/                       | Perl plugin
|          weechat-perl.c           | Main perl functions (load/unload scripts, execute perl code)
|          weechat-perl-api.c       | Perl scripting API functions
|       ruby/                       | Ruby plugin
|          weechat-ruby.c           | Main ruby functions (load/unload scripts, execute ruby code)
|          weechat-ruby-api.c       | Ruby scripting API functions
|       lua/                        | Lua plugin
|          weechat-lua.c            | Main lua functions (load/unload scripts, execute lua code)
|          weechat-lua-api.c        | Lua scripting API functions
|       tcl/                        | Tcl plugin
|          weechat-tcl.c            | Main tcl functions (load/unload scripts, execute tcl code)
|          weechat-tcl-api.c        | Tcl scripting API functions
|       guile/                      | Guile (scheme) plugin
|          weechat-guile.c          | Main guile functions (load/unload scripts, execute guile code)
|          weechat-guile-api.c      | Guile scripting API functions
|    xfer/                          | Xfer plugin (IRC DCC file/chat)
|       xfer.c                      | Main xfer functions
|       xfer-buffer.c               | Xfer buffer
|       xfer-chat.c                 | Xfer DCC chat
|       xfer-command.c              | Xfer commands
|       xfer-completion.c           | Xfer completions
|       xfer-config.c               | Xfer config options
|       xfer-dcc.c                  | Xfer DCC file
|       xfer-file.c                 | File functions for xfer
|       xfer-info.c                 | Info and infolists from xfer plugin
|       xfer-network.c              | Network functions for xfer
|       xfer-upgrade.c              | Save/restore xfer data when upgrading WeeChat
|========================================

[[documentation]]
Documentation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[width="100%",cols="1l,5",options="header"]
|========================================
| Path/file                       | Description
| doc/                            | Documentation
|    asciidoc.conf                | Asciidoc configuration file (some macros)
|    asciidoc.css                 | Asciidoc style
|    docgen.py                    | Python script to build files in "autogen/" directory (see below)
|    weechat-curses.1             | Weechat man page
|    XX/                          | Documentation for language XX (languages: en, fr, de, it, ...)
|       weechat_quickstart.XX.txt | Quickstart guide
|       weechat_user.XX.txt       | User's guide
|       weechat_faq.XX.txt        | FAQ
|       weechat_plugin_api.XX.txt | Plugin API reference
|       weechat_scripting.XX.txt  | Scripting guide
|       weechat_tester.XX.txt     | Tester's guide
|       weechat_dev.XX.txt        | Developer's guide (this document)
|       autogen/                  | Files auto-built with script docgen.py (do *NEVER* update manually!)
|          user/                  | Files auto-built for user's guide
|          plugin_api/            | Files auto-built for plugin API
|========================================

[[translations]]
Translations
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Translations for WeeChat and plugins are done with gettext, files are in 'po/' directory:

[width="100%",cols="1l,5",options="header"]
|========================================
| Path/file      | Description
| po/            | Translation files (gettext)
|    XX.po       | Translations for language XX (fr, de, it, ...), base language is english
|    weechat.pot | Template for translations (auto-built)
|========================================

[[coding_rules]]
Coding rules
------------

[[coding_general_rules]]
General rules
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* In source code, your comments, variable names, .. must be written in English
  *only* (no other language is allowed)
* Use a copyright header in each new source file, with date, name, e-mail,
  license and below that a short description of file. Example in C:

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
/*
 * Copyright (C) 2012 Your Name <your@email.com>
 *
 * This file is part of WeeChat, the extensible chat client.
 *
 * WeeChat is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
 * the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
 * (at your option) any later version.
 *
 * WeeChat is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
 * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
 * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
 * GNU General Public License for more details.
 *
 * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 * along with WeeChat.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 */

/*
 * weechat.c: core functions for WeeChat
 */
----------------------------------------

[[coding_c_style]]
C style
~~~~~~~

Some basic rules you *must* follow when you write C code:

* Use 4 spaces for indentation. Don't use tabs, they are evil.
* Try to not exceed 80 chars by line, except if this is needed to increase
  readability.
* Use comments `/* comment */` (not C99-style comments like `// comment`), and
  format them like this:

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
/*
 * foo: this is the description of the function
 */

void
foo ()
{
    int i;

    /* one line comment */
    i = 1;

    /*
     * multi-line comment: this is a very long
     * description about next block of code
     */
    i = 2;
    printf ("%d\n", i);
}
----------------------------------------

* Use explicit variable names, for example "nicks_count" instead of "n" or "nc".
  Exception: in `for` loops, where variables like "i" or "n" are ok.
* Initialize local variables after declaration, in body of function, example:

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
void
foo ()
{
    int nick_count, buffer_count;

    nick_count = 0;
    buffer_count = 1;
    /* ... */
}
----------------------------------------

* Use parentheses to explicitely show how expression is evaluated, even if
  they are not required, for example: write `x + (y * z)` instead of `x + y * z`
* Place curly brackets `{ }` alone on lines, and indent them with number of
  spaces used for line above opening curly bracket (the `if` in example):

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
if (nicks_count == 1)
{
    /* something */
}
----------------------------------------

* Add a comment before any function, to explain what does the function, and
  indent it like this (note that return type of function is on a line alone):

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
/*
 * foo: this is the description of the function
 */

void
foo ()
{
    int i;

    for (i = 0; i < 10; i++)
    {
        bar (i);
    }
}
----------------------------------------

* Use empty lines to separate many different blocks inside functions, and if
  possible add a comment for each one, like this:

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
/*
 * irc_server_outqueue_send: send a message from outqueue
 */

void
irc_server_outqueue_send (struct t_irc_server *server)
{
    /* ... */

    /* send signal with command that will be sent to server */
    irc_server_send_signal (server, "irc_out",
                            server->outqueue[priority]->command,
                            server->outqueue[priority]->message_after_mod,
                            NULL);
    tags_to_send = irc_server_get_tags_to_send (server->outqueue[priority]->tags);
    irc_server_send_signal (server, "irc_outtags",
                            server->outqueue[priority]->command,
                            server->outqueue[priority]->message_after_mod,
                            (tags_to_send) ? tags_to_send : "");
    if (tags_to_send)
        free (tags_to_send);

    /* send command */
    irc_server_send (server, server->outqueue[priority]->message_after_mod,
                     strlen (server->outqueue[priority]->message_after_mod));
    server->last_user_message = time_now;

    /* start redirection if redirect is set */
    if (server->outqueue[priority]->redirect)
    {
        irc_redirect_init_command (server->outqueue[priority]->redirect,
                                   server->outqueue[priority]->message_after_mod);
    }

    /* ... */
}
----------------------------------------

* Indent the `if` conditions, and use parentheses around conditions with an
  operator (not needed for single booleans), like this:

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
if (something)
{
    /* something */
}
else
{
    /* something else */
}

if (my_boolean1 && my_boolean2 && (i == 10)
    && ((buffer1 != buffer2) || (window1 != window2)))
{
    /* something */
}
else
{
    /* something else */
}
----------------------------------------

* Indent the `switch` statements like this:

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
switch (string[0])
{
    case 'A': /* first case */
        foo ("abc", "def");
        break;
    case 'B': /* second case */
        bar (1, 2, 3);
        break;
    default: /* other cases */
        baz ();
        break;
}
----------------------------------------

* Use `typedef` for function prototypes, not structures:

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
typedef int (t_hook_callback_fd)(void *data, int fd);

struct t_hook_fd
{
    t_hook_callback_fd *callback;      /* fd callback                       */
    int fd;                            /* socket or file descriptor         */
    int flags;                         /* fd flags (read,write,..)          */
    int error;                         /* contains errno if error occurred  */
                                       /* with fd                           */
};

/* ... */

struct t_hook_fd *new_hook_fd;

new_hook_fd = malloc (sizeof (*new_hook_fd));
----------------------------------------

* This lisp code can be used in your '~/.emacs.el' to indent properly if you are
  using Emacs as text editor:

[source,lisp]
----------------------------------------
(add-hook 'c-mode-common-hook '(lambda ()
                                 (c-toggle-hungry-state t)
                                 (c-set-style "k&r")
                                 (setq c-basic-offset 4
                                       c-tab-always-indent t)
                                 (c-set-offset 'case-label '+)))
----------------------------------------

[[coding_python_style]]
Python style
~~~~~~~~~~~~

See http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008/

[[core_internals]]
Core internals
--------------

[[naming_convention]]
Naming convention
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[[naming_convention_files]]
Files
^^^^^

File names are composed by letters and hyphens, with format: 'xxx-yyyyy.[ch]',
where 'xxx' is directory/component (can be abbreviation) where the file is, and
'yyyyy' a name for the file, which shows the purpose of file.

The main file of a directory may have same name as directory, for example
'irc.c' in irc plugin.

Examples:

[width="100%",cols="1l,5",options="header"]
|========================================
| Directory                   | Files
| src/core/                   | weechat.c, wee-backtrace.c, wee-command.c, ...
| src/gui/                    | gui-bar.c, gui-bar-item.c, gui-bar-window.c, ...
| src/gui/curses/             | gui-curses-bar.c, gui-curses-bar-window.c, gui-curses-chat.c, ...
| src/plugins/                | plugin.c, plugin-api.c, plugin-config.c, ...
| src/plugins/irc/            | irc.c, irc-bar-item.c, irc-buffer.c, ...
| src/plugins/scripts/        | script.c, script-api.c, script-callback.c, ...
| src/plugins/scripts/python/ | weechat-python.c, weechat-python-api.c, ...
|========================================

The headers of C files have same name as file, for example 'wee-command.h' for
file 'wee-command.c'.

[[naming_convention_structures]]
Structures
^^^^^^^^^^

Structures have name 't_X_Y' or 't_X_Y_Z':

* 'X': directory/component (can be abbreviation)
* 'Y': end of file name
* 'Z': name for structure (optional)

Example: an IRC nick (from 'src/plugins/irc/irc-nick.h'):

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
struct t_irc_nick
{
    char *name;                     /* nickname                              */
    char *host;                     /* full hostname                         */
    char *prefixes;                 /* string with prefixes enabled for nick */
    char prefix[2];                 /* current prefix (higher prefix set in  */
                                    /* prefixes)                             */
    int away;                       /* 1 if nick is away                     */
    char *color;                    /* color for nickname in chat window     */
    struct t_irc_nick *prev_nick;   /* link to previous nick on channel      */
    struct t_irc_nick *next_nick;   /* link to next nick on channel          */
};
----------------------------------------

[[naming_convention_variables]]
Variables
^^^^^^^^^

Global variables (outside functions) have name 'X_Y_Z':

* 'X': directory/component (can be abbreviation)
* 'Y': end of file name
* 'Z': name for variable

Exception are variables for "last" node of a list, name is 'last_X' (where
'X' is name of variable, using singular form).

Example: windows (from 'src/gui/gui-window.c'):

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
struct t_gui_window *gui_windows = NULL;        /* first window             */
struct t_gui_window *last_gui_window = NULL;    /* last window              */
struct t_gui_window *gui_current_window = NULL; /* current window           */
----------------------------------------

There is no naming convention for local variables (in functions). The only
recommendation is that name is explicit (not too short).
Nevertheless, pointers to structures are often named 'ptr_xxxx', for example a
pointer on a 'struct t_gui_buffer *' will be: '*ptr_buffer'.

[[naming_convention_functions]]
Functions
^^^^^^^^^

Naming convention for functions is the same as
<<naming_convention_variables,variables,>>.

Example: creation of a new window (from 'src/gui/gui-window.c'):

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
/*
 * gui_window_new: create a new window
 */

struct t_gui_window *
gui_window_new (struct t_gui_window *parent_window, struct t_gui_buffer *buffer,
                int x, int y, int width, int height,
                int width_pct, int height_pct)
{
    /* ... */

    return new_window;
}
----------------------------------------

[[single_thread]]
Single thread
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WeeChat is single threaded. That means every part of code should execute very
fast, and that calls to functions like `sleep` are *strictly forbidden* (it is
true for WeeChat core, but also C plugins and scripts).

If for some reasons you have to sleep a while, use `hook_timer` with a callback.

[[doubly_linked_lists]]
Doubly linked lists
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Most of WeeChat linked lists are doubly linked lists: each node has pointer to
previous and next node.

Example: list of buffers (from 'src/gui/gui-buffer.h'):

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
struct t_gui_buffer
{
    /* data */

    /* ... */

    struct t_gui_buffer *prev_buffer;  /* link to previous buffer           */
    struct t_gui_buffer *next_buffer;  /* link to next buffer               */
};
----------------------------------------

Then the two list pointers, to the head and tail of list:


[source,C]
----------------------------------------
struct t_gui_buffer *gui_buffers = NULL;           /* first buffer          */
struct t_gui_buffer *last_gui_buffer = NULL;       /* last buffer           */
----------------------------------------

[[plugin_internals]]
Plugin internals
----------------

The file 'src/plugins/weechat-plugin.h' defines and exports all functions
available for API.

A structure called 't_weechat_plugin' is used to store info about plugin
(filename, name, author, description, ...) and all API functions, as pointers
to WeeChat functions.

Then some macros are defined to call these functions in an easier way.

For example, function 'hook_timer' is defined in structure 't_weechat_plugin'
like this:

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
struct t_hook *(*hook_timer) (struct t_weechat_plugin *plugin,
                              long interval,
                              int align_second,
                              int max_calls,
                              int (*callback)(void *data,
                                              int remaining_calls),
                              void *callback_data);
----------------------------------------

And the macro used to call this function is:

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
#define weechat_hook_timer(__interval, __align_second, __max_calls,     \
                           __callback, __data)                          \
    weechat_plugin->hook_timer(weechat_plugin, __interval,              \
                               __align_second, __max_calls,             \
                               __callback, __data)
----------------------------------------

So in a plugin, the call to function will be for example:

[source,C]
----------------------------------------
server->hook_timer_sasl = weechat_hook_timer (timeout * 1000,
                                              0, 1,
                                              &irc_server_timer_sasl_cb,
                                              server);
----------------------------------------

[[contribute]]
Contribute to WeeChat
---------------------

[[git_repository]]
Git repository
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Git repository is at this URL: http://git.savannah.gnu.org/gitweb/?p=weechat.git

Any patch for bug or new feature must be done on master branch, preferred format
is a patch made with `git diff` or `git-format-patch`, sent by e-mail.

[[translations]]
Translations
~~~~~~~~~~~~

[[gettext]]
Gettext
^^^^^^^

Gettext files are in directory 'po/'.
If you want to initialize a new language, use command `msginit`. For example to
create a dutch empty file:

----------------------------------------
$ cd po
$ msginit -i weechat.pot -l nl_NL -o nl.po
----------------------------------------

Base language for WeeChat is english, so you must of course understand english
in order to translate to your language.

When done, you *have* to check your file with two commands:

----------------------------------------
$ msgfmt -o /dev/null -c xx.po
$ msg_check_lines.py xx.po
----------------------------------------

The `msgfmt` will perform checks on message catalog and display errors, like bad
use of format specifiers in strings.

The scripts msg_check_lines.py (http://www.weechat.org/files/temp/po/msg_check_lines.py)
will check number of lines in translated strings (which must be the same as
string in english).

[[build_autogen_files]]
Build auto-generated files
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Files in directory 'doc/XX/autogen/' are auto-generated by script 'doc/docgen.py'.

Copy this python script to your python directory (for example '~/.weechat/python').
Then you can load this script in your WeeChat, and setup path to your '/doc' directory:

----------------------------------------
/python load docgen.py
/set plugins.var.python.docgen.path "~/src/weechat/doc"
----------------------------------------

Then create this alias to build files:

----------------------------------------
/alias doc /perl unload; /python unload; /ruby unload; /lua unload; /tcl unload; /guile unload; /python load docgen.py; /wait 1ms /docgen
----------------------------------------

And use command `/doc` to build all auto-generated files (for all languages).

[IMPORTANT]
When using command `/doc`, be sure all C plugins (irc, charset, ...) are loaded,
because files are built using options currently in memory.

[[asciidoc]]
Asciidoc
^^^^^^^^

Asciidoc files are in directory 'doc/XX/' where 'XX' is language (en, fr, de, it, ...)

First make a copy of an english asciidoc file (in directory 'doc/en/'), then work on it.

The translations missing in files are indicated by this string:

----------------------------------------
// TRANSLATION MISSING
----------------------------------------

You must translate whole file except links and special keywords for notes,
warnings, ... These words must be kept unchanged:

----------------------------------------
[[link_name]]
<<link_name>>

[NOTE]
[TIP]
[IMPORTANT]
[WARNING]
[CAUTION]
----------------------------------------

When there is a name after `<<link_name>>`, then you must translate it:

----------------------------------------
<<link_name,this text must be translated>>
----------------------------------------

Please make sure special chars below titles are exactly same length as title
(not too short or too long):

----------------------------------------
This is a correct title
=======================

This is a wrong title
============

This is a wrong title
=============================
----------------------------------------