autoload -- arrange for a function to be loaded automatically

Synopsis

Usage:

autoload(f,x)
Inputs:
- f
- x
Consequences:
- arranges for a function named f to be automatically loaded from the file x the first time it is used. This is accomplished by creating a suitable function that will load the file and assigning the function to f.

Description

i1 : fn = temporaryFileName()

o1 = /tmp/M2-771896-0/0

i2 : fn << "f = x -> x+1\n" << close

o2 = /tmp/M2-771896-0/0

o2 : File

i3 : autoload(f,fn)

i4 : code f

o4 = /usr/local/share/Macaulay2/Core/autoload.m2:8:19-12:22:
     --source code:
          sym <- f := x -> (
               load filename;
               if f === value sym 
               then error("symbol '", toString sym, "' didn't acquire a new value in file '", filename, "'");
               (value sym) x
               );
          )
     | symbol    class            value                                                    location of symbol
     | ------    -----            -----                                                    ------------------                                                    
     | f         FunctionClosure  FunctionClosure[/home/m2user/src/macaulay2/M2/M2/Ma.  /usr/local/share/Macaulay2/Core/autoload.m2:8:12-8:13
     | sym       Symbol           f                                                        /usr/local/share/Macaulay2/Core/autoload.m2:6:28-6:31
     | filename  String           "/tmp/M2-771896-0/0"                                     /usr/local/share/Macaulay2/Core/autoload.m2:6:32-6:40

i5 : f 4

o5 = 5

i6 : removeFile fn

Ways to use autoload :

autoload(Symbol,String)

For the programmer

The object autoload is a method function.