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--- ch2_3_manage [2023/02/19 03:11] – admin
+++ ch2_3_manage [2024/05/04 11:15] (current) – admin
@@ Line 114: / Line 114: @@
 </code>
-See also the section about macros in chapter 1.
+See also [[ch1_6_macros|Macros]].
 ''SET''
-Primitive SET as function, evals both arguments, but first must be symbol. Only accepts 2 arguments. Normally use SETQ, but SET might be used in the rare case where we need variability in the symbol argument.
+Primitive ''SET'' as function, expects exactly two arguments, first must be symbol. Normally use ''SETQ'', but ''SET'' might be helpful in the rare case where we need variability in the symbol argument.
+<code lisp>
+>(set 'a 12)                  ; is same as (SETQ a 12)
+
+>(set (cadr '(a b)) 45)       ; first argument evals to symbol B
+
+>b                            ; so B was set to 45
+
+</code>
 ''VALUES''
-Function that produces multiple values.
+Some functions return multiple values, e.g. ''ROUND'', or ''MACROEXPAND'' above. Function ''VALUES'' allows us to return multiple values, constructed from the arguments supplied. Accepts any number of arguments, even no arguments.
+<code lisp>
+>(values 1 2)
+                 ; returned as separate values
+
+>(values)
+                  ; no return value
+>(values 3)
+                 ; trivial single value
+</code>
+''NAME-PROCESS''
+Cosmetic function for labeling processes as shown on the LabLISP window, accepts one or two arguments. First must be string - the desired name. Second argument is optional integer specifying the process number, if not supplied, the active process is renamed. This function can be only meaningfully used on the active running process, to give information about reason for waiting. Returns the string name.
+<code lisp>
+..
+(move-motor 100)                ; non-blocking call to start moving
+(name-process "motor moving")   ; text will appear next to the active process
+(wait (motor-moves?))           ; waiting loop for end of physical operation
+..
+</code>
+''KILL''
+Function kills given process, needs one argument, the process number. Cannot be used on the active running process. Meaningful use is killing process stuck in an infinite loop. Returns ''NIL'' always.
+<code lisp>
+>(wait t)              ; infinite loop in process #0
+>(kill 0)              ; user entry, process #1
+p#01>NIL               ; return of the KILL function in process #1
+</code>
+''SELF-KILL''
-''NAME-PROCESS'' ''KILL''
+This function kills the active running process, no arguments, returns ''NIL''. Although this might seem meaningless, this function is useful in mechanics for aborting script.
-these are unique LabLISP multi-process functions
+The last three functions are unique for LabLISP multi-process mechanics.
 See also the section 1.2 about multi-process behavior in LabLISP.