patch 9.1.0548: it's not possible to get a unique id for some vars
Problem: it's not possible to get a unique id for some vars
Solution: Add the id() Vim script function, which returns a unique
identifier for object, dict, list, job, blob or channel
variables (Ernie Rael)
fixes: #14374
closes: #15145
Signed-off-by: Ernie Rael <errael@raelity.com>
Signed-off-by: Christian Brabandt <cb@256bit.org>
diff --git a/runtime/doc/builtin.txt b/runtime/doc/builtin.txt
index 635b7b2..9c3d7a9 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/builtin.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/builtin.txt
@@ -309,6 +309,7 @@
hlset({list}) Number set highlight group attributes
hostname() String name of the machine Vim is running on
iconv({expr}, {from}, {to}) String convert encoding of {expr}
+id({item}) String get address of item as a string
indent({lnum}) Number indent of line {lnum}
index({object}, {expr} [, {start} [, {ic}]])
Number index in {object} where {expr} appears
@@ -5618,6 +5619,34 @@
Return type: |String|
+id({item}) *id()*
+ The result is a unique String associated with the {item} and
+ not with the {item}'s contents. It is only valid while the
+ {item} exists and is referenced. It is valid only in the
+ instance of vim that produces the result. The whole idea is
+ that `id({item})` does not change if the contents of {item}
+ changes. This is useful as a `key` for creating an identity
+ dictionary, rather than one based on equals.
+
+ This operation does not reference {item} and there is no
+ function to convert the `id` to the {item}. It may be useful to
+ have a map of `id` to {item}. The following >
+ var referenceMap: dict<any>
+ var id = item->id()
+ referenceMap[id] = item
+< prevents {item} from being garbage collected and provides a
+ way to get the {item} from the `id`.
+
+ {item} may be a List, Dictionary, Object, Job, Channel or
+ Blob. If the item is not a permitted type, or it is a null
+ value, then an empty String is returned.
+
+ Can also be used as a |method|: >
+ GetItem()->id()
+<
+ Return type: |String|
+
+
indent({lnum}) *indent()*
The result is a Number, which is indent of line {lnum} in the
current buffer. The indent is counted in spaces, the value