Utility Browser

The Utility Browser lets you explore the built-in Scheme utility stdlib that ships with Lumi, without having to leave the app or dig through source files.

Opening the Utility Browser

Go to Help → Programming → Utility Browser.

The window opens immediately; no plug-in needs to be loaded in advance.

What It Shows

The browser lists every procedure, variable, and syntax form exported by the seven utility libraries that Lumi loads automatically at startup:

LibraryWhat it covers
common.scmGeneral-purpose helpers (string, number, list utilities)
files.scmFile and path helpers
gegl.scmGEGL buffer and colour helpers
images.scmImage-level helpers (image-get-open-list, etc.)
layers.scmLayer and drawable helpers
parasites.scmParasite read/write helpers
paths.scmPath and vector helpers

All of these are available in any Scheme plug-in or in the Scheme Console.

Searching and Filtering

  • Search box: filters by name as you type (case-insensitive substring match).
  • Kind filter: narrow results to procedure, variable, or syntax.

Clicking an entry shows its full docstring and the library it comes from.

The Stdlib as Wrappers

The utility libraries are a practical application of the wrapping pattern: each helper gives a clear name to a low-level operation, hides boilerplate, and provides a single place to update if the underlying command changes. If you want to understand the design approach behind them, see the Wrapping tutorial.

Relationship to the Procedure Browser

The Utility Browser is separate from Filters → Script-Fu → Console → Browse (the Procedure Browser). The Procedure Browser lists PDB-registered procedures. The Utility Browser lists helper definitions that intentionally live outside the PDB: they are Scheme-only and have no C binding.