Context Attributes

ToolTalk contexts are sets of <name, value> pairs explicitly included in both messages and patterns. ToolTalk contexts allow fine-grain matching.

You can use contexts to associate arbitrary pairs with ToolTalk messages and patterns, and to restrict the set of possible recipients of a message. One common use of the restricted pattern matching provided by ToolTalk context attributes is to create sub-sessions. For example, two different programs could be debugged simultaneously with tools such as a browser, an editor, a debugger, and a configuration manager active for each program. The message and pattern context slots for each set of tools contain different values; the normal ToolTalk pattern matching of these values keep the two sub-sessions separate.

Another use for the restricted pattern matching provided by ToolTalk context attributes is to provide information in environment variables and command line arguments to tools started by the ToolTalk service.