Re: user-init-file source vs. compiled

[Chong Yidong]

Stefan Monnier <address@hidden> writes:

>>  File name, including directory, of user's initialization file.
>>  If the file loaded had extension `.elc', and the corresponding source file
>>  exists, this variable contains the name of source file, suitable for use
>>  by functions like `custom-save-all' which edit the init file.
>
> I think we should *strongly* recommend not to compile the .emacs file.
> It's a dumb thing to do, unless you're a masochist anyway.

Currently, the Emacs manual says

     If you have a large amount of code in your `.emacs' file, you
  should rename it to `~/.emacs.el', and byte-compile it.  *Note Byte
  Compilation: (elisp)Byte Compilation, for more information about
  compiling Emacs Lisp programs.