Re: "Emacs Lisp Packages" chapter in the Emacs manual

[Jean-Christophe Helary]

> On May 13, 2020, at 11:05, Drew Adams <address@hidden> wrote:
> 
>>> I don't quite understand this part of your diff:
>>> 
>>> +The traditional way to install Emacs Lisp code is to either install it
>>> +in the Emacs Lisp @dfn{load path} or to add the path to the code to
>>> +the load path list.
>>> 
>>> What does it mean to "install" code in `load-path'?
>>> And how does that differ from adding the directory or
>>> file of the code to `load-path' (IOW, why the "or")?
>> 
>> I'm just using the wording that's found in other parts of the manual.
>> Not trying to be fancy here :)
>> 
>> Emacs manual:
>> "If an Emacs Lisp file is installed in the Emacs Lisp load path
>> (defined below), you can load it by typing M-x load-library, instead of
>> using M-x load-file."
> 
> OK, so my question is for whomever wrote that, I guess.

:)

>> My understanding is that "install in the load path" means put the file
>> in a path that Emacs already knows vs "add the path to load path" means
>> make Emacs know about that new path.
> 
> Maybe.  Not for me to say.  But if that's it then I
> think your text doesn't really say that, I think.
> I don't see anything in your text that suggests a
> path that Emacs already knows.

+The traditional way to install Emacs Lisp code is to either install it
+in the Emacs Lisp @dfn{load path}

*** or to add the path to the code to
+the load path list.***

 @xref{Lisp Libraries}. Then, the user should
+follow the instructions given by the code author.

Isn't the *** part *** covering that ?

>>> [BTW, for GNU Emacs, "path" means something different.
>>> What you mean here is presumably the absolute file
>>> name (of the directory or the file itself).]
>> 
>> I'm pretty sure I don't know the difference.
> 
> For Emacs (and GNU, I think), a "path" is the kind of
> thing you have as the value of your environment
> variable PATH: a list of directories.

Ok, so that was close enough to my understanding. Thank you.


Jean-Christophe Helary
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http://mac4translators.blogspot.com @brandelune