ELPA FAQ
Emacs Lisp Package Archive
- Why write
package.el?
- I use a fair number of add-on packages for Emacs, and I was
tired of hacking my
.emacs to set up each one. Also,
I wanted to be able to upgrade my Emacs and have out-of-date private
packages automatically be disabled in favor of newer versions
built in to the new Emacs. package.el solves both
these problems.
- Why not use the XEmacs package system?
- I'm told that it would be simpler to write a new package
system than to port the XEmacs one to Emacs. Also from what I can
tell (I'm not an XEmacs user) the XEmacs system doesn't provide
the same set of features as ELPA.
- How do I know what packages can be downloaded from ELPA?
- Type
M-x package-list-packages in Emacs. Then
in the *Packages* buffer, type r. This
will download the latest list of available packages.
- How can I search for a package in ELPA?
- As above, go into the package menu. Then you can isearch (or
whatever) through package names and descriptions. (If you don't
see descriptions, make sure you are using the latest version of
package.el.)
- How can I get more information about a package before
downloading it?
- If the description in the package menu isn't enough, for now
you will have to search the web or look at the Emacs Wiki.
- Where is
package.el installed? Where are other
packages installed?
-
package.el is installed
in $HOME/.emacs.d/elpa/. Other packages are
installed in subdirectories of that directory.
- Where can I get the latest version
of
package.el?
- With
package.el version 0.3 and earlier, you
must manually download an updated version
(direct link to the
file); starting in version 0.4 you will be able to
upgrade package.el from the package menu, just as you
would any other package.
- Why aren't there more questions in the FAQ?
- You haven't asked any. Help improve this FAQ by sending your
questions to us.