Very Computer

by **pmom..** » Fri, 10 Sep 1999 04:00:00

I recently purchased Caldera's OpenLinux 2.2 (32 days before the
release of 2.3...arg!), and after installation, I discovered about 500
*.elc files -- some in the xemacs/lisp directory, but there were
others scattered throughout the hard drive.

If I type xemacs filename.elc, emacs opens up, but on the
bottom line is says "Encryption key? (or press RET to ignore)".

Obviously, I don't have an encryption key, and pressing RET does
nothing. I have viewed some of the *.elc files, which appear to be
source code which needs to be compiled....True? If so, how? If not,
what are the files for?

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide.

Paul M...

by **Paul Kimo** » Fri, 10 Sep 1999 04:00:00

> I recently purchased Caldera's OpenLinux 2.2 (32 days before the
> release of 2.3...arg!), and after installation, I discovered about 500
> *.elc files -- some in the xemacs/lisp directory, but there were
> others scattered throughout the hard drive.
> what are the files for?

One way of thinking of (X)Emacs is as a lisp interpreter. All of those
extensions (and much of the core functionality) is written in (emacs-)lisp.
Usually these files are given names *.el, and can be compiled into *.elc
files.

--

by **Allin Cottrel** » Fri, 10 Sep 1999 04:00:00

> I recently purchased Caldera's OpenLinux 2.2 (32 days before the
> release of 2.3...arg!), and after installation, I discovered about 500
> *.elc files -- some in the xemacs/lisp directory,

That's certainly where one would expect to find them.

Quote:> but there were
> others scattered throughout the hard drive.

That's odd.

elc files are byte-compiled versions of regular emacs-lisp (.el)
files. The compiled versions load faster. If you don't plan
to do any lisp hacking you can save a bit of space by deleting
the .el files for which there are corresponding .elc ones.

--
Allin Cottrell
Department of Economics
Wake Forest University, NC

Very Computer

What's an *.elc file

What's an *.elc file

What's an *.elc file

What's an *.elc file