Re: [Orgmode] Re: [PROPOSAL] Quick and easy installation instructions

[Giovanni Ridolfi]

Carsten Dominik <address@hidden> writes:

> On Sep 27, 2010, at 11:00 AM, Dan Davison wrote:
>
>> Carsten Dominik <address@hidden> writes:
>>
>>> On Sep 26, 2010, at 3:33 PM, Dan Davison wrote:
>>>
>>>> I think that the documentation concerning installation should be
>>>> made
>>>> more user-friendly. 
>>>> [...]
>>>> I suggest we provide a "quick and easy installation" section to the
>>>> manual, that shows people how to start using the latest version of
>>>> Org-mode without messing about with compilation and installation 
>>>
>>> If you have a recent release of Emacs, a version of Org-mode
>>> sufficient for all basic use is already included and you may
>>> skip the installation instructions and continue with section xxx,
>>> activation.
>>>
>>> However, Org-mode evolves fast.  Therefore, we do recommend to
>>> install
>>> the
>>> most recent release.
>>>
>>> Maybe we could actually have an Emacs command that will insert the
>>> basic stuff into .emacs 
>>> and optionally compile the Lisp files.

I disagree: the juice of speed (is Org-mode slow??) does not worth 
the squeeze of the problems arising from compilation:
+ different versions of Emacs that compile the files (!)
+ old .elc files left somewhere
+ the order of compilation (org.el is the *latest* file to be compiled
  [in my experience] so I had to compile twice)
+ the idle time & the disk usage during compilation

>>>
>>> The installation would be:
>>>
>>> - download and unpack tar file
>>> - emacs -l path-to-org.el
>>> - M-x org-install
>>>
>>> org-install would figure out where org.el is, add to .emacs 
>>> and query for compilation.  

I disagree. Better a variable that can be customized (and default
compile:nil). 
If newbie want speed they shall read the Emacs manual and be able to
customize a variable. 

>> Yes I wondered about making something like that yesterday (would it
>> make
>> sense to have emacs do everything, including the download?
>
> This rings a bell - I think Sebastian Rose implemented that already.
> Let search!
>
for the download part yes: contrib/org-track.el
not for editing .emacs.

Giovanni