Should -Q / --no-site-file eval `subdirs.el'?

Should -Q / --no-site-file eval `subdirs.el'?

[Reiner Steib]

Hi,

when running `emacs -Q', I was surprised to see site-lisp/*/ in my
`load-path'.  Although the manual (cmdargs.texi [1]) doesn't say
anything about `subdirs.el' (it's not mentioned in the manual at all),
I'd expect "minimum customizations"[1] *not* to modify `load-path'.
E.g. I have some other Gnus version installed in site-lisp.  I'd
expect Gnus 5.11 from Emacs 22 after `M-x gnus RET', but I get the
version from site-lisp.

(Tested with emacs from EMACS_22_BASE, cvs-updated, bootstrapped and
compiled yesterday.  But I'd guess it's the same on the trunk.)

Bye, Reiner.

[1]
--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
@item --no-site-file
@opindex --no-site-file
@cindex @file{site-start.el} file, not loading
Do not load @file{site-start.el}.  The options @samp{-q}, @samp{-u}
and @samp{--batch} have no effect on the loading of this file---this
option and @samp{-Q} are the only options that block it.

@item -Q
@opindex -Q
@itemx --quick
@opindex --quick
Start emacs with minimum customizations.  This is like using @samp{-q}
and @samp{--no-site-file}, but also disables the startup screen.
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---
-- 
       ,,,
      (o o)
---ooO-(_)-Ooo---  |  PGP key available  |  http://rsteib.home.pages.de/

Re: Should -Q / --no-site-file eval `subdirs.el'?

[Richard Stallman]

I think it should load subdirs.el.  Hiding the packages
available on your site is not the purpose.