Re: exec-path and PATH

[Christoph Scholtes <cschol2112@googlemail.com>]

Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> writes:

> Maybe we should consider the possibility to automatically set PATH
> from exec-path each time Emacs invokes a subprocess, because this
> issue comes up time and again in gnu.emacs.help.

This would be helpful, I think.

Can we set PATH to exec-path for the duration of the shell
execution? IIRC, if you change the PATH in a cmd session it only applies to
that session. Is it possible to something similar here?

>> Maybe this is a silly question, but why are some of the programs invoked
>> different than others? 
>
> Because the shell has features ready for our use that would be a
> wasted effort to re-implement in Lisp or C.  E.g., complex
> redirection, pipes, etc.

That makes sense. Thanks.

>> PS: Here is a small docfix patch for process.c for review:
>
> This is obviously correct, so please commit it on the emacs-23
> branch.

OK.

> "PATH" is a literal name of an environment variable, that's why it is
> in caps.  But `exec-path' is spelled in lower case, so please don't
> up-case it here.  Also, please enclose in quotes, so it produces a
> link in Emacs.  I would even say
>
>
>   It is searched for in `exec-path' (which see).
>
> Thanks.

OK, I will change it.

Thanks,
Christoph