Re: How does Emacs load a non-existent .el file?

[Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>]

> From: Konstantin Kharlamov <Hi-Angel@yandex.ru>
> Cc: emacs-devel@gnu.org
> Date: Fri, 01 Mar 2024 16:30:07 +0300
> 
> > Yes: startup.el is preloaded, see lisp/loadup.el.  So if you change
> > it, you need to rebuild Emacs to let the changes have their effect at
> > startup.  You can also load startup.el manually into a running
> > session, and then invoke functions you've changed, but that will only
> > be useful if what you are changing is not some special behavior that
> > happens only at startup.
> 
> Okay, I see, so the `startup.el` is a dummy file that's not being read.

It isn't a "dummy file".  It is not being read in your scenario, but
that's not all there is to it.

> I wonder if it's too hard to add to `*Help*` buffer mention that
> certain functions are not being read from the file where the buffer
> claims that they reside.

That claim is correct, so why change it?

> > There are a few answers there that solve the problem, so I'm not sure
> > what else are you trying to do, and why.
> 
> I see only one answer that is more or less convenient, which is `emacs
> --insert <(echo 123)`.

No, there's also an answer using --script, for example.

> I agree with the opinion of one of the commenters here: this is
> absolutely basic feature that most editors have. Not having it in Emacs
> is very strange.

I actually find it strange that someone wants it.  The need was never
explained.  The fact that we don't have it speaks volumes about the
need (or lack thereof).

Of course, if this is your itch, feel free to scratch it, regardless.
Don't mind me.