init loading phenomena

init loading phenomena

[Harry Putnam]

I've noticed something that seems strange or even incorrect in emacs
init process on my setup:

I have a site-start.el file in /usr/local/share/emacs/site-lisp, its
actually a symlink to a file by that name in a local cvs repository.

I have a line in site-start.el that is supposed to inhibit the splash
screen. 

  (setq inhibit-splash-screen t)

However, when I start emacs, I still get a splash screen.  

Looking at C-h v <load-path> <RET> I see that path is there in this
postion:

   /usr/local/src/emacs-w3m
   /usr/local/tramp/lisp
   /usr/local/url/lisp
   /usr/local/w3/lisp
   /usr/local/gnus/lisp
   /usr/local/bbdb/lisp
   /usr/local/share/emacs/21.3.50/site-lisp
   /usr/local/share/emacs/site-lisp
   [...]

Oddly some of the earlier paths are set in site-start.el, but maybe
these aren't displayed in the order they are set.

Anyway getting to the punch line:

As mentioned, the setup still displays the splash screen, however if
I put this in .emacs:

   (load-file "~/.site-start.el")

Where ~/.site-start.el is also a symlink to that same file in cvs,
then the splash screen disappears.

The load-path appears to remain unchanged.  So what is going on in
the init process that allows the splash screen to still be displayed
in the first scenario?

Re: init loading phenomena

[John Paul Wallington]

Harry Putnam <reader@newsguy.com> wrote:

> I've noticed something that seems strange or even incorrect in emacs
> init process on my setup:

It is deliberate.  IMHO it isn't a bug.
 
> I have a site-start.el file in /usr/local/share/emacs/site-lisp, its
> actually a symlink to a file by that name in a local cvs repository.
> 
> I have a line in site-start.el that is supposed to inhibit the splash
> screen. 
> 
>   (setq inhibit-splash-screen t)
> 
> However, when I start emacs, I still get a splash screen.  

This is because `inhibit-splash-screen' is a variable alias for
`inhibit-startup-message' and startup.el does the following:

~line 872 of startup.el: 

    ;; Run the site-start library if it exists.  The point of this file is
    ;; that it is run before .emacs.  There is no point in doing this after
    ;; .emacs; that is useless.
    (if site-run-file 
	(load site-run-file t t))

    ;; Sites should not disable this.  Only individuals should disable
    ;; the startup message.
    (setq inhibit-startup-message nil)

    ;; Load that user's init file, or the default one, or none.

First, it loads your site-start.el file which frobs
`inhibit-splash-screen' (which is the same thing as
`inhibit-startup-message'),

then it disregards that frob, resetting the value of
`inhibit-startup-message' (which is the same thing as
`inhibit-splash-screen'),

then it loads your init file, e.g.: ~/.emacs.  If you frob
`inhibit-startup-message' or `inhibit-splash-screen' (which are
different names for the same thing) in your .emacs or in your
`custom-file' or by loading another library from your init file the
value will not be reset, hence:

[...]
> As mentioned, the setup still displays the splash screen, however if
> I put this in .emacs:
> 
>    (load-file "~/.site-start.el")
> 
> Where ~/.site-start.el is also a symlink to that same file in cvs,
> then the splash screen disappears.

-- 
John Paul Wallington

Re: init loading phenomena

[Kevin Rodgers]

Harry Putnam wrote:

> The load-path appears to remain unchanged.  So what is going on in
> the init process that allows the splash screen to still be displayed
> in the first scenario?

Read the source: lisp/startup.el


-- 
Kevin Rodgers <kevinr@ihs.com>