Re: document package.el

[Uday S Reddy <u.s.reddy@cs.bham.ac.uk>]

On 8/7/2010 2:43 AM, Christoph wrote:

> I have a couple of thoughts:
> I am wondering, is there a way to give package.el a list of packages to go
> download from ELPA and install? I would also want it to use this list to check
> for new versions of all packages in the list. Either on startup or on command
> (M-x package-upgrade). Also, on a new installation of Emacs I would just tell
> it "Go get the packages in the list" and it would recreate my package
> configuration on that machine. All I need in version control is the list as
> part of my init.el, instead of putting the entire elpa/ directory under version
> control and deploying it to the new machine.

I personally think that upgrading packages should be a conscious, deliberate 
action.  You never know what changes the developers have put in the upgrade and 
what those change would entail in terms of how you will use the package.

Many of the complaints we here from users about version changes stem from the 
fact that their distros or local admins do automatic updates.  The users get 
burned as a result and take it out on us.  Emacs obviously shouldn't encourage 
such irresponsible practices.  You have to hit the button to make it happen.

I will also want to install the new versions along side the old ones, so that I 
have the option of going back to the old versions if I need to.  It is not yet 
clear to me if package.el allows that.

Cheers,
Uday