Re: using use-package

[John Yates]

On Thu, Aug 13, 2015 at 12:15 PM, Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca>
wrote:

> Maybe also one that better integrates with Customize.
>
> I guess I'm also interested to see what other users find important in
> terms of "configuration problems that need solving".
>

Not so much about use-package or ref-package, but because Customize has
come up a few time recently...

I like the customize interface.  It makes exploring unfamiliar packages
easier.  Typically a package remains "unfamiliar" long after I first start
tweaking its customization knobs.  I do persist my changes from within
Customize and I appreciate the speed with which my byte compiled
custom-file.elc loads.

What I do not appreciate is the flat, alphabetic, uncommented nature of
that file.  It gives me neither means to organize my customizations is a
logical structure nor means to add commentary.  Further it separates faces
from all other package tweaks.

I have resolved this problem by committing to maintaining two copies of my
customizations:

   - One automatically created by Customize's 'save for future sessions'
   functionality.
   - One that I maintain by hand in my .emacs file.

I have implemented a framework whereby reloading my custom-file
automatically compares my two sets of customizations and reports any
discrepancies or anomalies.  You can see it in my .emacs file on github
<https://github.com/jsyjr/MyConfiguration/blob/master/.emacs>.  The file
uses folding-mode.  You can see this at

;;=== Customization ====================================================
> ;;{{{  Customization auditing framework...
> ;;{{{  Load customizations...


/john

PS: I am a C++ programmer.  My elisp coding consists of mimicking things I
see in others' code.  I really have _very_ little grasp of (e)lisp
concepts.  So I expect no kudos on my code but welcome suggestions for
improvement.