Re: Some question about external method of elpa

[Feng Shu]

Stefan Monnier <address@hidden> writes:

>> When I read the below part of README, I think that manual run "make 
>> externals"
>> is needed :-(, so I think externals is same complicated as subtree.
>
> `make externals` is needed if you want to have a local checkout of all
> the packages is elpa.git.  But if you don't care about the other
> packages you don't need it.

What about add this info to README?

>
>> posframe.git, and push to remote elpa, I do not need download elpa.git,
>
> You do need to have some part of elpa.git.  For "subtree", that part is the
> `master` branch, and for "external" that part is the
> `external/<pkgname>` branch.  And when adding the external branch you
> also need the `master` branch, just to modify the `externals-list` file.
>

An idea, but I do know whether it is a good idea:

external package do not need to edit externals-list in master branch,
instead add a external-list file to `external/<pkgname>`, we use script
to auto generate externals-list from all package's external-list files

>> why I need "make externals" if cron auto run it ?
>
> You don't *need* it.  You may want to use it (e.g. I use it because
> I just want to have all GNU ELPA packages automatically installed, so
> I build&install them in-place with `make externals; make`).
>
>>     If know you don't want a local package, but don't know which of these
>>     two options you prefer, then use a subtree.
>
> Note that this phrase now says:
>
>     If you don't know which of these two options you prefer, then use an
>     "external" (and also if your package is large).

cool!

>
>
> -- Stefan

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