How to use use-package with built-in packages?

Question

For the sake of tidiness, I'd like to group setq(s) under single, related banner. Let's say I want to set the value of compilation-scroll-output in "compilation" unit like this:

(use-package compilation
  :init
  (progn
    (setq compilation-scroll-output t)))

All I get is:

Could not load compilation

How is it?

FWIW, use describe-variable or describe-function to find out which package a var or func is in, then look down at the provide call to find out the package name. — Jordon Biondo, Sep 09 '15 at 19:56
Your code to set compilation-scroll-output is a noop, it should be (progn (setq compilation-scroll-output t)) — npostavs, Sep 09 '15 at 20:41
Thank you npostavs. For some unknown reason I was trying to use ' as an alias of setq. — jacekmigacz, Sep 09 '15 at 21:02
@npostavs I didn't even notice that.. fixed that in my answer too. — Kaushal Modi, Sep 09 '15 at 21:15

Kaushal Modi · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-09T21:15:06.887

14

The package's name is compile.

Below should work.

(use-package compile
  :init
  (progn
    (setq compilation-scroll-output t)))

It would be worthwhile to note @JordonBiondo's comment on how to figure out a package's name.

If you want to know which package a variable belongs to, do C-h v or M-x describe-variable followed by the var name (for a function name, C-h f or M-x describe-function). From the *Help* window that pops up, navigate to the package's .el file and see the (provide ..) call to find out the package name.

edited Sep 09 '15 at 21:15

answered Sep 09 '15 at 19:47

Kaushal Modi

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Use-package's syntax around the keywords is slightly unusual. The forms following most of the keywords are bundled up for that keyword for you. So the progn is rarely needed. (use-package compile :init (message "init for compile") (setq compilation-scroll-output t)) – Ben Hyde Dec 22 '15 at 16:14
5

@BenHyde That's correct; progn is not required but I use it for convenience. If I have bunch of forms under :init and a bunch of forms under :config, having wrapped them in (progn ..) makes it very convenient to eval the whole of :init or :config using C-x C-e. – Kaushal Modi Dec 22 '15 at 16:21

How to use use-package with built-in packages?

1 Answers1