10

In one of my projects I need to run make package install when building instead of make. It remembers the last compile command I used, but resets to make -k every time emacs starts up. How can I customize M-x compile to default to make package install?

Improve this question
4
  • What's the value of compilation-read-command? If this variable is set to a non-nil value, M-x compile should prompt you for the compilation command to use. Alternatively, you can do C-u M-x compile; in this case, you will be prompted for the command regardless of the value of compilation-read-command. Commented Oct 5, 2014 at 16:45
  • 1
    It's set to t. It does allow me to edit the command before running, but I'd like to change what it defaults to Commented Oct 5, 2014 at 16:48
  • I see. Posted the comment above before checking the edit you made to your question ;) Commented Oct 5, 2014 at 16:51
  • A good question. From the manual, I had the impression that one can add "compile: ..." or "compile-command: ..." in the "Local Variables:" section at the end of a file, but my new Emacs doesn't seem to pay any attention to them... :( Commented Jan 23, 2015 at 18:51

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
9

You can customize the variable compile-command to change the compilation command that is used by default:

(setq compile-command "make package install")
Improve this answer
1
  • Note that the first time you run a compile command that is not make package install, that new command will become your new default. Commented Oct 12, 2014 at 14:12
6

If you want to customize the variable per project rather than globally. You can use Directory Variables. These allow you to apply certain customizations only for files in certain directory and its subdirectories.

So for example you want to use the make package install as compile command only in project A, you will need to create a file named .dir-locals.el in root directory of the project and add something like the following

((nil . ((compile-command . "make package install"))))

The syntax is explained in detail in the link to emacs manual above. As pointed out by @hatschipuh, you can use the commands add-dir-local-variable and delete-dir-local-variable to easily add and delete dir local values.

Improve this answer
2
  • For convenience there are the commands add-dir-local-variable and delete-dir-local-variable. Commented Sep 4, 2015 at 10:10
  • @hatschipuh, good suggestion updated the answer to mention these commands Commented Sep 6, 2015 at 16:19
2

If you want to customize the compile command per file here is an example:

--- title: Svadhyaya --- Svadhyaya (Sanskrit: स्वाध्याय svādhyāya m.; *self-study*) is one of the five Niyamas (Sanskrit: नियम niyama m.; *commandments*, *restrictions*, *ethical rules*, *code of conduct* in Patanjalis Yogasutra). The word is made up of Sva (*self*, *belonging to me*) and Adhyaya (*investigation*, *exploration*) together. <!-- Local Variables: mode: markdown coding: utf-8-unix compile-command: (string-join (list "pandoc" "-s" (buffer-file-name) "-o" (concat (file-name-sans-extension (buffer-file-name)) ".html")) " ") End: -->

That looks a bit awkward, but this way no dependencies to other files that may control the compilation exist (Makefile, CMakeLists.txt... not even your personal dot-emacs). So you can send the file out or unpack it years later and compile it should still work.

File-Local Variables

Improve this answer

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.