Configuring new modes in Emacs: installing python-mode.el

Question

I am trying to configure emacs with python-mode.el. I have done plenty of research, although I am still novice because I am not sure how to configure everything. I have used the following resources, which have been helpful:

• Why I chose python-mode.el: http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/PythonProgrammingInEmacs
• General emacs modes info: https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Choosing-Modes.html#Choosing-Modes
• Andrea Crotti explains his setup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cZ7szFuz18
• Andrea's configuration instructions via README.md
• Andrea's init.el file
• Jedi Repository
• Python 2.7 installed via Enthought Canopy
• Downloaded python-mode.el here

I have been setting up to use Andrea's approach, and I believe that I have the resources, but I still have questions:

• I have a .emacs file, which I know to remove. Should I migrate the contents of my .emacs file under a new file, ~/.emacs.d/init.el?
• Since I plan to use Andrea's init.el file, should I add it with the contents from my old .emacs file into a single init.el file?
• I extracted the python-mode .tar.gz file under ~\.emacs.d\python-mode.el-6.1.2. Is this correct, or should I use a package manager like ELPA?
• From Andrea's README.md, I can install Jedi via pip install jedi epc pylint. Where should I clone the Jedi repository, and where should I run pip install jedi epc pylint?
• I have Enthought's Canopy python 2.7 installed under C:\Users\Lucas\AppData\Local\Enthought\Canopy\User, which has python.exe along with libs(with all the libraries I'll need), but I am not sure if this location will cause me problems in the future. Should I re-install python 2.7 under C:\?

I am using Emacs version 24.3 OS: Windows 7

Answer 1

I have a .emacs file, which I know to remove. Should I migrate the contents of my .emacs file under a new file, ~/.emacs.d/init.el? Since I plan to use Andrea's init.el file, should I add it with the contents from my old .emacs file into a single init.el file?

You do not need to. But I would recommend you to do so. Also you do not need to add your config to Andrea's init.el, you can have in a separate file say in ~/.emacs.d/my-config.el and then load it from the init.el by appending (load "~/.emacs.d/my-config.el") to Andrea's init.el.

I extracted the python-mode .tar.gz file under ~.emacs.d\python-mode.el-6.1.2. Is this correct, or should I use a package manager like ELPA?

I doubt you need this since Andrea's config already installs python-mode.

From Andrea's README.md, I can install Jedi via pip install jedi epc pylint. Where should I clone the Jedi repository, and where should I run pip install jedi epc pylint?

You do not need to clone Jedi repository. You can run pip install jedi epc pylint from any location you wish.

I have Enthought's Canopy python 2.7 installed under C:\Users\Lucas\AppData\Local\Enthought\Canopy\User, which has python.exe along with libs(with all the libraries I'll need), but I am not sure if this location will cause me problems in the future. Should I re-install python 2.7 under C:\?

This should work fine as long C:\Users\Lucas\AppData\Local\Enthought\Canopy\User if in your path.