1

I use a function, ensure-packages-installed to "bootstrap" packages in my .emacs file. This ensures that if the package isn't already install. The follow is at the top of my .emacs:

;
; Set up Emacs package system.
;
(require 'package)
;(add-to-list 'package-archives
;             '("elpa" . "http://elpa.gnu.org/packages"))
(add-to-list 'package-archives
             '("melpa" . "http://melpa.org/packages/"))
;(add-to-list 'package-archives
;             '("marmalade" . "https://marmalade-repo.org/packages/") t)
(package-initialize)

; fetch the list of packages available
(or (file-exists-p package-user-dir)
  (package-refresh-contents))

(defun ensure-packages-installed (&rest packages)
  (mapcar (lambda (package)
    (unless (package-installed-p package)
      (package-install package))) packages))

(ensure-packages-installed
  'company-mode
  'exec-path-from-shell
  'evil
  'haskell-mode
  'intero
  'idris-mode
  'org
  'projectile
  'solarized-theme
  )

However, when I add company-mode to the list it, I get the following error:

Warning (initialization): An error occurred while loading `/Users/steshaw/.emacs':

error: Package `company-mode-' is unavailable

To ensure normal operation, you should investigate and remove the
cause of the error in your initialization file.  Start Emacs with
the `--debug-init' option to view a complete error backtrace.
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  • 2
    Is the package name company-mode or just company? – Melioratus Sep 9 '16 at 4:38
  • 1
    Yes, company seems to work. It's not mentioned on their website AFAICS. Is this a common emacs package naming convention? i.e. <package> for the package and <package>-mode for the function to enable the package? – Steven Shaw Sep 9 '16 at 6:21
  • Yes I think package is the standard based on examples I read on how to set buffer mode using local variables. – Melioratus Sep 9 '16 at 15:37
4

You need to use company instead of company-mode.

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  • Thanks for the update @Dan. As far as I can work out, it's rather strange to name the package in this way. Quite unfortunate and not mentioned on their website :(. BTW, I used to love Scheme and Common Lisp (because it was fast) but I'd recommend taking a leap into Haskell and Idris. I think you'd enjoy the ride! – Steven Shaw Sep 9 '16 at 15:07
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    @StevenShaw: no worries. I don't use company, but I agree that it's a little odd that it wouldn't be company-mode in this setting. I updated this post because Community was flagging it as low quality due to length. – Dan♦ Sep 9 '16 at 15:52
  • Ah, ok. I'm only just getting a taste of how Stackexchange works behind the scenes. It doesn't seem to be all good. – Steven Shaw Sep 9 '16 at 15:57
1

You should consider using use-package. It would look like:

(use-package company :ensure t :pin melpa)

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  • Does use-package replace my "custom" (aka copied from the interwebs) ensure-packages-installed? I figure that's what :ensure t does. What's :pin melpa for? – Steven Shaw Sep 9 '16 at 14:44
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    It specifies the repository from which you want to download the package. But you can do far more with use-package. Take a look at github.com/jwiegley/use-package. – bertfred Sep 9 '16 at 14:50
  • Oh thanks, that does look nice. The missing packager (aka package management system) that I've been looking for! I felt kind of dirty having a half-baked packager in my ~/.emacs. Any more tips to modernise my Emacs usage? I'm considering a complete jump to Spacemacs. Just installed it today. Seems very well thought out so far. – Steven Shaw Sep 9 '16 at 15:03
  • 1
    I don't know anything about spacemacs. However in terms of organizing your .emacs you should try an org-mode based config. Watch this video youtube.com/watch?v=VIuOwIBL-ZU. – bertfred Sep 9 '16 at 15:11

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