14

I am starting to build up a .emacs file to be used as a development environment within Docker containers. I get this error when starting emacs-nox in a Docker container.

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

error: Package `use-package-' is unavailable

Here is the contents of my .emacs

;; require package
(require 'package)

;; add melpa stable
(add-to-list 'package-archives
         '("melpa-stable" . "https://stable.melpa.org/packages/"))

;; add melpa
(add-to-list 'package-archives
         '("melpa" . "http://melpa.milkbox.net/packages/"))

;; Initialise packages
(package-initialize)

;; add use package
(package-install 'use-package)
Improve this question

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
15

This particular error happens if Emacs failed looking up the latest version of a package, like if there's no package-archives file containing that information. Before installing packages, make sure to run M-x package-refresh-contents so that there is one. Alternatively, use M-x package-list-packages for installing packages, that ensures that the package-archives files are up to date.

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    This helped me get it working. I added (package-refresh-contents) to my .emacs file after (package-initialize) and before (package-install 'use-package).
    – learningemacs
    Commented Mar 5, 2018 at 21:17
  • Comments risk being deleted at any time. Consider moving your comment to an answer.
    – Drew
    Commented Mar 5, 2018 at 21:55
  • 1
    This helped ; you may have to do this too afterwards.
    – yPhil
    Commented Dec 22, 2020 at 14:07
9

I am adding this answer as suggested by @Drew.

I appreciate the answer from @wasamasa which allowed me to get this working in my .emacs file.

Here is how I modified my .emacs file.

(package-initialize)

(package-refresh-contents)

(package-install 'use-package)
Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    This helped me to realize that I erroneously tried to double quote the package name.
    – mlt
    Commented May 17, 2020 at 4:49
  • 1
    FYI, this will cause emacs to refresh the list during each launch. Consider adding a conditional, e.g. (unless package-archive-contents (package-refresh-contents)) to avoid reloading your package list each time. See stackoverflow.com/a/24280417/9161344
    – ascendants
    Commented Feb 9, 2021 at 1:09

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.