spacemacs/doc/FAQ.org

* FAQ                                                                 :TOC@4:
   - [[#common][Common]]
     - [[#which-version-of-spacemacs-am-i-running-][Which version of Spacemacs am I running ?]]
     - [[#what-is-the-official-pronunciation-of-spacemacs-][What is the official pronunciation of Spacemacs ?]]
     - [[#why-are-packages-installed-with-package-install-automatically-deleted-by-spacemacs-when-it-boots-][Why are packages installed with =package-install= automatically deleted by Spacemacs when it boots ?]]
     - [[#the-spacemacs-banner-is-ugly-what-should-i-do-][The Spacemacs banner is ugly, what should I do ?]]
     - [[#the-powerline-separators-are-ugly-how-can-i-fix-them-][The powerline separators are ugly, how can I fix them ?]]
     - [[#the-powerline-separators-have-no-anti-aliasing-what-can-i-do-][The powerline separators have no anti-aliasing, what can I do ?]]
     - [[#why-is-after-init-hook-not-executed-][Why is after-init-hook not executed ?]]
     - [[#what-is-the-difference-between-spacemacs-base-and-spacemacs-distributions-][What is the difference between =spacemacs-base= and =spacemacs= distributions ?]]
     - [[#why-do-some-of-my-org-related-settings-cause-problems][Why do some of my =org=-related settings cause problems?]]
   - [[#windows][Windows]]
     - [[#why-do-the-fonts-look-crappy-on-windows-][Why do the fonts look crappy on Windows ?]]
     - [[#why-is-there-no-spacemacs-logo-in-the-startup-buffer-][Why is there no Spacemacs logo in the startup buffer ?]]
     - [[#why-are-all-packages-unavailable][Why are all packages unavailable?]]
   - [[#os-x][OS X]]
     - [[#why-are-the-powerline-colors-not-correct-on-os-x-][Why are the powerline colors not correct on OS X ?]]

** Common
*** Which version of Spacemacs am I running ?
The version is displayed on the upper right corner of the loading screen.
You may also just type ~SPC f e v~.

*** What is the official pronunciation of Spacemacs ?
As it is written, that is _space_ then _macs_.

*** Why are packages installed with =package-install= automatically deleted by Spacemacs when it boots ?
To declare new packages you have to create a new configuration layer, see
the [[file:QUICK_START.org][quick start guide]].

*** The Spacemacs banner is ugly, what should I do ?
Install the default font supported by Spacemacs or choose a fixed width font.
More information in the font section of the [[file:DOCUMENTATION.org][documentation]].

*** The powerline separators are ugly, how can I fix them ?
Use the property =:powerline-scale= of the variable
=dotspacemacs-default-font=. See font section of the [[file:DOCUMENTATION.org][documentation]] for more details.

*** The powerline separators have no anti-aliasing, what can I do ?
Emacs powerline uses XMP images to draw the separators in a graphical
environment. You can have anti-aliasing if you use the =utf8= separator.
Note that by default the =utf8= separator is used in a terminal.
See the powerline section in the font section of the [[file:DOCUMENTATION.org][documentation]].

*** Why is after-init-hook not executed ?
Don't launch Spacemacs with =emacs -q -l init.el= command. This command will
run the hooked function in =after-init-hook= before the evaluation of the
passed =-l init.el= file.

*** What is the difference between =spacemacs-base= and =spacemacs= distributions ?
 The =distribution= concept was introduced in 0.104.x. You can now choose
 between two distributions =spacemacs= or =spacemacs-base=.
 =spacemacs-base= contains only a minimal set of packages; whereas =spacemacs=
 is the full Spacemacs experience.
 Set the distribution with =dotspacemacs-distribution= variable. The default is
 =spacemacs=. For more information as to what is included,
 check out the =packages.el= file in the respective folders in the
 =+distribution= folder of the =layers/= directory.

*** Why do some of my =org=-related settings cause problems?
Since version 0.104, spacemacs uses the `org` version from the org ELPA
repository instead of the one shipped with emacs. Then, any `org` related code
should not be loaded before `dotspacemacs/user-config`, otherwise both versions
will be loaded and will conflict.

** Windows
*** Why do the fonts look crappy on Windows ?
You can install [[https://code.google.com/p/mactype/][MacType]] on Windows to get very nice looking fonts. It is
also recommended to disable smooth scrolling on Windows.

*** Why is there no Spacemacs logo in the startup buffer ?
A GUI build of emacs supporting image display is required.
You can follow the instructions [[http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2650041/emacs-under-windows-and-png-files][here]]. Alternatively you can download binaries
of emacs with image support included such as [[http://emacsbinw64.sourceforge.net/][this one]].

*** Why are all packages unavailable?
Check if your Emacs has HTTPS capabilities by doing =M-:= and then:

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
  (gnutls-available-p)
#+end_src

If this returns =nil=, you need to install the GnuTLS DDL file in the same
directory as Emacs. See [[https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_mono/emacs-gnutls.html#Help-For-Users][here]] for instructions.

** OS X
*** Why are the powerline colors not correct on OS X ?
This is a [[https://github.com/milkypostman/powerline/issues/54][known issue]] as of Emacs 24.4 due to =ns-use-srgb-colorspace=
defaulting to true. It is recommended to use the [[github.com/railwaycat/homebrew-emacsmacport][emacs-mac-port]] build.
See the install section in the [[file:../README.md][README]] for more details.