Add alternative setup instructions in README

README.md

@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
     - [Emacs version](#emacs-version)
     - [OS X](#os-x)
 - [Install](#install)
+    - [Standard setup](#standard-setup)
+    - [Alternative setup](#alternative-setup)
 - [Update](#update)
     - [Update notification](#update-notification)
 - [Configuration](#configuration)
@@ -152,6 +154,8 @@ Details can be found on the emacs-mac-port [README][emacs-mac-port-server].
 
 # Install
 
+## Standard setup
+
 1. If you have an existing Emacs configuration, back it up:
 
    ```sh
@@ -174,6 +178,26 @@ Details can be found on the emacs-mac-port [README][emacs-mac-port-server].
 
 See the [troubleshooting][troubleshoot] guide if you have any issues.
 
+## Alternative setup
+
+If you have an existing Emacs configuration you may find this procedure better
+to try out `Spacemacs`:
+
+1. Clone this repository _with its submodules_ anywhere you like:
+
+   ```sh
+   git clone --recursive http://github.com/syl20bnr/spacemacs
+   ```
+
+2. Then start Emacs in command line with the path of the freshly cloned
+`Spacemacs` directory:
+
+   ```sh
+   emacs -q -l ~/path_to_spacemacs_dir/init.el
+   ```
+
+See the [troubleshooting][troubleshoot] guide if you have any issues.
+
 # Update
 
 Spacemacs currently requires manual updates using the following procedure:

init.el

@@ -11,18 +11,11 @@
 ;;; License: GPLv3
 (defconst spacemacs-version     "0.52.1" "Spacemacs version.")
 (defconst spacemacs-min-version   "24.3" "Minimal required version of Emacs.")
+(setq user-emacs-directory (file-name-directory load-file-name))
 
 (defun spacemacs/emacs-version-ok ()
   (version<= spacemacs-min-version emacs-version))
 
-;; Set current spacemacs init.el file-directory as default emacs
-;; config dir, this will help user use following command to testing
-;; spacemacs without breaking their original emacs config:
-;;
-;;    emacs -q -l ~/spacemacs/init.el
-;;
-(setq user-emacs-directory (file-name-directory load-file-name))
-
 (when (spacemacs/emacs-version-ok)
   (load-file (concat user-emacs-directory "core/core-load-paths.el"))
   (require 'core-spacemacs-mode)