How to use `use-package` correctly to bind to a custom function?
reddit / emacs

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Tohiko · 2022-06-17 15:22

I have a function `my/tex-command` that relies on the package `tex`
and which I want to bind to some key. I handle this with `use-package`
as follows:

```
(use-package tex
:bind ("C-c C-o C-o" . my/tex-command)
:config
(defun my/tex-command ()
   (interactive)
   ;; Stuff
))
```


This works since `tex` is automatically auto-loaded when `my/tex-
command` is called. Moreover, the function is defined correctly when
`tex` is loaded.

However, if I run `(symbol-file 'my/tex-command)` I get back the file
`tex.el` instead of the file where I actually defined the function.
This is because `load-history` has several entries for `my/tex-
command` including ones that associate it to `tex.el` and ones that
associate it to the correct files. The result is that my helpful
buffers show the wrong file when I look up `my/tex-command`.

How do I correctly deal with this situation? I know of two solutions
that I want to avoid:
- Define a new module which includes `my/tex-command` and which
requires `tex` when loaded. This is fine, but it does mean that I have
to create many custom modules and I want to have a simpler
configuration.
- Include `(require tex)` in `my/tex-command` and define it outside
the `use-package` statement. I want to avoid having to call `require`
commands in functions.

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cradlemann · 2022-06-17 18:40

You could use preface for your custom functions. Like [here](https://g
ithub.com/Crandel/home/blob/master/.config/emacs/recipes/consult-
rcp.el#L56).

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[deleted] · 2022-06-18 09:37

[deleted]

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Tohiko · 2022-06-18 15:00

Update: It seems that using preface does not autoload the package when
my custom command is called. Is that right? How do make sure that the
package is autoloaded?

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cradlemann · 2022-06-18 15:14

Than you need to use [requires](https://github.com/jwiegley/use-
package#prevent-loading-if-dependencies-are-missing)

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Tohiko · 2022-06-18 16:56

Thanks @cradlemann. I am not sure how that would help me. What I want
is to define my custom command inside the `use-package` of `tex`, so
that when it is called the package `tex` is automatically loaded.

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cabbagegandalf · 2022-06-21 11:40

You can explicitly tell eMacs to autoload the package [with autoload](
https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/eintr/Autoload.htm
l) but maybe you can achieve the same by specifying the functions on
“:commands”