Install / Upgrade to Emacs 24.3 in Ubuntu 13.04, 12.10, 12.04

Last updated: September 15, 2013

This tutorial shows how to install the latest stable GNU Emacs (so far, it’s 24.3) in Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04 Precise and their deviratives such as Linux Mint and Elementary OS Luna via PPA.

Highlights of Emacs 24.3 include:

Generalized variables are now in core Emacs Lisp.
An update for the Common Lisp emulation library.
A new major mode for Python.

There are many more changes; for a summary see the etc/NEWS file, which you can view from Emacs with `C-h n’.

Install / Upgrade Emacs 24.3 via PPA:

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cassou/emacs

Then update package lists on your system:

sudo apt-get update

After that, you can install or upgrade via synaptic package manager, which is available in Ubuntu Software Center. Or just run below command:

sudo apt-get install emacs24

Enjoy!

In Howtos Emacs, text editor, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 13.04

Ji m

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I'm a freelance blogger who started using Ubuntu in 2007 and wishes to share my experiences and some useful tips with Ubuntu beginners and lovers. Please comment to let me know if the tutorial is outdated! And, notify me if you find any typo/grammar/language mistakes. English is not my native language. Contact me via ubuntuhandbook1@gmail.com Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/ubuntuhandbook1

3 responses to Install / Upgrade to Emacs 24.3 in Ubuntu 13.04, 12.10, 12.04

Christian Hofer December 16, 2013 at 1:09 pm

I just updated my emacs on Ubuntu 13.04 and got emacs version 24.2.1 instead
of 24.3 as posted.

Since e.g. current helm mode needs packages only available in emacs 24.3 this is essential. When is an update to emacs 24.3 available on this site?
- Panda December 16, 2013 at 1:39 pm
  
  please follow these steps that will ensure a clean installation:
  
  $ sudo apt-get update
  $ sudo apt-get install
  $ sudo apt-get purge emacs emacs-snapshot-common emacs-snapshot-bin-common emacs-snapshot emacs-snapshot-el emacs-snapshot-gtk emacs23 emacs23-bin-common emacs23-common emacs23-el emacs23-nox emacs23-lucid auctex apel emacs24 emacs24-bin-common emacs24-common emacs24-common-non-dfsg emacs-el
Christian Hofer December 18, 2013 at 11:52 pm

Thanks a lot, it worked.:-)

After purging the old emacs files
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install
$ sudo apt-get purge emacs emacs-snapshot-common emacs-snapshot-bin-common emacs-snapshot emacs-snapshot-el emacs-snapshot-gtk emacs23 emacs23-bin-common emacs23-common emacs23-el emacs23-nox emacs23-lucid auctex apel emacs24 emacs24-bin-common emacs24-common emacs24-common-non-dfsg emacs-el

and installing again with

do apt-get install emacs24

I got version 24.3.1. :-). Sorry for asking. It seems to be that I had a previeous installed and deleted package of emacs 24 on my computer. Purge solved this problem.