A suggestion for "don't create backup~ files" in spacemacs/config.el

[xfq]

In spacemacs/config.el:

;; don't create backup~ files
(setq backup-by-copying t
      make-backup-files nil
      create-lockfiles nil)

I suggest changing it to:

;; don't create backup~ files
(setq make-backup-files nil)

I understand the rationale for setting make-backup-files to nil (although the default value of vc-make-backup-files is already nil), but I think it isn't necessary to change the value of backup-by-copying and create-lockfiles. Here are my reasons:

• The value of make-backup-files is already nil, so changing the value of backup-by-copying won't have any effect.
• IMHO lockfiles are more important than backup files since they can prevent concurrent changes.

[geo7]

@TheBB Is this still relevant? Aren't backups sent to cache or something now?

If not then Suggestions / discussion tag might fit here.

[xfq]

It's still relevant.

Although spacemacs-auto-save-directory is in spacemacs-cache-directory by default, what I said in the original post was irrelevant to the auto-saving feature, and is still true in the current develop.

[StreakyCobra]

@xfq Can you propose your change in a PR? It would be better discussed there.

[StreakyCobra]

This old issue has been waiting for a response for more than one month. As no answer has been provided, we can not help further or know if the issue is still relevant. We are then closing it. Feel free to open a new issue if there is any news on this side, be sure to read this guide first and link this issue in the new one.