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## Hour 24
Installing Emacs Add-Ons

Emacs was designed to be extended by its users, and extend it they have. Over the years, numerous add-ons (also known as modes) have been written, which add features and adapt the editor to new circumstances. There is even a Usenet newsgroup (news://gnu.emacs.sources) to which people post new extensions for the Emacs community to try out. Knowing how to install a new mode is an essential Emacs skill and, as this hour demonstrates, it doesn't need to be a difficult task.

## Simple and Complex Add-Ons

All Emacs add-ons are text files that are written in the Lisp programming language, but extensive Lisp knowledge isn't necessary for you to use and customize them. Some add-on modes are just a single file, whereas others are made up of several files that work together. There is a certain format that nearly all add-ons follow: At the top of the file, before the actual Lisp code begins, there is a section that is commented out, with each line beginning with one or more semicolons. This section is ignored by Emacs when the file is loaded. Here you can find the instructions for loading and customizing the file or files. A larger add-on, which is made up of several files, often has a README or INSTALL file included, which contains the necessary information.

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