GNU bug report logs - #47298
Emacs creates HOME if it does not exist

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Message #3 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Glenn Morris <rgm <at> gnu.org>
To: submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Emacs creates HOME if it does not exist
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2021 13:40:53 -0400

Package: emacs
Version: 27.1
Severity: minor

Assuming /tmp/foo does not exist:

HOME=/tmp/foo emacs-26.3

Emacs starts, but displays a warning:
  
  Warning (initialization): Unable to create `user-emacs-directory' (~/.emacs.d/).
  Any data that would normally be written there may be lost!
  If you never want to see this message again,
  customize the variable `user-emacs-directory-warning'.
  Error (initialization): User someuser has no home directory


With Emacs 27.1, HOME is silently created.
(Only interactively; this does not happen in batch mode.)

I assume a4144af909, which added the PARENTS argument to the
make-directory call in locate-user-emacs-file, causes this.

IMO the Emacs 26.3 behaviour is correct, and Emacs should not be
creating HOME if it does not exist. One may want to set a non-existent
HOME eg for testing.

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