* lisp/startup.el (command-line-1): Allow `-L :...' to append to load-path.

* doc/emacs/cmdargs.texi (Action Arguments): Mention that `-L :...' appends.

* etc/NEWS: Mention this.

5 files changed, 30 insertions, 7 deletions

diff --git a/doc/emacs/ChangeLog b/doc/emacs/ChangeLog
index 79047e3285b..7f051e751e5 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/ChangeLog
+++ b/doc/emacs/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+2013-11-04  Glenn Morris  <rgm@gnu.org>
+
+        * cmdargs.texi (Action Arguments): Mention that `-L :...' appends.
+
 2013-11-02  Glenn Morris  <rgm@gnu.org>
 
         * cmdargs.texi (Action Arguments): Clarify `-L' a bit.
diff --git a/doc/emacs/cmdargs.texi b/doc/emacs/cmdargs.texi
index 1ef6529f295..d0f5f1e06b1 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/cmdargs.texi
+++ b/doc/emacs/cmdargs.texi
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@ Prepend directory @var{dir} to the variable @code{load-path}.
 If you specify multiple @samp{-L} options, Emacs preserves the
 relative order; i.e., using @samp{-L /foo -L /bar} results in
 a @code{load-path} of the form @code{("/foo" "/bar" @dots{})}.
+If @var{dir} begins with @samp{:}, Emacs removes the @samp{:} and
+appends (rather than prepends) the remainder to @code{load-path}.
 
 @item -f @var{function}
 @opindex -f
diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index 0ab4e34a265..1c171ba6f51 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -62,6 +62,10 @@ To use the old backend by default, do on the command line:
 
 * Startup Changes in Emacs 24.4
 
++++
+** The -L option, which normally prepends its argument to load-path,
+will instead append, if the argument begins with `:'.
+
 
 * Changes in Emacs 24.4
 
diff --git a/lisp/ChangeLog b/lisp/ChangeLog
index 4f1b2142a69..522181b3e4f 100644
--- a/lisp/ChangeLog
+++ b/lisp/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+2013-11-04  Glenn Morris  <rgm@gnu.org>
+
+        * startup.el (command-line-1): Allow `-L :...' to append to load-path.
+
 2013-11-03  Stefan Monnier  <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca>
 
         * progmodes/ruby-mode.el (ruby-smie--rule-parent-skip-assign): Remove.
diff --git a/lisp/startup.el b/lisp/startup.el
index 391d65a3520..e93c3fa5826 100644
--- a/lisp/startup.el
+++ b/lisp/startup.el
@@ -2171,13 +2171,22 @@ A fancy display is used on graphic displays, normal otherwise."
                    (eval (read (or argval (pop command-line-args-left)))))
 
                   ((member argi '("-L" "-directory"))
-                   (setq tem (expand-file-name
-                              (command-line-normalize-file-name
-                               (or argval (pop command-line-args-left)))))
-                   (cond (splice (setcdr splice (cons tem (cdr splice)))
-                                 (setq splice (cdr splice)))
-                         (t (setq load-path (cons tem load-path)
-                                  splice load-path))))
+                   ;; -L :/foo adds /foo to the _end_ of load-path.
+                   (let (append)
+                     (if (string-match-p
+                          "\\`:"
+                          (setq tem (or argval (pop command-line-args-left))))
+                         (setq tem (substring tem 1)
+                               append t))
+                     (setq tem (expand-file-name
+                                (command-line-normalize-file-name tem)))
+                     (cond (append (setq load-path
+                                         (append load-path (list tem)))
+                                   (if splice (setq splice load-path)))
+                           (splice (setcdr splice (cons tem (cdr splice)))
+                                   (setq splice (cdr splice)))
+                           (t (setq load-path (cons tem load-path)
+                                    splice load-path)))))
 
                   ((member argi '("-l" "-load"))
                    (let* ((file (command-line-normalize-file-name