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2.3 Build And Start Emacsvox ¶

1. Enter the Emacsvox checkout:

   cd /path/where/you/keep/source/emacsvox
   

2. Select Emacs 31 or newer. If it is not the system emacs, create the ignored local settings file:

   cp local.mk.example local.mk
   

   Then set EMACS in local.mk:

   EMACS=/path/to/emacs-31/bin/emacs
   

   The earlier emacs --version command checks your shell’s default. Verify the executable selected by the Emacsvox build separately:

   make check-emacs
   

   make check-emacs uses local.mk when present, prints the selected executable and version, and confirms whether Emacsvox supports it.

3. Configure and compile Emacsvox:

   make all
   

   A successful build returns to the shell without an error. Emacsvox must be compiled with the same supported Emacs selected in the previous step.

4. Run the non-audible launcher preflight from the Emacsvox checkout:

   ./bin/emacsvox --diagnose
   

   This checks the checkout, Emacs, and speech server without playing audio or opening interactive Emacs. A successful report names Emacs 31 or newer, the omnivox speech server, and an isolated -Q startup. If it reports a path or version problem, correct that item and run the command again.

5. Check the complete launch path with sound:

   ./bin/emacsvox --check
   

   The launcher prints what it selected, then plays a tone and speech. Hearing both means the complete speech-server launch path is ready.

6. Start a clean Emacsvox session:

   ./bin/emacsvox
   

   The launcher uses Omnivox and the selected Emacs, but does not load site files or your personal Emacs init file. This gives you a known starting point without changing an existing Emacs setup.

If a command needs an explicit path, ./bin/emacsvox --help describes the EMACS, TTS_PROGRAM, and EMACSVOX_DIR overrides. Arguments after -- are passed to Emacs.