Normally, when you use emacs to edit a file, it automatically creates a backup of the original file. The backup file has the same name as the original one, but appended with a tilde ( ~ ) at the end.
If you want to prevent emacs from creating the backup file, create a .emacs file in your home directory if one does not already exist, and enter the following line in the file:
(setq make-backup-files nil)
You may sometimes see a file with '#' appended at both ends of the filename, such as #file#. This file is the one to which auto-saving writes the edited file before the user types C-x C-s to save it. (When the user does so, this file is deleted). In other words, when you exit a file without saving it, the #file# still exists.
To prevent emacs from autosaving to #file#, type the following command from within emacs:
M-x auto-save-mode
This toggles the auto-save-mode each time you use it.
NOTE:Keep in mind that auto-saving and backup files exist to make our lives safer. Please be sure you truly wish to prevent these options before you disable them.
For more information on emacs commands and environment changes, please see the emacs reference manual, available at the Help Desk in the VCC.
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