# desktop-mode and readahead

DevFeed: [desktop-mode and readahead](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/desktop-mode-and-readahead-34405.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://tapoueh.org/blog/2011/02/desktop-mode-and-readahead/>)

Author: Dimitri Fontaine PostgreSQL Major Contributor; Author

Published: 2011-02-23T15:45:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Dimitri Fontaine](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/dimitri-fontaine.md>)

Topics: [Emacs](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/emacs.md>), [boot](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/boot.md>)

Tags: [emacs](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/emacs.md>), [files](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/files.md>), [loading](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/loading.md>)

## AI overview

The article describes using Emacs Desktop Save Mode and the readahead tool to pre-read files during startup. Although the files are pre-read and disk activity is reduced when the desktop reaches them, the author reports that overall desktop loading time does not change.

## Source excerpt

I'm using Desktop Save Mode so that Emacs knows to open again all the buffers I've been using. That goes quite well with how often I start Emacs, that is once a week or once a month. Now, M-x ibuffer last line is as following: 718 buffers 19838205 668 files, 15 processes That means that at startup, Emacs will load that many files. In order not to have to wait until it's done doing so, I've setup things this way: