init.el

(setq load-prefer-newer t)

(defconst user-emacs-directory
  (file-name-directory (or load-file-name (buffer-file-name)))
  "Local emacs config directory.")

(defconst user-cache-directory
  (file-name-as-directory (concat user-emacs-directory ".cache"))
  "My emacs storage area for persistent files.")
;; create the `user-cache-directory' if not exists
(make-directory user-cache-directory t)

(setq inhibit-splash-screen t)
(setq inhibit-startup-message t)

(setq mac-option-key-is-meta t
      mac-command-key-is-meta nil
      mac-option-modifier 'meta)

(setq backup-directory-alist
      `((".*" . ,temporary-file-directory)))
(setq auto-save-file-name-transforms
      `((".*" ,temporary-file-directory t)))

(setq backup-by-copying t)

(setq custom-file (concat user-emacs-directory "custom.el"))

(package-initialize)

(defun require-package (package)
  "Refresh PACKAGE archives, check package presence and install if it's not installed."
  (if (null (require package nil t))
      (progn (let* ((ARCHIVES (if (null package-archive-contents)
                                  (progn (package-refresh-contents)
                                         package-archive-contents)
                                package-archive-contents))
                    (AVAIL (assoc package ARCHIVES)))
               (if AVAIL
                   (package-install package)))
             (require package))))

(require-package 'use-package)
(require 'use-package)

(require-package 'req-package)
(require 'req-package)
(req-package--log-set-level 'trace)

(require-package 'use-package-chords)
(require 'use-package-chords)

(req-package-finish)