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+# Startup Process
+
+Textadept starts up ridiculously fast. On most computers it starts up around as
+fast as you can blink.
+
+## Core (`core/init.lua`)
+
+The key to Textadept's lightning fast start time is that it loads only its core
+modules before showing the window.
+
+#### Themes
+
+Textadept loads its theme during the Core startup process. Each theme is its
+own folder with three files: `buffer.lua`, `lexer.lua`, and `view.lua`. The
+buffer theme sets default buffer properties like tabs and indentation. The view
+theme sets default view properties like caret color and current line background
+color. Lexer themes set the color and style definitions used by most lexers. By
+default the `'light'` theme is used. A `'scite'` theme is provided for users
+accustomed to SciTE.
+
+To use a different theme, create a `~/.textadept/theme` file containing the
+name of the built-in theme you would like. If you have a custom theme, use the
+path to its directory instead. Any errors are printed to standard out.
+
+## Post-Core (`init.lua`)
+
+After loading the core modules, Textadept begins loading additional modules.
+It first checks for a `~/.textadept/init.lua` user module. If the module is
+found, it is run and skips loading the default modules specified in `init.lua`.
+Otherwise a mixture of core extension and generic modules are loaded.
+
+After loading the additional modules, Textadept parses command line arguments,
+or if none are specified, reloads the last saved session.