Make Spacemacs byte-compilation optional

core/core-dotspacemacs.el

@@ -470,6 +470,9 @@ prettifying Org files.")
   "If non-nil, `kill-buffer' on *scratch* buffer
 will bury it instead of killing.")
 
+(defvar dotspacemacs-byte-compile nil
+  "If non-nil, byte-compile some of Spacemacs files.")
+
 (defun dotspacemacs//prettify-spacemacs-docs ()
   "Run `spacemacs/prettify-org-buffer' if `buffer-file-name'
 looks like Spacemacs documentation."

core/core-spacemacs.el

@@ -253,9 +253,10 @@ Note: the hooked function is not executed when in dumped mode."
      (unless (version< emacs-version "27")
        (setq read-process-output-max dotspacemacs-read-process-output-max))))
 
-  ;; Ensure that `spacemacs--compiled-files' are byte-compiled.
   (let ((default-directory spacemacs-start-directory))
-    (spacemacs//ensure-byte-compilation spacemacs--compiled-files))
+    (if dotspacemacs-byte-compile
+        (spacemacs//ensure-byte-compilation spacemacs--compiled-files)
+      (spacemacs//remove-byte-compiled-files spacemacs--compiled-files)))
   ;; Check if revision has changed.
   (spacemacs//revision-check))
 

core/templates/.spacemacs.template

@@ -487,7 +487,10 @@ It should only modify the values of Spacemacs settings."
 
    ;; If nil the home buffer shows the full path of agenda items
    ;; and todos. If non nil only the file name is shown.
-   dotspacemacs-home-shorten-agenda-source nil))
+   dotspacemacs-home-shorten-agenda-source nil
+
+   ;; If non-nil then byte-compile some of Spacemacs files.
+   dotspacemacs-byte-compile nil))
 
 (defun dotspacemacs/user-env ()
   "Environment variables setup.