Introduction to Emacs

1. How do I use Emacs?
2. What does the Emacs command do?
3. How long does it take to learn Emacs?
4. How do I start Emacs?
5. What is Emacs good for?
6. What does Emacs stand for?
7. How do you write commands in Emacs?
8. Is Emacs worth learning?
9. Where is Emacs config file?
10. How do I use Emacs efficiently?
11. Should I learn Vim or Emacs first?
12. Why do people use vim or emacs?

How do I use Emacs?

When you open a file with emacs, you can just start typing and issue commands at the same time. Command functions in emacs usually involve two or three keys. The most common is the Ctrl key, followed by the Alt or Esc key. In emacs literature, Ctrl is shown in short form as “C”.

What does the Emacs command do?

Emacs is a text editor designed for POSIX operating systems and available on Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows, and more. Users love Emacs because it features efficient commands for common but complex actions and for the plugins and configuration hacks that have developed around it for nearly 40 years.

How long does it take to learn Emacs?

It may take months to learn. But it is worth all of it. After two years I'm finally 'comfortable' in emacs: I can get through the day without thinking about 'how' to do a thing, keystrokes are written into muscle memory.

How do I start Emacs?

At your shell prompt, type emacs and hit enter. Emacs should start up. If not, it is either not installed or not in your path. Once you've seen Emacs, you need to know how to exit.

What is Emacs good for?

For me Emacs has these advantages over vim:

• it has better default extension language. ...
• it's modeless - switching constantly between command-mode and editing mode is not very annoying, but I do prefer Emacs's way.
• it has better integration with external systems.
• it has better support for the things that matter to me.

What does Emacs stand for?

Cross-platform. Type. Text editor. Emacs /ˈiːmæks/ or EMACS (Editor MACroS) is a family of text editors that are characterized by their extensibility.

How do you write commands in Emacs?

To execute Control commands, written as CTRL-letter , hold down the Control key while typing the letter indicated. To execute Escape commands, written as ESC letter , press the Escape key (once) and then type the letter indicated. and hit the Return key.

Is Emacs worth learning?

GNU Emacs is an extensible editor, real extensibility, you can modify its inner behavior not just the superficial one as Vim, Atom, VS lets its users! Emacs is totally worth it.

Where is Emacs config file?

Your emacs config file is probably in one of three places: in ~/. emacs though this is now a bit outdated and instead it will usually be in. ~/.

How do I use Emacs efficiently?

1. Too many open buffers? ...
2. Keep tilde files from showing up everywhere: set 'backup-directory-alist' . ...
3. TinyTools. ' ...
4. Open files using 'ffap' (FindFileAtPoint). ...
5. Use two side-by-side windows with follow-mode for easier working with wide-screen monitors (google search “emacs multiple columns one buffer”) —BrandonSchendel.

Should I learn Vim or Emacs first?

Emacs will take you a lot longer to get deep into that environment--not unlike learning the ins and outs of your OS. vim, not being as all encompassing, will be far easier to get good at as an editor while providing lots of plugins and configuration abilities.

Why do people use vim or emacs?

The only reason that you might need to learn Vim, Emacs or Nano is for the purpose of connecting to a remote PC. Let's say a server that you're connecting with SSH, you wouldn't have any GUI, so you wouldn't be able to use any of those IDEs and you should be able to use a text editor that can be run on a terminal.