Emacs is a powerful, extensible text editor and computing environment that has been around since the 1970s. It was originally developed by Richard Stallman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as part of the larger GNU project, which aimed to create a free and open source operating system.
Emacs provides a wide range of features, including support for multiple programming languages, customizable key bindings, an integrated development environment (IDE), a file manager, and a variety of productivity tools. It is also highly extensible, allowing users to customize virtually every aspect of its behavior using the built-in Lisp programming language.
One of the key features of Emacs is its use of “modes” for different types of tasks. For example, there are modes for editing text, writing code, browsing files, and even playing games. Each mode provides a specialized set of commands and key bindings optimized for the task at hand.
Emacs has a steep learning curve, but it can be an incredibly powerful tool for programmers, writers, and anyone who spends a lot of time working with text. Many developers swear by Emacs, and there is a large community of users who have created a wealth of extensions and customizations for the editor.
EMACS COMMANDS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
Emacs has a large number of commands that can be used to navigate and edit text, customize the editor, and perform other tasks. Here are some of the most commonly used Emacs commands and their functions:
| EMACS COMMAND | FUNCTION (S) |
| C-x C-f | Open a file for editing |
| C-x C-s | Save the current file |
| C-x C-w | Save the current buffer to a different file |
| C-x C-c | Exit Emacs |
| C-g | Cancel the current command |
| C-x u | Undo the last change |
| C-s | Search forward for a string |
| C-r | Search backward for a string |
| C-x b | Switch to a different buffer |
| C-x k | Kill the current buffer |
| C-x 1 | Close all other windows and maximize the current one |
| C-x 2 | Split the current window into two windows vertically |
| C-x 3 | Split the current window into two windows horizontally |
| C-x o | Move to the next window |
| C-x C-e | Evaluate the current expression |
| M-x | Run a command by name |
| M-< | Move to the beginning of the buffer |
| M-> | Move to the end of the buffer |
| M-f | Move forward one word |
| M-b | Move backward one word |
| C-a | Move to the beginning of the current line |
| C-e | Move to the end of the current line |
| C-k | Kill the text from the cursor to the end of the line |
| C-y | Yank (paste) the last killed text |
| M-w | Copy the selected text to the clipboard |
| C-space | Set the mark to begin selecting text |
| C-x h | Select the entire buffer |
| M-% | Search and replace a string in the buffer |
| C-x 4 f | Open a file in a new window |
| C-x 5 f | Open a file in a new frame |
VIDEO EXPLANATION