A quick introduction to Emacs

A small walk through of the history of Emacs and some basics to help you out to get started. Shared at the Neo office in Singapore, a vile den of vim users who has yet to see the light.

Transcript

1. Emacs Björn Andersson
2. I use Emacs, which might be thought of as a thermonuclear word processor. — Neal Stephenson
3. Emacs is a great 
 operating system, 
 lacking only a decent editor — Vile VI Virtuoso
4. Genesis
5. Genesis • Began in the ‘70s
6. Genesis • Began in the ‘70s • Editor MACroS for TECO
7. Genesis • Began in the ‘70s • Editor • MIT AI Labs
8. Genesis • Began in the ‘70s • Editor • MIT AI Labs • Current C version from the ‘80s
9. Genesis • Began in the ‘70s • Editor • MIT AI Labs • Current C version from the ‘80s • First project from GNU
10. So what is so special?
11. So what is so special? • Extensible using Lisp (elisp)
12. So what is so special? • Extensible using • Everything is a function call
13. So what is so special? • Extensible using • Everything • Self documenting
14. Buffers, Frames and Windows
15. Buffers, Frames and Windows • Buffer is an open file
16. Buffers, Frames and Windows • Buffer • Frame is what we today call a window
17. Buffers, Frames and Windows • Buffer • Frame • Window is a screen/view inside a frame
19. Point, Mark and Regions
20. Point, Mark and Regions • Point is the current position of the cursor
21. Point, Mark and Regions • Point • Mark is a place you set yourself
22. Point, Mark and Regions • Point • Mark • Region is the area between mark and point
23. Kill and Yank
24. Kill and Yank • Kill is cut
25. Kill and Yank • Kill • Yank pulls back something to the buffer
26. Movement
27. Movement • f - forward
28. Movement • f - forward • b - backward
29. Movement • f - forward • b - backward • p - previous
30. Movement • f - forward • b - backward • p - previous • n - next
31. Movement • f - forward • b - backward • p - previous • n - next • a - beginning
32. Movement • f - forward • b - backward • p - previous • n - next • a - beginning • e - end
33. Movement • f - forward • b - backward • p - previous • n - next • a - beginning • e - end • CTRL - one character
34. Movement • f - forward • b - backward • p - previous • n - next • a - beginning • e - end • CTRL - one character • Meta / Alt - one word
35. Keyboard combos
36. Keyboard combos • C - Ctrl
37. Keyboard combos • C • M - Meta/Alt
38. Keyboard combos • C • M • S - Shift
39. Keyboard combos • C • M • S - Shift • C-c C-f open file
40. Incremental search
41. Incremental search • When you’re looking for something, search
42. Incremental search • When you’re looking for something, search • Movement commands are for when searching isn’t viable
43. Incremental search • When you’re looking for something, search • Movement commands are for when searching isn’t viable • No side effects
44. Built-in help
45. Built-in help • C-h ? Is where to get started
46. Built-in help • C-h ? • C-h m Shows an explanation of the current mode
47. Built-in help • C-h ? • C-h m • C-h c Shows what a keyboard combo calls
48. C-h ?
49. You don’t quit Emacs
50. You don’t quit Emacs it quits on you, usually through OSX.
51. Package management
52. Package management • Built-in since version 24
53. Package management • Built-in since version 24 • A couple of different repositories
54. Package management • Built-in since version 24 • A couple of different repositories • ELPA - The one sanctioned by FSF
55. Package management • Built-in since version 24 • A couple of different repositories • ELPA • MELPA - A curated repository, less buggy packages
56. Package management • Built-in since version 24 • A couple of different repositories • ELPA • MELPA • Marmalade - Anyone can add
57. M-x list-packages
58. Where do I start?
59. Where do I start? • Use someones config
60. Where do I start? • Use someones config • Neo emacs-config looks pretty good 
 github.com/neo/emacs-config
61. Where do I start? • Use someones config • Neo emacs-config looks pretty good github.com/neo/emacs-config • Jason Milkins github.com/ocodo/emacs.d
62. Where do I start? • Use someones config • Neo emacs-config looks pretty good github.com/neo/emacs-config • Jason Milkins • My config github.com/gaqzi/emacs.d
63. Where do I start? • Use someones config • Neo emacs-config looks pretty good github.com/neo/emacs-config • Jason Milkins • My config • C-h t To start and go through the tutorial
64. Where do I start? • Use someones config • Neo emacs-config looks pretty good github.com/neo/emacs-config • Jason Milkins • My config • C-h t
65. Lets all give praise to St. IGNUCius
66. Lets all give praise to St. IGNUCius Using the editor of the beast is not a sin in the church of Emacs.
67. Lets all give praise to St. IGNUCius Using the editor of the beast is not a sin in the church of Emacs.
68. Lets all give praise to St. IGNUCius Using the editor of the beast is not a sin in the church of Emacs. It’s a penance.