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Even more batteries included with Emacs (karthinks.com)

366 points by signa11 · 75 days ago · 135 comments on HN

Article summary

The article discusses various lesser-known features of Emacs, a text editor, and how they can be used to improve productivity. It highlights features such as dictionary tooltips, wildcard file searching, and buffer comparison. The article also touches on the discoverability problem of Emacs features and how they can be used to simplify tasks. The author shares their personal experiences and tips for using these features effectively.

Main themes

  • Emacs features
  • Productivity
  • Discoverability
  • Customization
  • Stability
  • Package management

What commenters say

  • Some users find Emacs' Dired mode to be confusing and difficult to use, despite its power and flexibility.
  • Others argue that Dired is a valuable tool that can be used for a wide range of tasks, from file management to buffer comparison.
  • The stability of Emacs and its packages is a major concern for some users, who have experienced breakage and difficulties with updates.
  • Customizing Emacs can be a complex and time-consuming process, but some users find it to be a key part of the editor's appeal.
  • Using a configuration framework, such as Doom Emacs or Spacemacs, can make it easier to get started with Emacs, but may also lead to stability issues.
  • Some users believe that the Emacs community can be intimidating or elitist, which may deter new users from adopting the editor.
  • Others argue that the Emacs community is supportive and welcoming, and that the editor's flexibility and customizability make it a powerful tool for users of all levels.
  • The use of large language models to generate Emacs code and solve problems is a topic of debate, with some users finding it helpful and others experiencing difficulties.