The Practical GNU Emacs Guide

A Complete Guide from First Steps to Expert Customization

Introduction

Chapter 1: Welcome to Emacs

1. What Is Emacs Really
2. Why Learn Emacs in This Decade
3. A First Look at the Interface
4. Installing Emacs on Linux Windows and macOS
5. Starting Your First Session

Chapter 2: The Mental Model of Emacs

1. Buffers versus Files versus Windows versus Frames
2. Modes and How They Shape Behavior
3. The Minibuffer as Command Center
4. Commands Arguments and Variables
5. How Emacs Thinks About Text and Structure

Chapter 3: Navigation and Basic Editing

1. Reading Keyboard Notation in Emacs Documentation
2. Moving Through Text Efficiently
3. Selecting Regions with Point and Mark
4. Cutting Copying and Pasting in Emacs Terms
5. Undo Redo and Recovery

Chapter 4: The Minibuffer and Command Discovery

1. Invoking Commands by Name
2. File Operations Through the Minibuffer
3. Completion Systems and How They Work
4. Searching and Replacing Text
5. Getting Help Without Leaving Emacs

Chapter 5: Working with Files Directories and Projects

1. Opening Saving and Closing Files
2. Dired Your File System Inside Emacs
3. Advanced Dired Operations and Customization
4. Project Management with Built-in Tools
5. Recent Files Bookmarks and Quick Access

Chapter 6: Windows Frames and Multiple Buffers

1. Splitting and Managing Windows
2. Buffer Switching Strategies
3. Working with Multiple Frames
4. Preserving Workspace Layouts
5. Registers for Advanced Navigation

Chapter 7: Programming and Development Workflows

1. Major Modes for Programmers
2. Compilation Mode and Error Navigation
3. Version Control with Magit and VC
4. Running Programs and Interactive Shells
5. Development Tools and Extensions

Chapter 8: Shells Terminals and System Administration

1. Shell Mode for Basic Commands
2. Eshell as an Emacs Native Shell
3. Full Terminal Emulation with Vterm
4. Remote Editing with TRAMP
5. System Administration Workflows

Chapter 9: Org Mode and Knowledge Management

1. What Is Org Mode and Why It Matters
2. Outlines Headings and Structure
3. Tasks Deadlines and Scheduling
4. Capture Templates and Note Taking
5. Agenda Views and Task Overview
6. Publishing Export and Literate Programming

Chapter 10: Macros Abbrevs and Automation

1. Recording and Playing Keyboard Macros
2. Naming Saving and Reusing Macros
3. Abbrevs for Text Expansion
4. Fuzzy Finding with Counsel and Helm
5. Designing Automation Workflows

Chapter 11: Customization and Configuration

1. Understanding the Init File Structure
2. Customizing Variables and Faces
3. Remapping Keys for Your Workflow
4. Installing and Managing Packages
5. Organizing a Maintainable Configuration

Chapter 12: Emacs Lisp Fundamentals

1. Why Learn Emacs Lisp
2. Variables Functions and Basic Syntax
3. Working with Strings Buffers and Lists
4. Hooks Advice and Keymaps
5. Writing Your Own Commands and Modes

Chapter 13: Building Efficient Workflows

1. Principles of Keyboard-Driven Efficiency
2. Workflow Patterns for Writing Research and Coding
3. Integrating Emacs with External Tools
4. Note Taking Knowledge Management Systems
5. When to Automate and When Not To

Chapter 14: Learning Emacs Without Overwhelm

1. A Phased Learning Plan for Real People
2. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
3. Migrating from VS Code Vim and Other Editors
4. Staying Motivated Through the Learning Curve
5. Keeping Your Emacs Fast Clean and Secure

Chapter 15: The Emacs Ecosystem and Beyond

1. Package Repositories and Where to Look
2. Finding and Evaluating Packages Safely
3. Community Resources and Learning Materials
4. Contributing to Emacs and Its Ecosystem
5. The Future of Emacs

Conclusion

References