A Comprehensive Guide to Doom Emacs: What It Is and How to Install It

Key Notes

  • Doom Emacs simplifies the Emacs setup process with a ready-to-use environment.
  • Customization through modules allows tailoring Doom Emacs to specific needs.
  • Ensure essential dependencies like Emacs, ripgrep, and Git are installed before proceeding.

Unleashing the Power of Doom Emacs on Linux

Discover how to install and configure Doom Emacs on your Linux system for an exceptional text editing experience.

Doom Emacs offers a user-friendly entry point into the vast capabilities of Emacs, equipped with essential plugins, making it functional immediately upon installation. This guide will walk you through the steps needed to successfully install Doom Emacs and customize it to fit your workflow.

Understanding Doom Emacs

Doom Emacs is a custom distribution of Emacs that integrates various plugins and optimizations to enhance your text editing experience. Developed as a configuration framework, Doom Emacs allows users to personalize their environment efficiently through a robust set of tools and options.

Preparing Your System for Doom Emacs

Before diving into Doom Emacs installation, ensure you have the necessary dependencies installed: Emacs, ripgrep, and Git. Open a terminal and execute the following command depending on your Linux distribution:

For Ubuntu/Debian: 

sudo apt install emacs ripgrep git

For RHEL and Fedora: 

sudo dnf install emacs ripgrep git

For Arch-based distributions: 

sudo pacman -S emacs ripgrep git

Step-by-Step: Installing Doom Emacs

To ensure optimal performance, start with a clean Emacs installation. Check for the existing Emacs configuration in your home directory, and if a default config folder exists, remove it: 

rm -rf ~/.emacs.d

Now, clone the Doom Emacs repository and enter your new configuration directory: 

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/doomemacs/doomemacs ~/.emacs.d

Run the Doom install utility: 

~/.emacs.d/bin/doom install

When prompted, type Y and press Enter to create a local environment variable file needed for Doom to function effectively.

After the installation completes, you can run the following command to ensure everything is set up correctly: 

~/.emacs.d/bin/doom doctor

Lastly, open your user’s “.bash_profile” and append the following line: 

export PATH="$HOME/.emacs.d/bin:$PATH"

Log out and back in to ensure the changes take effect, then verify the installation by executing: 

doom

Configuring Your Doom Emacs Environment

Doom Emacs provides access to over 150 modules to suit various development needs. Engage with the configuration by launching Doom Emacs, pressing Space + F, and then P to access your configuration files.

Select the “init.el” file and delve into its configurations. Look for the line starting with (doom! and explore the list of available modules. To enable a module, remove the two semicolons (;;) preceding the name of the desired module.

For enhanced configuration, you can utilize flags similar to Gentoo’s USE flags. To add a specific flag, enclose the module name in parentheses and append a “+” followed by the flag name:

Example: 

(org +journal)

Save your changes using Ctrl + X, then Ctrl + C. Finally, open a new terminal instance and run: 

~/.emacs.d/bin/doom sync

Launch Doom Emacs to verify that the enabled modules operate correctly.

Additional Tips for an Optimal Experience

  • Regularly check for updates to maintain the latest features and improvements.
  • Explore the vibrant Doom Emacs community for tips and modules that suit your workflow.
  • Consider creating backups of your configuration files for safekeeping.

Summary

Installing Doom Emacs provides a tailored experience that can be configured extensively to match your unique editing needs.

Wrapping Up Your Doom Emacs Journey

Congratulations! You’ve unlocked the capabilities of Doom Emacs on your Linux system. Customize it further to truly make it your own, enhancing your productivity and efficiency in managing your coding tasks.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is Doom Emacs?

Doom Emacs is a configuration framework for Emacs that enhances its functionality with a curated set of plugins and customizations.

Can I revert to the original Emacs?

Yes, you can uninstall Doom Emacs by removing its configuration and starting with a fresh installation of Emacs.