Top 5 Reasons to Love and Utilize Emacs on Linux

Emacs is an incredible text editor that can serve multiple purposes. It functions not only as a robust development environment but also as an extensible Lisp interpreter and a versatile media player. After using Emacs for a considerable time, I have grown to appreciate its capabilities. Here are several compelling reasons to choose Emacs as your preferred text editor on Linux.

1. Seamless Integration with My Workflow

The primary reason for choosing Emacs was its ability to consolidate my entire personal workflow into a single application. Previously, I relied on multiple applications for note-taking, drafting, and scheduling. With Emacs, I utilize the Org Mode feature to maintain a comprehensive. org file that addresses all these tasks simultaneously.

Additionally, several applications offer Emacs extensions that can seamlessly integrate with the editor. For instance, my finance management tool, Ledger, provides a “ledger-mode” plugin that enhances Emacs with features like automatic reporting and syntax highlighting, simplifying my financial tracking process.

Another integration feature of Emacs is Eshell, a lightweight terminal emulator that operates within Emacs, akin to the GNOME Terminal app. This allows me to execute commands and tools directly from my text editor without interruption.

2. User-Friendly for Beginners and Non-Programmers

Many text editors can be challenging for newcomers. A prime example is Vim, with its complex “editor modes,” which is cumbersome enough to necessitate a dedicated guide on how to exit.

In contrast, Emacs adopts a graphical “non-modal” user interface for its shortcuts, similar to Microsoft Word or Google Docs, where a modifier key plus another key activates specific functions.

This flexibility allows me to carry out various actions without losing focus. For example, while editing an article, I can quickly press Ctrl + H for documentation and then return to my writing without any hassle.

3. Universal Availability on All Devices

As a tech writer, I frequently switch between different operating systems, Linux distributions, and hardware architectures for testing and exploring new technologies. Therefore, any tools I choose must adapt seamlessly with minimal downtime.

Among the numerous text editors I’ve tried, none matches Emacs’ level of portability. I can run it on my Linux desktop, MacBook, Windows virtual machine, and even my Android smartphone.

This portability offers significant advantages: I can maintain a familiar Emacs environment wherever I go, ensuring my workflow is independent of the device I am using. Additionally, with Emacs’ TRAMP mode, I can access any filesystem within my Tailscale network, allowing me to work on articles from anywhere.

4. Highly Customizable and Personalized Experience

Another issue I encounter with modern text editors is their limited customization options. While some provide slight adjustments to colors and icons, these changes are often hardcoded and offer minimal impact on the overall user experience.

Emacs addresses this by allowing extensive modifications to nearly every visual aspect of the editor. This ensures I can explore ergonomic color schemes and layouts that suit my preferences. For example, my current Emacs theme features a high-contrast color scheme that enhances visibility and usability.

Moreover, extensions can enrich the visual experience of Emacs by adding features missing from the standard configuration. Personally, I find “olivetti-mode” and “focus-mode” indispensable for creating a distraction-free writing environment.

5. Plain Text is Treated as a First-Class Citizen

As a long-time user of Linux, I have developed a deep appreciation for plain text’s simplicity and versatility. Plain text is universally readable, making it ideal for integration with various applications through UNIX pipes and Bash scripts.

Emacs stands out as one of the few applications today that treats plain text as a “first-class citizen.” It does not store or transmit any of its data in binary formats, allowing seamless data transfer between different Emacs packages.

For instance, I utilize this feature to send myself emails about my Git commits with Magit and Notmuch, as well as to transfer data between Elfeed and Org Mode for note-taking on intriguing RSS feeds.

In conclusion, Emacs is a powerful and adaptable text editor that shines in both usability and customization. It caters to both beginners and advanced users alike. I strongly recommend Emacs to anyone seeking a free and open-source cross-platform text editor. Begin your journey today by exploring prebuilt distributions, such as Doom Emacs.

Image credit: Sameer via Unsplash and Wikimedia Commons. All images and modifications by Ramces Red.

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