emacs
extensible, customizable text editor and computing environment
TLDR
Open Emacs with a file
SYNOPSIS
emacs [options] [file...]
emacs [+line] [+line:column] [file...]
DESCRIPTION
emacs is an extensible, customizable, self-documenting text editor and computing environment. Far beyond a simple editor, it includes facilities for email, file management, terminal emulation, web browsing, and thousands of other functions through its extension system.
Emacs is built around Emacs Lisp (Elisp), a full programming language that allows users to customize and extend virtually every aspect of the editor. User configurations are stored in ~/.emacs or ~/.emacs.d/init.el.
The editor operates in different modes depending on the file type, providing syntax highlighting, indentation, and mode-specific commands. Major modes handle different file types, while minor modes add optional features. The built-in help system is accessed with C-h (Ctrl+h) or F1.
PARAMETERS
-nw, --no-window-system
Run in terminal mode without GUI (text terminal)-q, --no-init-file
Do not load the user init file (~/.emacs)--no-site-file
Do not load the site-wide startup file-u USER, --user USER
Load specified user's init file-t FILE, --terminal FILE
Use specified file as terminal--debug-init
Enable Emacs Lisp debugger during init file processing--batch
Run in batch mode (non-interactive)--script FILE
Run specified file as an Emacs Lisp script--eval EXPRESSION
Evaluate Emacs Lisp expression-l FILE, --load FILE
Load specified Emacs Lisp file-f FUNCTION, --funcall FUNCTION
Execute specified Emacs Lisp function--daemon
Start Emacs as a background daemon-Q, --quick
Start with minimal configuration (implies -q --no-site-file --no-splash)--geometry WIDTHxHEIGHT+X+Y
Set window geometry (X11)-fs, --fullscreen
Start in fullscreen mode-fw, --fullwidth
Make window as wide as the screen-fh, --fullheight
Make window as tall as the screen-fg COLOR
Set foreground color-bg COLOR
Set background color-d DISPLAY, --display DISPLAY
Use specified X display--version
Display version information--help
Display help information
CONFIGURATION
~/.emacs
User initialization file for Emacs configuration and customization.~/.emacs.d/init.el
Alternative location for user initialization file, preferred for organizing multiple config files.~/.emacs.d/
Directory for packages, themes, and additional Elisp files.
CAVEATS
Emacs has a steep learning curve with its extensive keyboard shortcuts. The default keybindings differ from most modern applications (e.g., C-x C-s to save, C-x C-c to quit). Running with -q can help troubleshoot configuration issues. Large files may load slowly without proper configuration. GUI and terminal modes have different capabilities.
HISTORY
The original EMACS was created at MIT in 1976 by David A. Moon, Guy L. Steele Jr., and Richard Stallman, evolving from editor macros for the TECO editor. GNU Emacs, the most widely used implementation, was first released in 1985 and became the flagship project of the GNU Project. The name originally stood for "Editor MACroS". Emacs inspired the free software movement and remains one of the oldest actively developed software projects. Its rival vi sparked the famous "editor wars" among Unix users.
SEE ALSO
vim(1), nano(1), emacsclient(1), vi(1)
