244 lines
5.2 KiB
Markdown
Executable File
244 lines
5.2 KiB
Markdown
Executable File
# Crafting a Customised Emacs Configuration for Productivity and Aesthetics
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By Zaine Qayyum
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---
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Emacs is a powerhouse editor that can be tailored to your specific needs, and this blog showcases how I built my Emacs configuration to enhance my productivity and enjoyment. I primarily use Emacs to organise my notes, applications, books, projects and various other things.
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---
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## **1. Package Management**
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The first step in customising Emacs is setting up package management. I’ve used MELPA as my primary package repository:
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```elisp
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(require 'package)
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(add-to-list 'package-archives '("melpa" . "https://melpa.org/packages/") t)
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(package-initialize)
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```
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The snippet below shows you how to view the available packages.
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```elisp
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M-x package-list-packages
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```
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---
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## **2. Scripts and Custom Modules**
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To keep my configuration modular, I’ve organised custom scripts in a `~/.emacs.d/scripts/` directory:
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```elisp
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(add-to-list 'load-path "~/.emacs.d/scripts/")
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(require 'displays)
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(require 'shells)
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(require 'auto-comp)
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(require 'window)
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(require 'keyboard)
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(require 'custom-agenda)
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```
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Each of these are `.el` files, and are being loaded into my main `init.el`
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---
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## **3. General Settings**
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### Startup Optimization
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```elisp
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(setq inhibit-startup-screen t)
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```
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I disable the startup screen so that the first thing that loads up is the dashboard (more on this later).
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### Key Bindings
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I use `ESC` as a universal escape key to quit minibuffer prompts:
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```elisp
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(global-set-key [escape] 'keyboard-escape-quit)
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```
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As opposed to using `C-g` (boo!!).
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### Interface Tweaks
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```elisp
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(menu-bar-mode -1)
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(scroll-bar-mode -1)
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(global-display-line-numbers-mode 1)
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(global-visual-line-mode t)
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```
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These settings remove clutter like scrollbars and enable essential features such as line numbers.
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---
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## **4. Org Mode for Organization**
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### Agenda and File Management
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Org mode is central to my workflow. I’ve set up an agenda that pulls from multiple files:
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```elisp
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(setq org-agenda-files '("~/master-folder/org_files/master.org"
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"~/master-folder/org_files/deen-org/deen.org"
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"~/master-folder/org_files/career-org/career.org"))
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(require 'org)
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```
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### Enhancing Org Mode Appearance
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- Inline images:
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```elisp
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(add-hook 'org-mode-hook 'org-display-inline-images)
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(add-hook 'org-mode-hook
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(lambda ()
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(org-display-inline-images t t)))
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```
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- Bullets and indentation:
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```elisp
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(use-package toc-org
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:commands toc-org-enable
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:init (add-hook 'org-mode-hook 'toc-org-enable))
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(use-package org-bullets)
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(add-hook 'org-mode-hook (lambda () (org-bullets-mode 1)))
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(add-hook 'org-mode-hook 'org-indent-mode)
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```
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### Disabling Electric Indent
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Org files often require manual formatting:
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```elisp
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(electric-indent-mode -1)
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```
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---
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## **5. Enhancing Visual Appeal**
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I’ve added themes and icons to create a visually appealing environment:
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- **Kaolin Bubblegum Theme:**
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```elisp
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(add-to-list 'custom-theme-load-path "~/.emacs.d/themes/")
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(require 'kaolin-themes)
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(load-theme 'kaolin-bubblegum t)
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```
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- **All-the-Icons:**
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```elisp
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(use-package all-the-icons :ensure t :if (display-graphic-p))
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(use-package all-the-icons-dired
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:hook (dired-mode . (lambda () (all-the-icons-dired-mode t))))
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```
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---
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## **6. Roam and Note-Taking**
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Org-roam is perfect for building a network of interconnected notes:
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```elisp
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(use-package org-roam
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:ensure t
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:custom
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(org-roam-directory "~/master-folder/org_files/org_roam")
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:config
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(org-roam-setup))
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```
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---
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## **7. Language Support**
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I’ve configured Emacs for Haskell development:
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```elisp
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(use-package haskell-mode)
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(org-babel-do-load-languages
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'org-babel-load-languages
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'((haskell . t)))
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```
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---
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## **8. Backup Settings**
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To prevent clutter, backups are redirected to the Trash folder:
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```elisp
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(setq backup-directory-alist '((".*" . "~/.Trash")))
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```
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---
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## **9. Evil Mode for Vim Lovers**
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Evil mode brings Vim keybindings to Emacs, with additional enhancements:
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```elisp
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(use-package evil
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:init
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(setq evil-want-integration t
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evil-want-keybinding nil
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evil-vsplit-window-right t
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evil-split-window-below t)
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(evil-mode))
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(use-package evil-collection
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:after evil
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:config
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(setq evil-collection-mode-list '(dashboard dired ibuffer))
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(evil-collection-init))
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(use-package evil-tutor)
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```
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---
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## **10. Reloading Configuration**
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For quick testing of changes:
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```elisp
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(defun reload-init-file ()
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(interactive)
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(load-file user-init-file)
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(load-file user-init-file))
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```
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---
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## **11. Scripts**
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As previously mentioned, I’ve kept scripts in a `~/.emacs.d/scripts/` directory:
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```elisp
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(add-to-list 'load-path "~/.emacs.d/scripts/")
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(require 'displays)
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(require 'shells)
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(require 'auto-comp)
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(require 'window)
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(require 'keyboard)
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(require 'custom-agenda)
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```
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Each of these can be found in my GitHub repository: [emacs-config](https://github.com/zainezq/emacs-config)
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---
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## **12. Conclusion**
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This is the end of my customised Emacs configuration, for more details I would recommend checking out this YouTube series: [DistroTube - Configuring Emacs](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5--8gKSku15e8lXf7aLICFmAHQVo0KXX). I hope you find it useful :)
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