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GNU Emacs

GNU Emacs

Overview

What is GNU Emacs?

GNU Emacs is described as a free extensible and customizable text editor for the Lisp programming language.

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TrustRadius Insights

Users rely on GNU Emacs as a versatile text editor for editing and maintaining configuration files on Linux servers. It is widely used for …
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Product Details

What is GNU Emacs?

GNU Emacs Technical Details

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Reviews and Ratings

(12)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Users rely on GNU Emacs as a versatile text editor for editing and maintaining configuration files on Linux servers. It is widely used for various text editing tasks, including reformatting and cleaning up tabular data using macros and rectangular selections. One of the key use cases of GNU Emacs is its ability to edit files on remote Linux machines, providing an efficient way to make changes to deployed infrastructure. Users also appreciate Emacs for tasks like fixing small code changes, running code in the background, and creating to-do lists and quick notes for future reference. Additionally, many users utilize Emacs' org-mode for note-taking, managing to-do lists, and organizing agenda files. It serves as an invaluable development tool for multiple programming languages such as Python, NSIS scripts, and C++. Emacs solves the problem of coding on remote servers by providing a seamless development environment. Its consistency across different tasks, including software development and administration work, along with the productivity benefits of using Org Mode, make it an integral part of users' workflow. The familiarity and ease of use provided by Emacs make it a preferred choice for many users, who find it difficult to switch to other editors that may not meet their needs as effectively.

Simple and easy-to-use interface: Many users have praised Emacs for its simplicity and ease of use, especially in Linux-based operating systems. It has a user-friendly interface that allows for intuitive navigation and convenient keyboard shortcuts, enhancing productivity.

Versatile with extensive functionalities: Emacs offers a wide range of functionalities and shortcuts through its extensive library and rich macros. This versatility allows users to efficiently perform various tasks such as programming, shell access, and organization using extensions like Org Mode.

Highly customizable: The extensibility and flexibility of Emacs are highly regarded by users. They appreciate the ability to customize the editor to suit their needs, work in different languages, and adhere to specific coding standards. This customization power enables users to tailor Emacs according to their preferences, making it their own unique text editing experience.

Steep Learning Curve: Users have found that Emacs has a steep learning curve, requiring a significant amount of time and effort to become proficient. Some users mention the initial high learning curve, especially for those coming from an IDE-like environment.

Complexity and Size: The complexity and large size of Emacs are common concerns among users. Some users find it challenging to learn and remember the shortcuts for Emacs, while others mention that Emacs can be clunky and not as polished as modern editors.

Default Configuration: Some users mention that the default configuration of Emacs is not appealing and may require customization for a better user experience. This requires additional time and effort on the part of the user to configure it according to their preferences.

Based on user reviews, there are several recommendations for Emacs. Users highly recommend spending time on the built-in tutorial to learn how to use Emacs effectively. They also suggest exploring available plugins and packages, such as Lisp, to enhance functionality and customization. Additionally, users advise considering alternative editors like Vim, Atom, Sublime Text, and Brackets before choosing Emacs. Overall, users emphasize the importance of investing time in learning and exploring Emacs due to its highly functional and customizable nature.

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