Emacs Essentials

Master the basics of this powerful text editor in just 2 hours

text-editors

productivity

programming

open-source

Learn the fundamentals of Emacs, a powerful and extensible text editor, in this practical hands-on session covering basic editing, customization, and productivity features.

Modified

July 2, 2025

Emacs Essentials

Learn the fundamentals of this powerful and extensible text editor in just 2 hours

2 Hours Beginner Hands-on

1 Session Overview

This 2-hour microlearning session introduces Emacs, one of the most powerful, customizable, and extensible text editors available. Dating back to the 1970s but continuously updated, Emacs is much more than just a text editor—it’s a complete environment for text manipulation and computing. In this session, you’ll learn the fundamental concepts and commands to start using Emacs productively for text editing, programming, and more.

1.1 What You’ll Learn

Install and configure Emacs on your platform
Navigate the Emacs interface and understand its terminology
Master essential editing commands and keyboard shortcuts
Customize basic settings to suit your preferences
Use built-in tools like file management and terminal integration
Begin to harness the power of Emacs for programming and text processing

2 Session Curriculum

2.1 Part 1: Getting Started with Emacs (30 minutes)

Brief history and philosophy of Emacs
Installing Emacs on different platforms
Understanding the Emacs interface and terminology
Basic navigation: buffers, windows, and frames
The Emacs tutorial (C-h t) and help system
Essential keyboard shortcuts and command structure

2.2 Part 2: Basic Editing Skills (40 minutes)

Movement commands (character, word, line, screen)
Selection and region manipulation
Cut, copy, paste operations
Search and replace functions
Undo and redo
Working with multiple files and buffers
Saving files and exiting Emacs

2.3 Part 3: Customization and Enhanced Features (40 minutes)

Introduction to the .emacs configuration file
Installing and managing packages with package.el
Basic customization (themes, fonts, line numbers)
Mode line and status information
Major modes for different file types
Minor modes for enhanced functionality
Introduction to Dired for file management
Using the integrated terminal (shell/eshell)

2.4 Part 4: Next Steps and Resources (10 minutes)

Recommended packages and extensions
Resources for continued learning
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
The Emacs community and where to get help
Setting up a learning path for Emacs mastery

3 Learning Outcomes

By the end of this microlearning session, you will be able to:

Navigate confidently within the Emacs environment
Perform essential text editing operations efficiently
Customize basic aspects of Emacs to suit your needs
Use built-in tools for file management and other tasks
Understand the extensibility model of Emacs
Know where to find help and resources for continued learning

4 Teaching Methods

This session combines:

Live demonstrations
Hands-on exercises
Interactive challenges
Guided exploration
Collaborative problem-solving

5 Target Audience

This microlearning session is ideal for:

Software developers and programmers
Technical writers and content creators
System administrators and DevOps professionals
Students and academics
Anyone interested in powerful text editing tools

6 Prerequisites

Basic computer skills
Familiarity with keyboard shortcuts
No prior Emacs experience required
Bring your laptop with Emacs installed (installation instructions will be provided)

7 Materials

All participants will receive:

Comprehensive Emacs keyboard shortcut cheat sheet
Basic .emacs configuration template
List of recommended packages for different use cases
Guided exercises for practice
References and resources for continued learning

Your Instructor

James Wilson

Software Engineer & Emacs Enthusiast

James has been using Emacs daily for over 10 years and has taught numerous workshops on text editors and programming tools. He specializes in helping beginners overcome the initial learning curve of powerful tools like Emacs.

Register Now

Next session: July 20, 2023, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM CEST

Fee: €45 (Student discount available)

Location: Online via Zoom

What Participants Say

"I've always been intimidated by Emacs, but this session broke it down in a way that finally made sense. The hands-on approach was exactly what I needed to get started."

Michael S.

Web Developer

"The instructor's passion for Emacs was contagious. I came in skeptical but left with a new appreciation for what this tool can do. The customization section was particularly eye-opening."

Elena B.

Technical Writer

"The session provided just the right amount of information to get started without being overwhelming. I appreciated the focus on practical skills rather than theory."

Robert K.

Computer Science Student

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