An Introduction to Programming in Emacs Lisp

by Robert J. Chassell

This tutorial is an elementary introduction to teach non-programmers how to customize their work environment; it can also be used as an introduction to programming basics. It includes numerous exercises and sample programs; the author also walks you through the actual source code of several GNU Emacs commands. A handy reference appendix is included. Emacs Lisp is a simple, complete, and powerful programming language. It is the building block of GNU Emacs, which is an integrated development environment with special features for scanning and parsing text as well as for handling multiple files, buffers, displays, windows, and sub-processors. This text will show * how to set variables and write function definitions * How to use "if" and "let" * How to write "while" loops and recursive loops * How to search for a word or expression * How to customize GNU Emacs for yourself, even when it is shared on a network. * How to debug programs * and much more. This revised third edition covers new features included in GNU Emacs version 21, while remaining compatible with earlier versions.

Genres: Programming, Reference, Technology, Technical, Computers, Software

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1993

Reviews

[Seth Kenlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book for an amazing application. I use Emacs all day, every day, and this book pretty much contains every trick you'd ever want to know (aside from the myriad modules available for Emacs, many of which in turn justify their own manuals). It took me a while before I actually bought a copy and it's been one of those purchases that, every time I pick it up, I think "what on Earth took me so long??"

If you're an Emacs user, you should have this book. If you are not, you should be; and then get this book.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I basically read this cover-to-cover as part of my effort to make rigorous one of those corners of software engineering that still remains voodoo: writing and maintaining Makefiles. Mission accomplished!

[Apple84 Wylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably should have given this book a five star rating due to size of accomplishment and scope of the GNU Emacs project. However, I downgraded a star for accessibility. You really need to be a hardcore UNIX geek to understand the minutia offered herein. I've used Emacs daily for over 10 years for writing, programming, and just about every function imaginable on a computer. The details of the manual are aimed at people with such a background more so than the initiate interested in learning text editing. That said, this book is an indispensable resource for hardcore Emacs users as a reference manual and a piece of computer history. For new or intermediate users I would recommend reading a more gentle introduction such as the O'Reilly Learning GNU Emacs book; work your way up to the unique information the manual has to offer. BTW, the manual is available free online in its entirety at The Free Software Foundation as well as an interactive version inside Emacs itself (C-h r).

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE GNU Emacs Manual.

This book was issued to me while working as a consultant for Northern Telecom (Nortel.) They standardized on this editor, as it was the most efficient for their environment. The above description of the back cover pretty much tells it all. Mine is an earlier edition but the picture is still the same. The book comes with a Lay Flat Binding. There is a Short Content and a several-page Table of Contents. Also, the GNU Manifesto, Glossary, Key (Character) Index, Command and Function Index, Variable Index, and Concept Index. You seldom need to go outside this reference Manual.

[Noah Sussman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is possibly the best manual for any word processor, ever.

[Robert Postill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive and clear, this is the manual I turn back to when I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing with emacs. It has dated but none-the-less it still feels authoritative.