Questions I've had while learning spacemacs

spacemacs-learning.md

Questions

• How do you navigate around directories?
  • Open tree view in files neotree
    • Shortcuts for neotree in evilmode in the docs
    • Using search (/) can be super useful to move around quickly
  • Use SPC p D to open the project root in Dired, and use SPC f j to jump to the Dired buffer corresponding to current buffer.
    • Dired shortcuts
      • copy C
      • rename R
      • delete D
      • compress Z files
      • create directories +
      • mark m
      • unmark u
      • refresh g
• How do you add syntax highlighting for new languages?
  • You can add that language into the languages list in .spacemacs
• How do you make new folders?
  • You can call into the terminal (SPC !) and run mkdir.
  • SPC : make-directory RET dirname RET
• How do you make new files?
  • You can call into the terminal (SPC !) and run touch.
• How to view all buffers?
  • There is an emacs shortcut to do it, C-x C-b
  • SPC b b
  • add the ibuffer layer and then SPC b B
• Split tabs?
  • In the space windows commands there's a command for split right
• Move between tabs?
  • Same as above (SPC w h/l)
• How to access projects easily?
• Why does evil mode's gg and G not work in normal navigation?
• How do you cycle through matches in a search?
  • Once you perform a search using / you can use n/N for going to next/previous match.
• How do you change indentation for a language (javascript 2 spaces)? For only the current file (specific project needs 6)?
  • To change javascript indentation
  • For project-specific indentation configuration, you can use .dir-locals.el (or .dir-locals*.el in Emacs 25 or later).
  • For file-specific indentation, you can use file variables
• What's a normal startup time for Spacemacs?
• How to do a text search in directory (similar to Sublime's CMD SHIFT f)
  • Spacemacs is integrated with different search utilities like ack, grep, ag, and pt. The search commands in Spacemacs are organized under the SPC s prefix.
  • To search in files in an arbitrary directory, use SPC s f. To search in a project, use SPC / (or SPC s p).

How to view all buffers

• SPC b b
• or add the ibuffer layer

@robbyoconnor thanks! Added

How do you cycle through matches in a search?

Once you perform a search using / you can use n/N for going to next/previous match.

How do you navigate around directories?

Besides emacs-neotree, you can also use Dired.

Use SPC p D to open the project root in Dired, and use SPC f j to jump to the Dired buffer corresponding to current buffer.

In Dired, you can copy (C), rename (R), delete (D), or compress (Z) files; you can create directories (+); you can mark (m) or unmark (u) files and apply a command on all marked files. You can also refresh the Dired buffer with g.

See also:

• https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Directories.html
• https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Dired.html
• https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/dired-x/index.html#Top
• https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/refcards/pdf/dired-ref.pdf

How do you make new folders?

You can use SPC : make-directory RET dirname RET.

You can also use + in a Dired buffer (see above).

How to access projects easily?

It's a long story. Personally, I like the new project package in Emacs 25, although its API is still unstable.

How do you change indentation for a language (javascript 2 spaces)? For only the current file (specific project needs 6)?

It depends on the major mode you use. For example, in CC Mode, you can customize c-basic-offset.

For project-specific indentation configuration, you can use .dir-locals.el (or .dir-locals*.el in Emacs 25 or later).

For file-specific indentation, you can use file variables.

Thanks @nixmaniack and @xfq, updated with your comments!

How to do a text search in directory (similar to Sublime's CMD SHIFT f)

Spacemacs is integrated with different search utilities like ack, grep, ag, and pt. The search commands in Spacemacs are organized under the SPC s prefix.

To search in files in an arbitrary directory, use SPC s f. To search in a project, use SPC / (or SPC s p).

How to access projects easily?

do you mean SPC p p?

FYI - the support for .dir-locals*.el in Emacs 25 has been removed.

References:

• http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/emacs.git/commit/?id=71b20b31c8ee25bcd0de1a954c9ca7b49140b3b2
• https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2015-12/msg00352.html

Why does evil mode's gg and G not work in normal navigation?

it definitely should work in most modes.