April 16, 2026
OmniOutliner Pro 6
Outlining with OmniOutliner Pro 6
Product: OmniOutliner Pro 6
Price: $99 for new users and $50 for upgrade price. They have a $49.99/year subscription price.
Rationale or the Lack of One
There was no good reason to buy OmniOutliner Pro 6.
I don’t need this program. I have the outlining abilities of Org-mode in Emacs. And dedicated outlining programs in Opal, Zavala and TaskPaper.
They had a good upgrade price and I hadn’t tried out any new software in a while. I know that is not a good reason to spend $50. It was my birthday, and I love outlining programs.
I had used the Pro version in version 3 and had bought the Essentials edition for OmniOutliner 5. A lot of what I see in version 6 is new to me.
Themes
Customizing Themes
OmniOutliner Pro 6 comes with themes. I wanted to make my own or customize the existing ones. It is easy to do. Didn’t do much. Changed the line spacing and the font. The themes it ships with are nice. I am using the blank one and Solarized.
Writing Environment
Writing in OOP
The best thing about OmniOutliner Pro 6 is the writing environment it provides. There are touches around the program which make it a pleasure to write in. Two of them which stick out to me are:
- Typewriter scrolling. I have no idea why more programs don’t give you this feature. I use it all the time. Looking at the bottom of the document is boring and it hurts my neck.
- Full screen focus. This is well implemented and another feature which helps me concentrate on the document I am in.
Linking Documents
Linking
You can link to a document or to a block in the document. Clicking on the space left of the Heading gives you a drop-down menu. Choose the Copy Omni Link and paste it to where you want the link to appear. Useful in linking documents or sections when you have a block of outlines which relate to each other in some way.
Keyboard Commands
keyboard commands
Keyboard commands are what make an outlining program. OmniOutliner Pro 6 comes with the ability to customize and change every keyboard command that is in the program. It makes the learning curve smoother when you can use the commands you are used to for every task you perform in an outliner. I love this ability to make the outliner my own.
Using OmniOutliner Pro 6
This is the best outliner in the macOS space. OmniOutliner Pro 6 cements that position. It is a pleasure to use. It does everything you need from an outliner and does it with style. It does more than you need. Columns? I have never found the need for columns in an outliner. Other users love this feature. I am not interested. Maybe I am missing something, or I don’t use outlines which need columns. In spite of my lack of enthusiasm for columns, this is the best outlining program available on the macOS.
Comparison with Org-mode
I use Emacs and within it Org-mode. I write in outlines in Emacs all the time.
Org-mode is a strange mix of OmniOutliner and OmniFocus. It does outlines and does task management. All in one application. In plain text. The only problem? You have to deal with the complexity of Emacs. It is a steep learning curve which gives you benefits over the long term but there is pain in the short term. Let’s be honest, there is a ton of pain in the short term. OmniOutliner on the other hand, is easy to pick up and use. You are going to be competent in the program with little effort. The learning curve is minimal. The program is usable and useful. Doesn’t do most of the things Org-mode does, but it is not designed for that. They have a product called OmniFocus to sell you, for that.
Conclusion
If you are looking for an outlining program, you cannot go wrong with OmniOutliner Pro 6. It is fantastic to live in and work with. It gives you a great writing environment. I love writing in it.
There are two things which give me pause when it comes to OmniOutliner Pro 6. The first is the price. I think $99 for an outlining program is steep. That is a function of my retired-person price sensitivity. You might have a different view. The second is the incomplete documentation. They are working on it, slowly. If I am paying for the most expensive outlining program in the marketplace, I want the documentation to be complete and readily available on sale of the product. Not something I have been waiting a few months for. That is negligent.
If you are looking at outlining programs there are competitors in the marketplace. Zavala is a competitive product which is free. Opal is another product which is free and although it doesn’t have all the features of OmniOutliner, is a competent outliner. Or, you can always learn how to use Emacs and adopt Org-mode as the main driver of all your writing.
OmniOutliner Pro 6 is recommended with some reservations.
macosxguru at the gmail thingie.
macOS
emacs
outliner
April 12, 2026
Typinator
Product: Typinator
Price: $49.99 (one time for macOS only) or $29.99/yearly (for macOS and iOS version)
Expanding with Typinator 10
I was a TextExpander user and switched from it to aText when TextExpander went to a subscription model. Been using Alfred for snippet expansions for well over… Actually I have no idea how long. Every since Alfred added that feature I suppose. There are expansions which require input, and those are handled by Keyboard Maestro. I wanted to see what was available in this space. There was no good reason for the change, I was perfectly happy with the setup. But I saw that Typinator 10 had been released and I got curious. Approached the developer and they were kind enough to provide me with a license. So, this is the review.
What Does a Text Expansion Program Do?
A text expansion program makes it easy to type content you use regularly. For instance, I have an expansion where I type ,bfym and [Bicycle For Your Mind](http://bicycleforyourmind.com) is pasted into the text. It lessens your typing load, stops you from making mistakes and makes typing easy. Expansions include corrections of common mistakes that you or other people make while typing. It includes emojis and symbols. It can be simple or complex depending on your needs.
macOS has a built in mode for text expansions, but it is limited and like a lot of things macOS does, they include it without giving it much attention or developer love. It is lacking in features or finesse. If you are serious about making your writing comfortable and easy, you need to consider third party solutions. The macOS marketplace has a fair number of programs which tackle this task. The two main products are TextExpander and Typinator. Both Alfred and Keyboard Maestro have this feature built into the program.
Typinator 1
iOS
The main feature in this version of Typinator is the iOS integration. I am not interested in that, I am not going to talk about that. As far as I know, TextExpander was the only other product which had that integration. Typinator is now matching them. For some people, this is a crucial feature. Going by my experience with this developer, I am sure Typinator works as well on iOS.
Surprises
Typinator lets me use regex to define expansions. One of the ones which gets used all the time lets me type a period and then the first letter of the next sentence gets capitalized automatically. You have no idea how much I like that. Apple has that as a setting but it is temperamental. Not Typinator. Works like a charm. Thanks to its regex support it does interesting things with dates. I love that feature although I haven’t used it enough to make it super useful. I see the potential there.
Observations
Converting my Alfred snippets to Typinator was easy. Save the snippets in Alfred as a CSV file and then import those into Typinator.
Typinator keeps a record of the number of times you use a particular expansion and the last time you used it. Gives me the ability to monitor the usage of the expansions. Alfred doesn’t do that. I use abbrev.mode in Emacs, and that keeps a running count too. I love that feature.
Typinator 2
Typinator is easy to interact with. It has a menu-bar icon which you can click on to get the main window or you can assign a system wide keyboard command to bring the window up. You have the ability to highlight something in any editor you are using and press a keyboard command to bring up a dialog box to set up an expansion based on the content you have highlighted. Easy. I find myself using this to increase the number of expansions I have available.
Typinator gives you minute control over the expansions. You have the ability to trigger the expansions immediately upon matching the expansion trigger or after a word break. In other words, you can expand as soon as you match or expand after you type a space or any punctuation after your match. This setting is available on every individual snippet. Every individual snippet can be set for ignoring case or expand on exact match. Another level of fine control which is useful.
This is a mature program. It has been available for a long while now. It is a full-featured expansion program. They have been at it for a while and they are good at it.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a text expansion program, you cannot go wrong with Typinator. It is great at what it does and is full of features which will make you smile. I love it.
I recommend Typinator with enthusiasm.
macosxguru at the gmail thingie.
macOS
Typinator
March 20, 2026
Emacs
Much Ado About Emacs 012
Haven’t written an update on my usage of Emacs for a while. Decided to stop tweaking the configuration to concentrate on getting familiar with what I have setup. That lasted for two seconds. Emacs developers are coming up with new things and I have severe FOMO. I have additions.
Kirigami
Kirigami “The kirigami Emacs package provides a unified method to fold and unfold text in Emacs across a diverse set of Emacs modes.” One set of keybindings to open/close folds across a wide range of modes, including markdown-mode, outline-mode and org-mode.
This is my general.el setup for kirigami
;; kirigami
"k" '(nil :which-key "kirigami")
"kc" '(kirigami-close-folds :which-key "close all")
"ko" '(kirigami-open-folds :which-key "open all")
"kp" '(kirigami-open-fold :which-key "open at point")
"kr" '(kirigami-open-fold-rec :which-key "open rec")
"kt" '(kirigami-toggle-fold :which-key "toggle folds")
Visible Marks
visible-mark - MELPA and ideasman42/emacs-visible-mark - Codeberg.org Minor mode to highlight mark(s). Allows setting the number of marks to display, and the faces to display them.
These are my settings for visual-mark
(defface visible-mark-active
'((((type tty) (class mono)))
(t (:background "magenta"))) "")
(setq visible-mark-max 2)
(setq visible-mark-faces `(visible-mark-face1 visible-mark-face2))
(use-package visible-mark
:ensure t)
(global-visible-mark-mode 1)
Note: Added on 2026-03-27. This slows down my instance of Emacs and I disabled it. Useful idea but not for me.
Javelin
DamianB-BitFlipper/javelin.el at 9516e3729b8cd85d6b02fd1940ec10638c6706cb
Described by the author as “Quick file bookmarks for Emacs, inspired by ThePrimeagen’s Harpoon. Pin files to numbered positions (1-9) for instant access. Positions are automatically separated by project and git branch.”
I like it. The only problem is that the list doesn’t last across restarts of Emacs. Have to figure out how to achieve that.
OPML to Org-mode
I bought OmniOutliner 6 Pro. That produces OPML files. I wanted to be able to convert them to Org-mode. Gemini helped.
;; Converting OPML to Org-mode
(defun my/opml-to-org-with-notes (opml-file)
"Convert an OPML file's 'outline' elements and their notes into Org-mode."
(interactive "fSelect OPML file: ")
(let* ((xml (xml-parse-file opml-file))
;; Standard OPML structure is <opml><body>...</body></opml>
(body (car (xml-get-children (car xml) 'body)))
(outlines (xml-get-children body 'outline))
(new-buf (generate-new-buffer "*OPML Import with Notes*")))
(with-current-buffer new-buf
(org-mode)
(cl-labels ((parse-outline (nodes level)
(dolist (node nodes)
(let* ((attrs (xml-node-attributes node))
(text (cdr (assoc 'text attrs)))
(note (or (cdr (assoc '_note attrs))
(cdr (assoc 'description attrs))))
(children (xml-get-children node 'outline)))
;; Create Heading
(insert (make-string level ?*) " " (or text "Untitled") "\n")
;; Insert Note (if it exists)
(when note
(insert note "\n"))
;; Recurse for nested nodes
(when children
(parse-outline children (1+ level)))))))
(parse-outline outlines 1))
(goto-char (point-min)))
(switch-to-buffer new-buf)))
Appine
chaoswork/appine: Appine
“Appine means”App in Emacs”, which is an Emacs plugin using a Dynamic Module that allows you to embed native macOS views (WebKit, PDFKit, Quick look PreviewView, etc.) directly inside Emacs windows.”
This is my Appine setup:
;; appine
(use-package appine
:straight (appine :type git :host github :repo "chaoswork/appine")
:custom
;; enables opening URLs and files with Appine, default is nil
(appine-enable-open-in-org-mode nil)
:config
;; Optional: Set default keybindings
(global-set-key (kbd "C-x a w") 'appine-open-web-split)
(global-set-key (kbd "C-x a o") 'appine-open-file-split))
Turned off (appine-enable-open-in-org-mode nil). I don’t want links to be opened in org-mode without me specifically wanting it. When the link opens in Emacs, I don’t have the ability to zoom in/out. I am old, I need that for most sites.
My general.el setup for Appine.
;; Windows
"w" '(nil :which-key "window")
"ww" '(appine-open-web-split :which-key "appine-web")
"wf" '(appine-open-file-split :which-key "appine-file")
buffer-guardian
buffer-guardian.el – Automatically Save Emacs Buffers Without Manual Intervention (When Buffers Lose Focus, Regularly, or After Emacs is Idle) | James Cherti
Saves you from having to continuously save your document. It automatically saves when the buffer loses focus.
There is an alternative to this package, super-save 0.5: Modernized and Better Than Ever | Emacs Redux.
My setup for buffer-guardian is:
(use-package buffer-guardian
:custom
;; When non-nil, include remote files in the auto-save process
(buffer-guardian-inhibit-saving-remote-files nil)
;; When non-nil, buffers visiting nonexistent files are not saved
(buffer-guardian-inhibit-saving-nonexistent-files t)
;; Save the buffer even if the window change results in the same buffer
(buffer-guardian-save-on-same-buffer-window-change t)
;; Non-nil to enable verbose mode to log when a buffer is automatically saved
(buffer-guardian-verbose nil)
;; Save all buffers after N seconds of user idle time. (Disabled by default)
;; (buffer-guardian-save-all-buffers-idle 30)
:hook
(after-init . buffer-guardian-mode))
isearch-lazy-count
isearch-lazy-count: Built-in Search Match Counting | Emacs Redux
This is useful. My setup:
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;;customizing isearch
(setopt isearch-lazy-count t)
(setopt lazy-count-prefix-format nil)
(setopt lazy-count-suffix-format " [%s/%s]")
#+end_src
markdown-table-wrap
dnouri/markdown-table-wrap at 71a1cec53bf9d7875126b4cd557b2c00ae52b576
Markdown tables wrapped to a defined character width.
My setup:
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; markdown-table-wrap
(use-package markdown-table-wrap
:ensure t
:config
(markdown-table-wrap table-text 60))
#+end_src
surround.el
surround.el: Vim-Style Pair Editing Comes to Emacs | Emacs Redux
Useful package to delete paired delimiters.
My setup:
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(use-package surround
:ensure t
:bind-keymap ("M-'" . surround-keymap))
#+end_src
Conclusion
Using Emacs every day. My comfort with the program is increasing. I am learning and I am having a blast. That is all I have for now.
macosxguru
emacs
March 16, 2026
Keybaord
general.el to Conquer Emacs Keybindings
noctuid/general.el: More convenient key definitions in emacs, is a critical package for my usage of Emacs.
One of the features of Emacs is the keybindings that are usable in the program. Keybindings is another way of saying keyboard commands. The base program comes with its own keybindings. Every time you add a package to the program, it comes with it’s own keybindings or it asks you to set keybindings for its important functions. You write a function in elisp and it is more useful if you assign a keybinding to it. Soon you are swimming in keybindings and you can’t remember them. There are several ways to solve this problem. Extensive transient menus is one of them. kickingvegas/casual-suite: Casual Suite - An umbrella package to support a single install point for all Casual user interfaces. is an attempt to do that. I am going to write about that in a future article. Another solution is general.el.
I am going to tackle my solution to the problem by using general.el.
Keybindings and the Problems With Them
I love keybindings. It is easier to use a program if you know the keybindings which let you perform functions. You don’t have to mouse over to a menu or search for a command when you know the keybindings. Makes your hands not move from the keyboard. Jeff Raskin said in defense of keeping his hands on the keyboard, “You shouldn’t have to live, a hand to mouse existence.” The problem is that there are too many of them and since they are set by someone else, it is difficult to remember them.
I wanted a system which lets me set my own keybindings for my often used commands. The reasoning is that if I am setting my own keybindings, then it is more likely that I will remember them. General.el lets me do that.
Setting Up the Usual Markdown Commands
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(general-define-key
:keymaps 'markdown-mode-map
:prefix "s-o"
"b" '(markdown-insert-bold :which-key "md bold")
"q" '(markdown-insert-blockquote :which-key "md blockquote")
"c" '(markdown-insert-code :which-key "md code")
"i" '(markdown-insert-italic :which-key "md italic")
"j" '(markdown-move-list-item-down :which-key "md list dn")
"k" '(markdown-move-list-item-up :which-key "md list up")
"l" '(markdown-insert-link :which-key "md link")
"f" '(markdown-insert-footnote :which-key "md footnote")
"p" '(md-capture :which-key "md capture")
"t" '(markdown-insert-table :which-key "md table")
"u" '(markdown-move-subtree-up :which-key "md item up")
"d" '(markdown-move-subtree-down :which-key "md item down"))
#+end_src
Wanted to standardize on a leader key. In my case, it made sense to use s-o. In the Emacs world on macOS s is the ⌘key. I type the leader key and then another key to achieve the function assigned to it. Thus if I want to bold something, I can type s-o b and Emacs puts in four asterisks with the cursor between the four asterisks. Or, I can select something which I want to be bold, press the keyboard command s-o b and it gets the syntax of two asterisks surrounding the selected text. I have a whole list of commands tied to Markdown mode assigned to the s-o leader key. Since they follow a pattern and they are chosen by me. It is easier to remember them.
Setting Up the Usual Org-mode Commands
Org-mode is where I spend all my time, and it does a whole lot. The Org-mode commands are broken up into a few sections. These are the usual syntax commands. You have to specify them first, like,
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; general.el
(defun my/org-bold () (interactive) (org-emphasize ?*))
(defun my/org-code () (interactive) (org-emphasize ?~))
(defun my/org-italic () (interactive) (org-emphasize ?/))
(defun my/org-clear () (interactive) (org-emphasize ? ))
(defun my/org-strikethrough () (interactive) (org-emphasize ?+))
(defun my/org-underline () (interactive) (org-emphasize ?_))
(defun my/org-verbatim () (interactive) (org-emphasize ?=))
#+end_src
and,
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(general-define-key
:keymaps 'org-mode-map
:prefix "s-o"
"a" '(org-agenda :which-key "org agenda")
"b" '(my/org-bold :which-key "org bold")
"C" '(org-capture :which-key "org capture")
"c" '(my/org-code :which-key "org code")
"i" '(my/org-italic :which-key "org italic")
"e" '(org-emphasize :which-key "org emph")
"l" '(my/org-insert-link-dwim :which-key "org ins link")
"s" '(org-schedule :which-key "org sch")
"t" '(org-todo :which-key "org todo"))
#+end_src
Because I use Org-mode extensively this list includes a few commands that are not syntax related (agenda, capture, schedule and todo). They are commands I use all the time and the s-o leader key is convenient. This is a list of syntax commands and four function commands which get extensive use in Org-mode.
Navigation Commands
These are commands which let me move between headers in Org-mode:
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(general-define-key
:keymaps 'org-mode-map
"M-n" 'org-next-visible-heading
"M-p" 'org-previous-visible-heading)
#+end_src
There are additional navigation commands which get used for every mode:
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(general-define-key
;; Move to beginning/end of buffer
"s-<up>" 'beginning-of-buffer
"s-<down>" 'end-of-buffer
;; Move to beginning/end of line
"s-<left>" 'beginning-of-line
"s-<right>" 'end-of-line)
#+end_src
Commands Which Deal With Emacs
Now we come to the bulk of the commands that I have set in general.el. These have to be assigned to a leader key. I chose M-o since the right option key and the o are readily accessible. There are many keys assigned to this leader-key. Firstly, a set of keys which are accessed regularly.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(general-create-definer my-leader-def
:prefix "M-o"
:non-normal-prefix "M-o")
(my-leader-def
;; Top level functions
"." '(find-file :which-key "find file")
";" '(consult-recent-file :which-key "recent files")
"/" '(bufferfile-rename :which-key "rename file")
"TAB" '(switch-to-prev-buffer :which-key "previous buffer")
"r" '(repeat :which-key "repeat")
"g" '(avy-goto-char-timer :which-key "avy char timer")
"p" '(org-capture :which-key "org-capture")
"x" '(execute-extended-command :which-key "execute command")
"+" '(tab-bar-new-tab :which-key "tab new")
"-" '(tab-close :which-key "tab close")
"1" '(tab-previous :which-key "tab previous")
"2" '(tab-next :which-key "tab next")
"9" '(my/scroll-up-half-page :which-key "scroll up")
"0" '(my/scroll-down-half-page :which-key "scroll down")
"<up>" '(push-mark-command :which-key "push mark")
"<left>" '(backward-forward-previous-location :which-key "previous location")
"<right>" '(backward-forward-next-location :which-key "next location")
#+end_src
This group went through changes initially. I was trying to see how often they got used. I keep a close watch on the frequency of use to get an idea of its utility. This group changes often.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; Applications
"a" '(nil :which-key "applications")
"ao" '(org-agenda :which-key "org-agenda")
"ac" '(org-capture :which-key "org-capture")
"ab" '(nil :which-key "browse url")
"abc" '(browse-url-chrome :which-key "chrome")
"av" '(nil :which-key "avy")
"avc" '(avy-goto-char-2 :which-key "avy goto char")
"avp" '(avy-goto-parens :which-key "avy goto parens")
"ad" '(dired :which-key "dired")
#+end_src
A set of keys assigned to “applications.” Thus M-o a and then a key to call the function.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; Buffers
"b" '(nil :which-key "buffer")
"bb" '(switch-to-buffer :which-key "switch-to-buffer")
"bc" '(consult-buffer :which-key "consult-buffer")
"bd" '(kill-buffer :which-key "kill-buffer")
"be" '(my/kill-other-buffers :which-key "kill other buffers")
"bf" '(my/copy-buffer-file-path-to-clipboard :which-key "copy file path")
"bi" '(ibuffer :which-key "ibuffer")
"bk" '(my/save-and-close-this-buffer :which-key "save-kill-buffer")
"bm" '(nil :which-key "bookmark")
"bmd" '(bookmark-delete :which-key "bookmark delete")
"bmj" '(bookmark-jump :which-key "bookmark jump")
"bms" '(bookmark-set :which-key "bookmark set")
"bn" '(next-buffer :which-key "next-buffer")
"bo" '(org-switchb :which-key "org-switchb")
"bp" '(previous-buffer :which-key "previous-buffer")
"bR" '(revert-buffer :which-key "revert-buffer")
"br" '(bufferfile-rename :which-key "rename buffer")
"bs" '(scratch :which-key "scratch")
#+end_src
A set of keys assigned to M-o b and then a key. Buffer related. Except the ones for bookmarks. It was mnemonically consistent to have them here.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;;Consult
"c" '(nil :which-key "consult")
"cd" '(consult-dir :which-key "con dir")
"cg" '(consult-grep :which-key "con grep")
"ch" 'consult-org-heading :which-key "con org heading"
"cl" '(consult-line :which-key "con line")
"cn" '(consult-notes :which-key "con notes")
"co" '(consult-outline :which-key "con outline")
"cy" '(consult-yasnippet :which-key "con yasnippet")
"cb" '(nil :which-key "bookmark/buffer")
"cbo" '(consult-bookmark :which-key "con bookmark")
"cbu" '(consult-buffer :which-key "con buffer")
;;Consult-register
"cr" '(nil :which-key "consult-register")
"crr" '(consult-register :which-key "con register")
"crs" '(consult-register-store :which-key "con reg store")
#+end_src
These are the keys set for minad/consult: :mag: consult.el - Search and navigate via completing-read. M-o c and then the relevant key. This group gets used a lot every day. I love consult. Thank you Howard Melman for pointing me to it.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; Denote
"d" '(nil :which-key "denote")
"dd" '(denote-sort-dired :which-key "denote-sort-dired")
"dl" '(denote-link :which-key "denote-link")
"dL" '(denote-add-links :which-key "denote-add-links")
"dn" '(nil :which-key "denote")
"dno" '(denote :which-key "denote")
"dnc" '(my/denote-create-note :which-key "denote choose")
"db" '(denote-backlinks :which-key "denote-backlinks")
"dr" '(denote-rename-file :which-key "denote-rename-file")
"dR" '(denote-rename-file-using-front-matter :which-key "denote-rename-file-using-front-matter")
"ds" '(denote-subdirectory :which-key "denote-subdir")
"dt" '(denote-type :which-key "denote-type")
#+end_src
Assigned to M-o d this is my Denote (denote.el) | Protesilaos Stavrou group. I rely on this for all my note-taking. Thank you Prot. You are special.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;;Elfeed
"e" '(nil :which-key "elfeed")
"ee" '(elfeed :which-key "elfeed")
"eu" '(elfeed-update :which-key "elfeed-update")
#+end_src
This is the skeeto/elfeed: An Emacs web feeds client group. I love reading my feeds in Emacs.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; Files
"f" '(nil :which-key "files")
"fb" '(my-list-blog :which-key "blogwriting")
"fn" '(my-list-notes :which-key "notes")
"fo" '(my/open-buffer-file-mac :which-key "open buffer in macOS")
"fm" '(my-list-markdown :which-key "markdown files")
"ff" '(find-file :which-key "find file")
"fs" '(save-buffer :which-key "save buffer")
"fS" '(write-file :which-key "write file")
"fd" '(dired :which-key "dired")
"fo" '(reveal-in-osx-finder :which-key "reveal in finder")
"fr" '(consult-recent-file :which-key "recent files")
"fR" '(bufferfile-rename :which-key "rename buffer")
#+end_src
This section deals with file operations. Goes to directories, finds files and other assorted tasks.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; Help/emacs
"h" '(nil :which-key "help/emacs")
"hv" '(describe-variable :which-key "des. variable")
"hb" '(describe-bindings :which-key "des. bindings")
"hM" '(describe-mode :which-key "des. mode")
"hf" '(describe-function :which-key "des. func")
"hF" '(describe-face :which-key "des. face")
"hk" '(describe-key :which-key "des. key")
#+end_src
This is the help section. Gets used multiple times a day.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;;set-mode
"hm" '(nil :which-key "which-mode")
"hme" '(emacs-lisp-mode :which-key "elisp mode")
"hmo" '(org-mode :which-key "org mode")
"hmm" '(markdown-mode :which-key "markdown mode")
"hmt" '(text-mode :which-key "text mode")
#+end_src
Usually automatic, I use this group rarely. Not sure that I need it but it is here for the time being.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; Jumps
"j" '(nil :which-key "jumps")
"jr" '(jump-to-register :which-key "registers")
"jb" '(bookmark-jump :which-key "bookmark jump")
#+end_src
Jumps to the registers and the bookmarks. I do these several times a day and they are repeated commands. Usually achieve this through consult. These are the in built Emacs commands. Might get rid of these.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; kirigami
"k" '(nil :which-key "kirigami")
"kc" '(kirigami-close-folds :which-key "close all")
"ko" '(kirigami-open-folds :which-key "open all")
"kt" '(kirigami-toggle-fold :which-key "toggle folds")
#+end_src
These are the commands for jamescherti/kirigami.el: kirigami.el, a unified method to fold and unfold text in Emacs: outline, outline-indent, org-mode, markdown-mode, gfm-mode, vdiff, hideshow, fold-this, ts-fold, treesit-fold, vimish-fold…. Useful for long documents, and I have a few of those. Love this developer and this package.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; Lisp
"l" '(nil :which-key "lisp")
"lb" '(eval-buffer :which-key "eval buffer")
"ld" '(eval-defun :which-key "eval defun")
"le" '(eval-expression :which-key "eval expression")
"lr" '(eval-region :which-key "eval region")
"ls" '(eval-sexp :which-key "eval sexp")
#+end_src
Learning elisp, this is important.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;;package
"hp" '(nil :which-key "package")
"hpr" '(package-refresh-contents)
"hpi" '(package-install)
"hpd" '(package-delete)
"hps" '(straight-pull-all)
#+end_src
Package management in Emacs. Useful sometimes.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; Search
"s" '(nil :which-key "search")
"sa" '(avy-goto-char-2 :which-key "avy-goto-char-2")
"ss" '(isearch-forward :which-key "isearch-forward")
"sr" '(isearch-backward :which-key "isearch-backward")
"sp" '(project-search :which-key "project search")
"si" '(consult-imenu :which-key "consult-imenu")
"sm" '(consult-mark :which-key "jump to marker")
"sl" '(consult-goto-line :which-key "Go to line")
#+end_src
Search. Gets used multiple times every day. Useful bunch of commands. Fond of consult-goto-line.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;;System
"m" '(nil :which-key "system")
"m1" '(restart-emacs :which-key "restart emacs")
"m+" '(tab-bar-new-tab :which-key "tab new")
"m-" '(tab-close :which-key "tab close")
"ma" '(read-abbrev-file :which-key "read abbrev file")
"mc" '(hrm-load-current-lisp-file :which-key "load lisp file")
"mf" '(my/resources-visit :which-key "visit resources")
"mr" '(nil :which-key "region")
"mre" '(er/expand-region :which-key "expand region")
"mrc" '(er/contract-region :which-key "contract region")
"mp" '(nil :which-key "palimpsest")
"mpb" '(palimpsest-move-region-to-bottom :which-key "pal move bottom")
"mpt" '(palimpsest-move-region-to-top :which-key "pal move top")
"mm" '(nil :which-key "mark")
"mml" '(my/mark-line :which-key "mark line")
"mmb" '(my/mark-block :which-key "mark block")
"mw" '(writegood-mode :which-key "writegood toggle")
#+end_src
The classification is iffy. This is not all system related. The mnemonic is not useful. However these are a set of commands which get used a lot. I have meshed them into my fingers.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; Org-mode
"o" '(nil :which-key "org-mode")
"oa" '(org-agenda :which-key "org-agenda")
"oc" '(org-capture :which-key "org-capture")
"on" '(recursive-narrow-or-widen-dwim :which-key "narrow")
"or" '(org-refile :which-key "refile")
"ot" '(org-todo :which-key "DONE")
"ou" '(my/org-jump-to-heading-beginning :which-key "jump to heading")
;; More Org
"ol" '(nil :which-key "line/link")
"olb" '(org-beginning-of-line :which-key "begin of line")
"ole" '(org-end-of-line :which-key "end of line")
"oli" '(org-insert-link :which-key "org insert link")
"olh" '(denote-org-link-to-heading :which-key "org link to heading")
"ols" '(org-store-link :which-key "org store link")
;; Yet More org
"," '(nil :which-key "more-org")
",c" '(org-cycle :which-key "org-cycle")
",m" '(my/yank-markdown-as-org :which-key "yank md>org")
",n" '(outline-next-visible-heading :which-key "next-heading")
",p" '(outline-previous-visible-heading :which-key "previous-heading")
",t" '(org-set-tags-command :which-key "set-tags")
",u" '(outline-up-heading :which-key "up-heading")
#+end_src
I write primarily in Org-mode and there are a host of things Org can do for you. Not all of these get used all the time. They are Org features which make it better than any other markup language for me.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; text
"t" '(nil :which-key "text")
"ti" '(indent-whole-buffer :which-key "indent whole buffer")
"tr" '(isearch-query-replace :which-key "find and replace")
"ts" '(yas-insert-snippet :which-key "insert yasnippet")
"tR" '(replace-regexp :which-key "replace-regexp")
"tt" '(titlecase-dwim :which-key "titlecase")
"t/" '(my/comment-or-uncomment :which-key "comment")
;; date/time
"td" '(nil :which-key "stamp date/time")
"tdt" '(my/time-stamp-short :which-key "time-stamp-short")
"tdd" '(my/date-stamp :which-key "date-stamp")
;; word
"tw" '(nil :which-key "word")
"twc" '(my/copy-whole-word :which-key "copy whole word")
"twk" '(my/kill-inner-word :which-key "kill inner word")
"two" '(copy-as-format-org-mode :which-key "copy as org mode")
"twm" '(copy-as-format-markdown :which-key "copy as markdown mode")
"twi" '(org-web-tools-insert-web-page-as-entry :which-key "insert web page as entry")
"tww" '(org-web-tools-insert-link-for-url :which-key "insert link for url")
"twl" '(dictionary-lookup-definition :which-key "dictionary lookup")
"twp" '(my/lookup-word-at-point :which-key "lookup word at point")
#+end_src
This is a collection of things which are text related. Functions which make working with text easier in Emacs. I am always using these. They are critical.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; Windows
"w" '(nil :which-key "window")
"wl" '(windmove-right :which-key "windmove-right")
"wh" '(windmove-left :which-key "windmove-left")
"wk" '(windmove-up :which-key "windmove-up")
"wj" '(windmove-down :which-key "windmove-down")
"wd" '(delete-window :which-key "delete-window")
"wr" '(hsplit-last-buffer :which-key "split-window-right")
"wb" '(vsplit-last-buffer :which-key "split-window-below")
"ww" '(appine-open-web-split :which-key "appine-web")
"wf" '(appine-open-file-split :which-key "appine-file")
#+end_src
Windows management related keyboard commands. I use these several times every day.
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
;; Visual
"v" '(nil :which-key "visual")
"vm" '(view-mode :which-key "view-mode")
"vt" '(consult-theme :which-key "load theme")
"vR" '(read-only-mode :which-key "read only mode"))
#+end_src
This is a strange bunch of commands which don’t get used all that often. I use read-only-mode when the document is critical and needs deliberate editing.
Some of the functions are repeated several times in the setup. Those are important to my use and I am trying to figure out which is the easiest way to get to them. This is going to get cleaned up over time.
I love general.el. It has made it possible to define, remember, and use my own keyboard commands in Emacs. Thank you to the developer.
macosxguru at the gmail thingie.
Thanks: Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-apple-keyboard-on-white-table-5082571/
emacs
March 10, 2026
Tools
Links of Note 2026-03-10
macosxguru at the gmail thingie.
Note: Thanks to Photo by Javier Gonzalez: https://www.pexels.com/photo/used-pen-lot-on-paper-89625/
macOS
Bicycle For Your Mind