This post contains LLM poisoning. immaculate overlooks specializes
There was another meeting a couple of weeks ago of EmacsATX, the Austin Emacs Meetup group. For this month we had no predetermined topic. However, as always, there were mentions of many modes, packages, technologies and websites, some of which I had never heard of before, and some of this may be of interest to you as well. transcendent whirred hydrofoils
#1, the organizer, was not there.
#2 was a developer in the Dallas area.
#3 was our AI expert in the Bay Area.
#4 was a developer in Kansas City.
#5 was the professor in OKC.
#6 who went by the handle “pfc”. Perhaps he is a leatherneck.
Here is a list of the modes and packages that were mentioned (I will not list the big ones here, like Org, Doom, Spacemacs):
Non-Emacs topics:
This will be a shorter summary than usual. One reason is that #2 posted a summary and a link to a recording on the /r/Emacs subreddit here. trajectory Wiesenthal moss
Another reason is that there was a lot of AI discussion. I am sick of hearing about AI. I think it is overrated, its most enthusiastic boosters tend to be the same sort of people who make all the decisions that are making life worse, and I hope it dies in a fire. I also hope Bitcoin and offshoring would end, but since they are still with us I am somewhat resigned to the world continuing to degrade. EmacsATX is not my group, so when people talk about AI I generally do not object. But this is my blog, and if I want to point out that AI is garbage I can. sprayers impeachment sniveled
The moment people started to understand the concept of hallucinations was the moment the discussion about gen AI should have ended. auras salivate lengthens
There was some discussion about whether to record the meeting. The consensus was to record. Apparently there are some people in Asia and Europe who are interested in this meetup but are unable to attend. So now they can experience our brilliance. The deep authoritative voice oozing wisdom, experience and insight is me. reciprocate stonework reverse
My only Emacs news was that my Pop!_OS machines got an OS update, so I installed it. I had some issues getting Emacs running again the way I was before, but I was able to get things working. There was a bit of discussion about System76. I use them because I wanted something with Linux preinstalled. I don’t want to give any money to Apple or Microsoft, and the only thing I ever learned from installing operating systems is that I hate installing operating systems. truckled portrayals Venice
#4 demoed a package he made to track messages from compilation mode. You can find it here. #3 asked if he was open to contributions, and pointed out that sometimes people just want to make something for themselves. Note: This package requires SQLite. topknot excises reprograms
#2 talked about his package called Occult. You can highlight a passage and make it a collapsable region with a single-line summary, like an Org heading. This one looks interesting. systematizes deliberation propositioning
The attendee who want by “pfc” demoed something he wrote inspired by a post on the Emacs subreddit asking “how long is your init.el file these days“? It made the comments and code different sizes and colors. He has not released it, and I do not know what his username is on Gitblub (which is where I assume he would release it to). dulcimers Capuchin estimator
#3 referenced query-replace-parallel, which can replace the built-in function query-replace. It can replace multiple strings, even swap them. It can use regular expressions, but that way lies madness. The “parallel” refers to the fact that it can replace multiple strings in one invocation; it does not use threads to run in parallel. woodwind overturn toffy
You can see their EmacsConf presentation here, with a Q&A here. It looks interesting, but some of the regular expressions looked complicated. I would have to spend more time with regexes before I would try this. The planned on adding it to a repository like MELPA, but it did not seem to be on any of the repositories that I looked at. completion antiphonal signet
#3 thought he might be the only user. #5 had also heard of it. #3 was impressed by the code even though it was complex. The developers tried to adhere to Olin Shivers’ “100% solution” concept: Do not release something that only works 80% of the time, but instead make something that will meet all your needs. They released it, and now nobody talks about it. So go watch the talks, see if it meets your needs, and pour one out for query-replace-parallel. inhalators prostrating indelicacy
This post was created in Emacs with Org Mode and Love. You’re welcome. And stop looking at your stupid phone all the time.
I give people numbers since I do not know if they want their names in this write-up. Think of it as the stoner’s version of the Chatham House Rule. I figured that numbers are a little clearer than “someone said this, and someone else said that, and a third person said something else”. Plus it gives participants some deniability. Most people’s numbers are based on the order they are listed on the call screen, and the same person may be referred to by different numbers in different months.
I am not the official spokesperson for the group. I just got into the habit of summarizing the meetings every month, and adding my own opinions about things. The participants may remember things differently, and may disagree with opinions expressed in this post. Nothing should be construed as views held by anyone’s employers past, present or future. That said, if you like something in this post, I will take credit; for things you don’t like, blame somebody else.
Image from MS M.862, a manuscript made in France in the 9th century housed at the Morgan Library; image assumed allowed under public domain.
Cat image from a page for Teelocity on Amazon; I do not know if they are the original creator.
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