Scamx: A Minimalist Modal Editing Mechanism for Emacs

Scamx is an experimental modal editing mechanism designed for Emacs. It introduces a modularized, multi-layered approach that integrates seamlessly with default Emacs keybindings, avoiding modifier keys and focusing solely on essential commands. Scamx is crafted to deliver a streamlined and functional modal editing experience within the Emacs environment. As mathematical principles dictate, only mapping matters and those powerful functions are just out there.

How to Use

(use-package scamx
  :ensure t
  :vc (:url "https://github.com/MagiFeeney/scamx/")
  :config
  (electric-pair-mode)
  )

Modes

There are four major modes: normal, X, convert, and visit, where some minor modes, such as isearch, are wrapped into them. The normal mode serves as a base for basic navigation and modes invoking. And X mode is sequence commands with a prefix "x". Convert mode "c" is bolder compared to normal mode, and visit mode "v" navigates, views and manages buffer or window.

X mode

• x f open a file.
• x s save buffer
• x c save and close emacs
• x z minimize window
• x h select whole buffer
• x <tab> indent region
• x ( start macro
• x ) end macro
• x e call macro
• x [ backward page
• x ] forward page
• x * calculator
• x b switch to buffer
• x l list all buffers
• x k kill buffer
• x j dired jump
• x x exchange point and mark
• x SPC pop to mark command
• x n duplicate line
• x ESC repeat complex command
• x . eval last sexp
• x : eval expression
• x = adjust text scale
• x \ copy current file path to kill ring
• x ~ shutdown the computer
• x o org mode map (e.g. org mode or org-roam commands)
• x m set mode map (e.g. eshell, python ...)

Normal mode

• / M-x
• x X mode
• c convert mode
• v visit mode
• ` motion mode
• ? help mode
• g cancel selection or exit minibuffer
• a move beginning of line
• e move end of line
• d delete forward one char or delete region if selected
• h delete backward one char or delete region if selected
• i insert
• o open below
• O open above
• n next line
• p previous line
• f forward char
• b backward char
• j newline (a.k.a <return>)
• m back to indentation
• s isearch forward minor mode
• k kill line at point or kill region if selected
• w copy
• y yank
• u undo
• r redo
• t select to char
• z zap up to char
• Z zap to char
• q quit current buffer
• Q goto line
• l recenter top bottom
• \ delete horizontal space
• = mark word
• SPC set mark command
• ! shell command
• $ ispell word
• % query replace
• ; comment line
• ' comment or uncomment region
• <backspace> kill whole line
• , mark inside pairs dwim
• . mark outside pairs dwim ((), {}, [], "", '')

Convert mode

• / M-x
• g back to normal mode
• n forward paragraph
• p backward paragraph
• f forward word
• b backward word
• d kill word or delete region if selected
• h backward kill word or delete region if selected
• k kill paragraph or kill region if selected
• w copy
• y yank
• u undo
• r redo
• a backward kill sexp
• j raise sexp
• e kill sexp
• ( backward list
• ) forward list
• [ backward sexp
• ] forward sexp
• { backward up list
• } forward up list
• < move beginning of defun
• > move end of defun
• = mark sexp
• , mark defun
• s allow one key in Normal mode be executed

Visit mode

• g back to normal mode
• l last buffer
• n next buffer
• p previous buffer
• f other window
• b previous window any frame
• c clone buffer
• s scratch buffer
• d scroll page down
• D scroll other page down
• u scroll page up
• U scroll other page up
• e scroll line down
• a scroll line up
• r revert buffer
• 0 delete window
• 1 delete other windows
• = balance windows
• m minimize window
• M maximize window
• | split window horizontally
• _ split window vertically
• + bold enlarge window horizontally
• - bold shrink window horizontally
• w swap window
• j move cursor on top, center or bottom of the screen
• ( tear off window
• ) delete frame
• If you have installed package ace-window, then you can further have:
  • t select window

Multiple cursors in Normal mode

• [ mc/mark-previous-like-this
• ] mc/mark-next-like-this
• < mc/skip-to-previous-like-this
• > mc/skip-to-next-like-this
• : mc/mark-all-like-this
• " mc/edit-lines
• @ mc/mark-all-words-like-this
• # mc/mark-all-in-region

Insert mode

• gg back to normal mode

Help mode (Distilled)

• ? k describe key
• ? c describe key briefly
• ? f describe function
• ? m describe mode
• ? \ describe input method
• ? b describe bindings
• ? p describe package
• ? t tutorial
• ? d debugging tutorial
• ? e view *Messages* buffer
• ? r find manual
• ? i info overview
• ? s search for command
• ? v search by keyword
• ? C-q quick toggle
• ? ? further options
• ? q quit help,

To view commands from X mode, you can type x followed by ?.

Minibuffer

When enter into the minibuffer, it is by default at the insert mode. Once you have finished typing, you can call gg to leave insert mode, then use the regular navigation commands such as n or p to select the candidates. If you have finished selection, you can use <return> to abort the minibuffer, or just use g to leave if it needs to be stopped.

If you want to loop through the history, you can use n or p in convert mode instead.

Visit mode also applies to the minibuffer, which means you can move back-and-forth between buffers and the minibuffer.

Isearch minor mode

Isearch forward is wrapped into an additional layer. Once it is invoked with the s key, it prompts at the minibuffer to enter the string to be searched. Hitting return then marks the finish of the input process. After that, you can use the familiar navigation commands n or p to loop through all candidate in the buffer. When s is pressed again, you can enter a new string to search. Otherwise, you can go back to the normal state with g. You can also simply leave the input string blank followed by the return. With g, you can directly leave.

Please check the full set up in scamx-anchor.el.

Mark

• You can hit SPC twice to set mark, and then use x SPC to return back to the position.
• The convert mode can be invoked on top of the current mark, use whatever commands needed, then revert back to normal mode while keeping the mark.

Negative argument

• - can be combined with directional commands, i.e. - t select backward to a char, - k kill backward a line.

Issues and Plans

• In visit mode, it may occasionally not handle the buffer *Messages* properly when navigating previous or next buffer at first attempt.
• Command conflicts would be observed in one-key oriented mode i.e. dired-mode, image-mode and magit-mode etc.

---

Now you can switch between those modes and scamx, by entering into the normal mode with g and reverting back with `. When g conflicts with revert buffer, you can alternatively use r in visit mode.

TODO list

First Stage

• Add more functions to convert mode (i.e. up-list, kill-sexp).
• Integrate with multiple-cursors.
• Merge meow of things command series into generalized zap command in a dwim style.
• Allow one command in the normal mode be excuted in the convert mode (like ctrl-o in vim).

Second Stage

• Motion mode as buffer-wise.
• Improve selection of inside and outside of balanced expressions.