Intro

This is the home page for ErgoEmacs developers. (the ErgoEmacs home page is at ErgoEmacs.org )

ErgoEmacs is a new emacs distribution. This project's aim is to create a modernized version of emacs.

ErgoEmacs includes many enhancements to GNU Emacs. In particular, it uses a ergonomics based keyboard shortcut set, but also support modern standard ones such as Copy, Cut, Paste , undo, Save, Open, Close. ErgoEmacs modernize emacs by removing some awkward user interface, and many emacs's 1980s terminologies, documentation, but still remain emacs-like for its superb features (For example, there will not be addition of pop-up dialogs or forcing users to use mouse.).

For some reason on why this project was started, please see: http://xahlee.org/emacs/emacs_modernization.html

Goal

• A binary download for Windows and Mac. Download, and run. Everything should work well out of the box. A average programer who never heard of emacs, read that this is a text editor, download it, use it productively the first day. The user is not expected to read about GNU philosophy, tutorials, or join emacs cult.

• 100% compatibility with GNU Emacs. ErgoEmacs works primarily by having several elisp files and packages that over rides default GNU emacs behavior and user interface. Regardless how inefficient this approach may be, it is critical to be 100% compatible with GNU Emacs.

• Users are not expected to learn for the sake of learning. User shouldn't be expected to read any doc for features common in many IDEs that are already familiar to programers.

A good model of ErgoEmacs are quality software such as FireFox, Opera, Google's Software, or software from Apple. Typically, users can just download the software and use it, without needing to be some elite coder.

Plan Detail And Contribution

For detailed rationale and list of items to change, see: Developer Intro. For how to get code in, see the How To Contribute in the wiki tab.

Anyone is very welcome to join in. There are a lot to do. This project is not a political fork of GNU Emacs. As described above, it is just elisp files on top of GNU Emacs. All code are licensed by GPL. FSF folks are very welcome to pick out anything back to main tree.