GNU Emacs
Version | 27(as of 11/30/2020) |
Platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux |
License | Open Source |
Category | Programming |
Main Features
- Open source, cross-platform text editor
- Highly extensible
- Helpful tutorials and manuals
Software Overview
GNU Emacs is an open source text editor for Linux, Windows, and macOS platforms. It allows you to edit plain text files, test programs, manage files, and even play games, such as Tetris.
Emacs is a simple text editor that is often used for editing source code, shells, directory listings, web pages, and email messages. The program operates through keystroke commands to help you edit and automate tasks for quicker and more efficient work. Besides editing text, Emacs functions as an IDE, giving you tools for compiling, running, and testing programs. Emacs can also function as a file manager, allowing you to organize, edit, and delete files. The program enables you to play games, such as Tetris and Towers of Hanoi, within the program.
One of the most prominent features of Emacs is that it gives you the ability to customize the program to your needs. It allows you to save macros to automate your repetitive tasks. You can also alter and extend almost any feature within the program through the Emacs Lisp (Elisp) language. You can modify Emacs functions and customize the appearance, such as fonts and color schemes. Emacs also provides helpful tutorials that will help you get acclimated to its commands and capabilities.
GNU Emacs is a popular text editor among Unix users and is similar to vi text editors, such as gVim. If you have programming knowledge and want to customize your text editor for quicker and more efficient work, GNU Emacs may be a good fit for you.
Primary File Type

Supported File Types
Extension | File Type |
---|---|
.EL | Emacs Lisp Code File |
.1 | Unix Section 1 Manual Page |
.A | Static Library |
.ASM | Assembly Language Source Code File |
.C | C/C++ Source Code File |
.CC | C++ Source Code File |
.CEL | Celestia Script File |
.CFG | Wesnoth Markup Language File |
.CONF | Unix Configuration File |
.ELC | Emacs Compiled Lisp File |
.ERR | Error Log File |
.EX | Euphoria Source Code |
.EXW | Euphoria Source code File |
.H | C/C++/Objective-C Header File |
.HS | Haskell Script |
.INC | Include File |
.INFO | Texinfo Document |
.JAVA | Java Source Code File |
.JSON | JavaScript Object Notation File |
.L | Lex Source File |
.LHS | Literate Haskell Script |
.LPD | LPD Daemon Print Permissions File |
.LUA | Lua Source File |
.M | Mercury Source Code File |
.MAN | Unix Manual |
.MD | Machine Description File |
.MD | Markdown Documentation File |
.MENU | Quake 3 Engine Menu File |
.ML | ML Source Code File |
.MPS | Mathematical Programming System File |
.OPTS | Linux Configuration Options File |
.ORG | Emacs Org Text Document |
.PROPERTIES | Java Properties File |
.PROPERTIES | Minecraft Properties File |
.PY | Python Script |
.S | Source Code File |
.TRI | Triangle Mesh File |
.TXT | Plain Text File |
.UTF8 | Unicode UTF8-Encoded Text Document |
Additional Related File Types
Extension | File Type |
---|---|
.CONF | Generic Configuration File |
.INFO | Generic Information File |
.JAV | Java Source File |