ChatGPT for Pair Programming
For nearly a year now, I’ve had a side project in mind: creating a minimal version of Emacs with org-mode. This idea stemmed from my experience with Spacemacs, which, while intuitive, was plagued by sluggish performance. Finally, thanks to the assistance of ChatGPT, I was able to iterate and complete approximately 150 lines of Emacs configuration code, resulting in a lean and user-friendly org-mode client that suits my needs.
It had to include:
- Some Spacemacs shorcuts (for buffer/window navigation).
- Simpler Orgmode shorcuts using CTRL+O as base.
- CTRL+TAB for toggling between last tab and current.
- Full restore if emacs exits.
- My custom CTRL+SHIFT+UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT Orgmode headers navigation.
- Dark theme, with a similar Orgmode look like Spacemacs dark theme has.
- Lean. It has to be extremely lean.
tl;dr here’s the source code:
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(require 'package)
(setq package-archives '(("melpa" . "https://melpa.org/packages/")
("org" . "https://orgmode.org/elpa/")
("elpa" . "https://elpa.gnu.org/packages/")))
(package-initialize)
(unless package-archive-contents
(package-refresh-contents))
;; Install use-package if it's not already installed
(unless (package-installed-p 'use-package)
(package-install 'use-package))
(require 'use-package)
;; Install and configure evil mode
(use-package evil
:ensure nil
:init
(setq evil-want-integration t)
(setq evil-want-keybinding nil)
:config
(evil-mode 1)
(evil-define-key 'normal org-mode-map (kbd "TAB") 'org-cycle)) ; Set the TAB key to open/close org-mode subheaders in org-mode
;; Prevent start-up screen
(setq inhibit-startup-screen t)
;; Install and configure general.el
(use-package general
:ensure nil
:config
(general-create-definer my-leader-def
:prefix "SPC"))
;; Org mode configuration
(use-package org
:ensure nil
:config
;; Enable Org mode related features
(add-hook 'org-mode-hook 'turn-on-auto-fill)
(add-hook 'org-mode-hook 'org-indent-mode) ; Enable org-indent-mode
(setq org-log-done t)
(setq org-agenda-files '("~/emacs"))
(setq org-hide-emphasis-markers t)
(setq org-hide-leading-stars t)
(setq org-priority-default 67)
(setq org-priority-lowest 69)
) ; Hide leading stars
;; General keybindings
(my-leader-def
:states '(normal visual emacs)
:keymaps 'override
"b d" 'kill-buffer ; Kill a buffer
"w d" 'delete-window ; Kill a window
"f f" 'find-file) ; Open a file
; Buffer cycling keybindings
(global-set-key (kbd "<C-tab>") 'mode-line-other-buffer) ; Switch to last buffer
;; Toggle window switch with ALT+1
(global-set-key (kbd "M-1") 'other-window) ; Switch to last window
;; Set CTRL+UP and CTRL+DOWN for scrolling
(general-define-key
:states '(normal visual insert emacs)
:keymaps 'override
"C-<up>" 'evil-scroll-line-up
"C-<down>" 'evil-scroll-line-down)
;; Additional keybindings for org-mode
(general-define-key
:states '(normal visual insert emacs)
:keymaps 'org-mode-map
"C-S-<up>" 'org-backward-heading-same-level
"C-S-<down>" 'org-forward-heading-same-level
"C-S-<left>" 'outline-up-heading
"C-S-<right>" 'outline-next-visible-heading
"C-o t" 'org-agenda-todo
"C-o '" 'org-edit-special
"C-o a" 'org-agenda
"C-o c" 'org-capture)
;; Configure desktop mode to save and restore open files
(setq desktop-path '("~/.emacs.d/"))
(setq desktop-dirname "~/.emacs.d/")
(setq desktop-base-file-name "emacs-desktop")
(setq desktop-load-locked-desktop t)
(desktop-save-mode 1)
(add-hook 'emacs-startup-hook
(lambda ()
(if (file-exists-p (concat desktop-dirname "/" desktop-base-file-name))
(desktop-read)
(desktop-create-buffer))))
;; Theme
(defun set-lean-dark-theme ()
"Set a lean dark theme for Emacs, including Org mode colors, font sizes, and bullets."
(interactive)
(setq foreground-color "#f8f8f2") ; Light gray
(setq background-color "#282a36") ; Dark gray
(setq comment-color "#6272a4") ; Comment color
(setq string-color "#50fa7b") ; String color
(setq keyword-color "#8be9fd") ; Keyword color
(setq function-color "#ffb86c") ; Function color
(setq org-level-1-color "#4f97d7") ; Org mode level 1 heading color
(setq org-level-2-color "#2d9574") ; Org mode level 2 heading color
(setq org-level-3-color "#67b11d")
(setq org-level-4-color "#b1951d")
(setq org-level-5-color "#4f97d7")
(setq timestamp-link-color "#7590db") ; Timestamp and link color
(setq todo-color "#ff4500") ; TODO color (orange)
(setq done-color "#50fa7b") ; DONE color (green)
;; Set the theme colors
(custom-set-faces
`(default ((t (:foreground ,foreground-color :background ,background-color))))
`(font-lock-comment-face ((t (:foreground ,comment-color))))
`(font-lock-string-face ((t (:foreground ,string-color))))
`(font-lock-keyword-face ((t (:foreground ,keyword-color))))
`(font-lock-function-name-face ((t (:foreground ,function-color))))
`(org-level-1 ((t (:foreground ,org-level-1-color :weight bold :height 1.2))))
`(org-level-2 ((t (:foreground ,org-level-2-color :weight bold :height 1.1))))
`(org-level-3 ((t (:foreground ,org-level-3-color :weight bold :height 1.1))))
`(org-level-4 ((t (:foreground ,org-level-4-color :weight bold :height 1.1))))
`(org-level-5 ((t (:foreground ,org-level-5-color :weight bold :height 1.1))))
`(org-link ((t (:foreground ,timestamp-link-color :underline t))))
`(org-todo ((t (:foreground ,todo-color :weight bold))))
`(org-done ((t (:foreground ,done-color :weight bold))))
`(org-date ((t (:foreground ,timestamp-link-color))))
`(org-verbatim ((t (:foreground ,timestamp-link-color))))
`(org-property-value ((t (:foreground ,timestamp-link-color))))
`(org-special-keyword ((t (:foreground ,timestamp-link-color)))))
;; Customize Org bullets
(use-package org-bullets
:ensure nil
:config
(setq org-bullets-bullet-list '("◉" "○" "✸" "✿" "✜" "►" "◆"))
(add-hook 'org-mode-hook (lambda () (org-bullets-mode 1))))
;; Disable the fringe
(fringe-mode 0))
;; Call the function to set the lean dark theme
(set-lean-dark-theme)
(custom-set-variables
;; custom-set-variables was added by Custom.
'(package-selected-packages '(org-bullets general evil use-package))
'(tool-bar-mode nil))
(custom-set-faces
;; custom-set-faces was added by Custom.
'(default ((t (:foreground "#f8f8f2" :background "#282a36"))))
'(font-lock-comment-face ((t (:foreground "#6272a4"))))
'(font-lock-function-name-face ((t (:foreground "#ffb86c"))))
'(font-lock-keyword-face ((t (:foreground "#8be9fd"))))
'(font-lock-string-face ((t (:foreground "#50fa7b"))))
'(org-date ((t (:foreground "#7590db"))))
'(org-done ((t (:foreground "#50fa7b" :weight bold))))
'(org-level-1 ((t (:foreground "#4f97d7" :weight bold :height 1.2))))
'(org-level-2 ((t (:foreground "#2d9574" :weight bold :height 1.1))))
'(org-level-3 ((t (:foreground "#67b11d" :weight bold :height 1.1))))
'(org-level-4 ((t (:foreground "#b1951d" :weight bold :height 1.1))))
'(org-level-5 ((t (:foreground "#4f97d7" :weight bold :height 1.1))))
'(org-link ((t (:foreground "#7590db" :underline t))))
'(org-property-value ((t (:foreground "#7590db"))) t)
'(org-special-keyword ((t (:foreground "#7590db"))))
'(org-todo ((t (:foreground "#ff4500" :weight bold))))
'(org-verbatim ((t (:foreground "#7590db")))))
To kickstart the development of my lean org-mode client, I began by leveraging the power of Emacs and its extensive customization capabilities. With the help of ChatGPT, I was able to refine my approach and optimize the configuration code to achieve a faster and more streamlined experience. By carefully selecting essential packages and fine-tuning keybindings, I ensured that the client remained lightweight while retaining crucial functionality.
One of the core focuses of my work was improving the performance and responsiveness of the org-mode client. With ChatGPT’s guidance, I implemented techniques to reduce startup times, minimize unnecessary overhead, and enhance buffer management. These optimizations resulted in a significant boost in overall speed, allowing for smooth navigation, editing, and organization of org files.
In addition to performance enhancements, ChatGPT helped me tailor the visual appearance of the org-mode client to enhance readability and aesthetics. By selecting a dark theme and carefully configuring font sizes and colors, I created a visually appealing environment that reduces eye strain and promotes focus during long coding sessions. Furthermore, I incorporated custom bullet styles for org headers, inspired by Spacemacs, to maintain a consistent and visually pleasing structure within org files.
ChatGPT played a pivotal role in troubleshooting and refining the org-mode client. By providing insights and suggestions, it helped me overcome challenges, such as resolving conflicts between keybindings and fine-tuning org-mode configurations. With each iteration, the client became more polished and aligned with my personal workflow, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable org-mode experience.
By combining my expertise with Emacs, the power of ChatGPT, and a relentless pursuit of efficiency, I successfully built a lean org-mode client tailored to my needs. The journey of creating this customized Emacs configuration not only honed my programming skills but also exemplified the collaborative potential of human-AI partnerships in software development.
As an added note, I have even taken the liberty to comment out lines 3 to 13, Thereby disabling auto-update. Emacs has caused me many woes in the past due to package upgrades, so I have decided to ensure it doesn’t happen again.