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XEmacs is a powerful text editor that brings the classic GNU Emacs experience to the Time Capsule desktop. It features authentic Emacs keybindings, a minibuffer for commands, and full integration with the virtual filesystem.

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Opening XEmacs

You can launch XEmacs in several ways:
  • Click the XEmacs icon in the CDE panel
  • Double-click a text file in the File Manager
  • From Terminal Lab: Open a file with man emacs for help

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Splash Screen

When you first open XEmacs, you’ll see the GNU-style splash screen with the scratch buffer: 
;; This buffer is for text that is not saved, and for Lisp evaluation.
;; To create a file, visit it with C-x C-f and enter text in its buffer.
The splash screen includes:
  • Link to open an existing file
  • Welcome message in the minibuffer
  • Scratch buffer for temporary notes

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Essential Keybindings

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File Operations

KeybindingActionDescription
C-x C-fFind FileOpen or create a file
C-x C-sSaveSave the current file
C-x C-wSave AsSave with a new name
C-x C-cQuitClose XEmacs
KeybindingActionDescription
C-aBeginning of LineMove to start of line
C-eEnd of LineMove to end of line
C-nNext LineMove down one line
C-pPrevious LineMove up one line
C-fForward CharMove right one character
C-bBackward CharMove left one character
C-lRecenterRecenter cursor in window

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Editing

KeybindingActionDescription
C-kKill LineDelete from cursor to end of line
C-dDelete CharDelete character at cursor
C-_UndoUndo last change
C-x hSelect AllSelect entire buffer
C-sSearchOpen find dialog
C-gAbortCancel current operation

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Clipboard Operations

While XEmacs traditionally uses “kill” and “yank” terminology, Time Capsule’s implementation provides standard clipboard operations:
  • Copy: Use the Edit menu or document.execCommand
  • Cut: Use the Edit menu
  • Paste: C-y or Edit menu (reads from clipboard)

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The Minibuffer

The minibuffer is XEmacs’s command-line interface at the bottom of the window. It displays:
  • Status messages (“Wrote /home/victxrlarixs/file.txt”)
  • Prompts for input (“Visit file: ”)
  • Command sequences (“C-x-” when waiting for the next key)
  • Error messages

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Using the Minibuffer

When prompted for input:
  1. Type your response (e.g., filename)
  2. Press Enter to confirm
  3. Press Escape or C-g to cancel

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M-x: Execute Command

Press M-x (Alt+X) to execute commands by name:
CommandAction
save-bufferSave current file
find-fileOpen a file
kill-emacsQuit XEmacs
helpShow keybinding help
eval-buffer(Not implemented - shows message)
Example: 
M-x save-buffer RET

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The Mode Line

The mode line at the bottom shows:
  • File status: %% (unmodified) or ** (modified)
  • File name: Currently open file
  • Line number: Current cursor line
  • Column number: Current cursor column
Example: 
** index.html  L: 42  C: 15

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File Menu

  • New File: Create a new buffer
  • Open: Find and open a file (C-x C-f)
  • Save: Save current file (C-x C-s)
  • Save As: Save with new name (C-x C-w)
  • Close: Quit XEmacs (C-x C-c)

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Edit Menu

  • Undo: Undo last change
  • Cut: Cut selected text
  • Copy: Copy selected text
  • Paste: Paste from clipboard
  • Select All: Select entire buffer

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Options Menu

  • Word Wrap: Toggle visual line mode
  • Font Size: Small (12px), Medium (14px), Large (16px)
  • Clear Buffer: Erase all content

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Help Menu

  • Shows all available keybindings
  • Message: “Bindings: C-x C-s Save C-x C-c Quit C-s Search C-k Kill C-_ Undo C-g Abort”

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Find and Replace

Press C-s to open the find bar:
  1. Type your search term
  2. Press Enter or click “Next” to find next occurrence
  3. Click “Previous” to find previous occurrence
  4. Press Escape to close the find bar
The minibuffer shows match count: “3/5: search_term”

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Working with Files

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Opening Files

  1. Press C-x C-f
  2. Enter the file path in the minibuffer:
    • Absolute path: /home/victxrlarixs/Desktop/readme.txt
    • Relative path: readme.txt (opens from ~/Desktop/)
  3. Press Enter
If the file doesn’t exist, XEmacs will create it: 
(New file) /home/victxrlarixs/Desktop/readme.txt

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Saving Files

When you modify a file, the mode line shows ** to indicate unsaved changes. Press C-x C-s to save. The minibuffer confirms: 
Wrote /home/victxrlarixs/Desktop/readme.txt

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Save As

  1. Press C-x C-w
  2. Enter the new path
  3. Press Enter
The file will be saved with the new name, and that becomes the current file.

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Integration with File Manager

XEmacs integrates seamlessly with the CDE File Manager:
  • Double-clicking a text file opens it in XEmacs
  • The file path is automatically resolved
  • Saving updates the file in the virtual filesystem
  • The File Manager refreshes to show changes

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Keyboard Shortcuts Summary

All Ctrl keybindings use the standard C- notation. Meta key (Alt) is shown as M-.
Most Used:
  • C-x C-s: Save file
  • C-x C-f: Open file
  • C-x C-c: Quit
  • C-k: Kill line
  • C-s: Search
  • C-g: Cancel/Abort
  • C-_: Undo
Navigation:
  • C-a, C-e: Start/end of line
  • C-n, C-p: Next/previous line
  • C-f, C-b: Forward/backward character
Help:
  • M-x help: Show keybindings
  • From Help menu: Display all shortcuts

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Tips and Tricks

Some commands require two key sequences. Press C-x, then the second key:
  • C-x C-s: Save
  • C-x C-f: Find file
  • C-x C-c: Quit
  • C-x C-w: Save as
  • C-x h: Select all
The minibuffer shows “C-x-” while waiting for the second key.
Made a mistake? Press C-g to cancel:
  • Exits partial command sequences
  • Cancels minibuffer prompts
  • Closes dialogs
The minibuffer displays “Quit” to confirm.
Toggle word wrap for easier reading:
  1. Open Options menu
  2. Click “Word Wrap”
  3. Or use Options → Word Wrap
Status message: “Visual Line mode: enabled”
The scratch buffer is temporary:
  • Not saved automatically
  • Perfect for quick notes
  • To save it, use C-x C-w (Save As)
Open actual files with C-x C-f for persistent storage.

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Source Code

XEmacs is implemented in:
  • /src/scripts/features/emacs.ts: Core editor logic (822 lines)
  • Minibuffer prompt system with Enter/Escape handlers
  • Mode line showing file status, cursor position
  • Full Emacs keybinding emulation
  • Integration with VFS for file operations