How do I install the Emacs skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add jylhis/emacs in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Emacs safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Emacs?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Emacs free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Jylhis (@jylhis) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Emacs by jylhis — Agent Skill

Name: Emacs
Author: Jylhis

Emacs

Use for Emacs and Emacs Lisp work — modern Elisp conventions (lexical-binding, use-package, keymap-set, setopt, defvar-keymap, if-let*, tree-sitter ts-mode), authoring major modes (define-derived-mode, font-lock, indent-line-function, syntax tables, treesit-simple-indent-rules), package publishing (MELPA / GNU ELPA / NonGNU ELPA, ;;;###autoload, package-lint, checkdoc), code review (linting, byte-compile, obsolete API detection), ERT testing, debugging (--debug-init, Edebug, profiler, native-comp), gptel + MCP integration, introspection (describe-*, apropos, find-function), and keybinding design (keymap layers, key-valid-p). Read the matching reference before acting.

Jylhis 48bc16d 11 files · 52.8 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

Emacs skill index

Pick the topic and read its reference before writing or reviewing Emacs Lisp.

Topic	When to read	Reference
Elisp conventions	lexical-binding, use-package, modern API (keymap-set, setopt, defvar-keymap, if-let*), file structure, hooks	`references/elisp-conventions.md`
Major mode authoring	define-derived-mode, font-lock, indent-line-function, syntax tables, tree-sitter ts-mode parents, treesit-simple-indent-rules	`references/elisp-major-mode-authoring.md`
Package publishing	MELPA / GNU ELPA / NonGNU ELPA, file headers, ;;;###autoload, package-lint, checkdoc, version tagging, CI	`references/elisp-package-publishing.md`
Code review	byte-compile warnings, checkdoc, package-lint, elisp-lint, obsolete API detection, unused-variable warnings	`references/elisp-review.md`
Testing (ERT)	ert-deftest, should/should-not/should-error, batch mode, mocking with cl-letf, fixtures, buttercup	`references/elisp-testing.md`
Debugging	--debug-init, debug-on-error, Edebug, profiler, emacs-init-time, native-comp eln-cache, freezes	`references/debugging.md`
gptel + MCP	gptel-make-anthropic, gptel-backend, mcp-hub-servers, auth-source key, exposing Emacs as MCP server	`references/gptel-integration.md`
Introspection	describe-function/variable/key/mode, apropos, Info, find-function, xref, M-., shortdoc	`references/introspection.md`
Keybindings	keymap-set, keymap-global-set, defvar-keymap, key-valid-p, keymap layers, prefix keys, repeat-mode	`references/keybindings.md`

For Emacs packaging via Nix (emacsWithPackages, melpaBuild, trivialBuild, native-comp, tree-sitter grammars), use the nix skill's references/emacs-packaging.md instead.

After reading the reference, follow its guidance for the task.

---name: emacsdescription: Use for Emacs and Emacs Lisp work — modern Elisp conventions (lexical-binding, use-package, keymap-set, setopt, defvar-keymap, if-let*, tree-sitter ts-mode), authoring major modes (define-derived-mode, font-lock, indent-line-function, syntax tables, treesit-simple-indent-rules), package publishing (MELPA / GNU ELPA / NonGNU ELPA, ;;;###autoload, package-lint, checkdoc), code review (linting, byte-compile, obsolete API detection), ERT testing, debugging (--debug-init, Edebug, profiler, native-comp), gptel + MCP integration, introspection (describe-*, apropos, find-function), and keybinding design (keymap layers, key-valid-p). Read the matching reference before acting.---# Emacs skill indexPick the topic and read its reference before writing or reviewingEmacs Lisp.| Topic | When to read | Reference ||---|---|---|| Elisp conventions | lexical-binding, use-package, modern API (keymap-set, setopt, defvar-keymap, if-let*), file structure, hooks | `references/elisp-conventions.md` || Major mode authoring | define-derived-mode, font-lock, indent-line-function, syntax tables, tree-sitter ts-mode parents, treesit-simple-indent-rules | `references/elisp-major-mode-authoring.md` || Package publishing | MELPA / GNU ELPA / NonGNU ELPA, file headers, ;;;###autoload, package-lint, checkdoc, version tagging, CI | `references/elisp-package-publishing.md` || Code review | byte-compile warnings, checkdoc, package-lint, elisp-lint, obsolete API detection, unused-variable warnings | `references/elisp-review.md` || Testing (ERT) | ert-deftest, should/should-not/should-error, batch mode, mocking with cl-letf, fixtures, buttercup | `references/elisp-testing.md` || Debugging | --debug-init, debug-on-error, Edebug, profiler, emacs-init-time, native-comp eln-cache, freezes | `references/debugging.md` || gptel + MCP | gptel-make-anthropic, gptel-backend, mcp-hub-servers, auth-source key, exposing Emacs as MCP server | `references/gptel-integration.md` || Introspection | describe-function/variable/key/mode, apropos, Info, find-function, xref, M-., shortdoc | `references/introspection.md` || Keybindings | keymap-set, keymap-global-set, defvar-keymap, key-valid-p, keymap layers, prefix keys, repeat-mode | `references/keybindings.md` |For Emacs **packaging via Nix** (`emacsWithPackages`, melpaBuild,trivialBuild, native-comp, tree-sitter grammars), use the `nix` skill's`references/emacs-packaging.md` instead.After reading the reference, follow its guidance for the task.

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