| Use ~/.emacs.d/init.el instead of ~/.emacs (emacs will recognize either): that way you can put the whole directory under version control more easily. The best way is to just start using it. And periodically read tutorials or the built-in info (C-h i) - don't worry about memorizing everything at once. Just learn a couple of shortcuts, and come back again later. Ask people you know who use emacs for tips. Just follow your interests: if reading IRC inside emacs sounds cool, learn to do it. If org-mode sounds like something you could use, read a tutorial, start using it, and read more later. If you like lots of window panes (C-x 2, C-x 3, repeat), window-number.el is nice. Or bind M-o to other-window. Learn to use the kill-ring. Learn to love C-y M-y and miss it in other apps. Learn to record and play back macros -- C-x m ( -- if you use your movement commands carefully (forward-word, end-of-line, etc. instead of single-character movements), you can get a LOT of mileage out of it. Use customization rather than programmatic configuration wherever possible - it'll keep your init.el much more manageable later when you come back and completely forgot why you added things. Again, just start using it, and follow your sense of interest in learning new things. Focus on features that actually help you accomplish tasks more easily or quickly. Oh, and for the love of everything holy, rebind your Caps-lock to another Ctrl, so you don't damage your pinky finger! :-) |