So over a long weekend that involved some transcontinental flights, I put together this pretty basic Emacs init file. TL;DR: it turned out to be a bust, so I moved into "audit mode," where you just start using Emacs and gradually add configuration to splint your weak spots.
;;; set flag to let me know everything went well
(add-hook 'after-init-hook
(lambda () (message "Emacs config loaded clean and lean.")))
;;; set up interface to my liking
;; full screen maximized
(add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(fullscreen . maximized))
;; handles modern graphics cards better
(setq frame-resize-pixelwise t)
(setq x-stretch-cursor t)
;; charcoal background, brighter colors
(set-face-attribute 'cursor nil :background "#ebdbb2")
(set-face-attribute 'default nil :height 140 :background "#282828" :foreground "#ebdbb2")
;; show column numbers
(column-number-mode)
;; selections function like other systems
(delete-selection-mode 1)
;; wrapping set up correctly
(global-visual-line-mode t)
(setq fill-column 10000)
;; menu bar and toolbar off
(menu-bar-mode -1)
(tool-bar-mode -1)
;; annoying confirmation/messages off
(setq auto-save-no-message t)
(setq confirm-kill-emacs nil)
(setq inhibit-startup-screen t)
(setq native-comp-async-report-warnings-errors nil)
(setq visible-bell t)
(setq initial-scratch-message "")
;; make it easy to manage windows
(setq windmove-create-window t)
(windmove-default-keybindings 'control)
;; force ediff to vanish when done
(setq ediff-restore-window-configuration t)
;; enable UTF-8 for special characters & emojis
(prefer-coding-system 'utf-8)
(set-keyboard-coding-system 'utf-8)
(set-language-environment "UTF-8")
(set-selection-coding-system 'utf-8)
(set-terminal-coding-system 'utf-8)
;;; set standard locations
(setq backup-directory-alist `(("." . , "~/var/backup/autosaves")))
(setq hdir "~/")
(setq default-directory "~/")
(setq git-repo-url "git@github.com:billwear/bill.git")
(setq org-agenda-files '("~/etc/org/sands.org"))
(setq org-archive-location "~/var/archives/emacs/%s_archive::")
(setq org-directory "~/etc/org/")
(setq org-journal-dir "~/var/log/2025")
;;; load packages
;; basic setup
(require 'package)
(setq package-archives
'(("gnu" . "https://elpa.gnu.org/packages/")
("melpa-stable" . "https://melpa.org/packages/")
("org" . "https://orgmode.org/elpa/")))
(package-initialize)
;; set up use-package
(unless (package-installed-p 'use-package)
(package-refresh-contents)
(package-install 'use-package))
(require 'use-package)
(setq use-package-always-ensure t)
;; load supplemental packages
(use-package yaml)
(use-package ivy)
(use-package counsel)
(use-package ivy-prescient)
(use-package ivy-rich)
(use-package org)
(use-package org-journal)
(use-package dired-sidebar)
(use-package which-key)
(use-package json-mode)
(use-package magit)
(use-package projectile)
(use-package counsel-projectile)
;;; configure packages
;; configure ivy
(setq ivy-mode 1
ivy-use-virtual-buffers t
ivy-count-format "(%d/%d) "
ivy-wrap t
ivy-re-builders-alist '((t . ivy--regex-plus))
ivy-height 15
ivy-fixed-height-minibuffer t
ivy-initial-inputs-alist nil
ivy-format-function #'ivy-format-function-arrow)
;; configure counsel
(bind-key "M-x" #'counsel-M-x)
(bind-key "C-x C-f" #'counsel-find-file)
(bind-key "C-x C-r" #'counsel-recentf)
(bind-key "C-c f" #'counsel-fzf)
(bind-key "C-c g" #'counsel-git)
(bind-key "C-c k" #'counsel-rg)
(bind-key "C-c l" #'counsel-locate)
(setq counsel-mode 1)
(setq counsel-find-file-ignore-regexp "~/var/log/2025$")
(setq counsel-preselect-current-file t)
;; configure ivy-prescient
(setq ivy-prescient-mode 1)
;; configure ivy-rich
(setq ivy-rich-mode 1)
(setq ivy-rich-path-style 'abbrev)
;; configure org-mode
(setq
org-agenda-prefix-format '((agenda . "%t"))
org-agenda-show-habits t
org-agenda-span 'day
org-clock-into-drawer "CLOCKING"
org-clock-out-remove-zero-time-clocks t
org-clock-persist 'history
org-clock-report-include-clocking-tasks t
org-hide-emphasis-markers t
org-indent-mode 1
org-journal-carryover-items "TODO="
org-journal-date-format "%s"
org-journal-enable-agenda-integration nil
org-journal-file-format "%Y-%m-%d.org"
org-journal-file-header #'my-org-journal-header
org-journal-find-file 'find-file
org-journal-hide-entries-p nil
org-journal-time-format "%H:%M"
org-log-done 'time
org-log-into-drawer t
org-log-redeadline 'time
org-log-reschedule 'time
org-priority-default 82
org-priority-lowest 90
org-startup-folded 'overview
org-support-shift-select t
org-todo-repeat-to-state "TODO"
visual-line-mode 1
org-agenda-compact-blocks t
)
(setq org-capture-templates
'(("w" "Work" entry (file+headline "~/etc/org/sands.org" "Work Tasks")
"* TODO %? :work:\nSCHEDULED: %(format-time-string \"<%Y-%m-%d %a .+1d>\")\n %i\n %a")
("h" "Home" entry (file+headline "~/etc/org/sands.org" "Home Tasks")
"* TODO %?\ :home:nSCHEDULED: %(format-time-string \"<%Y-%m-%d %a .+1d>\")\n %i\n %a")
("s" "Shopping" entry (file+headline "~/etc/org/sands.org" "Shopping List")
"* TODO %? :shop:\nSCHEDULED: %(format-time-string \"<%Y-%m-%d %a .+1d>\")\n %i\n %a")
("r" "Habits" entry (file+headline "~/etc/org/sands.org" "Regular Habits")
"* TODO %?\nSCHEDULED: %(format-time-string \"<%Y-%m-%d %a .+3d>\")\n:PROPERTIES:\n:STYLE: habit\n:END:\n %i\n %a")
("j" "Journal" entry (file+datetree "~/etc/org/journal.org")
"* %?\nEntered on %(format-time-string \"[%Y-%m-%d %a %H:%M]\")\n %i\n %a")))
(run-at-time "1 min" 60 #'org-save-all-org-buffers)
;; configure org-journal
(add-hook 'org-journal-after-entry-create-hook #'save-buffer)
;; configure dired-sidebar
(add-hook 'emacs-startup-hook
(lambda ()
(dired-sidebar-toggle-sidebar)))
;; configure which-key
(which-key-mode)
(setq which-key-popup-type 'side-window
which-key-max-description-length 50
which-key-allow-imprecise-window-fit t
which-key-sort-order 'which-key-key-order-alpha
which-key-separator " → "
which-key-use-C-h-commands t
which-key-side-window-max-height 0.5
which-key-side-window-max-width 0.45
which-key-side-window-location 'bottom
which-key-add-column-padding 2
which-key-special-keys '("SPC" "TAB" "RET" "ESC"))
;; Enable extra layout
(which-key-setup-side-window-bottom)
(which-key-setup-minibuffer)
;;; define functions before going farther
(defun my/accounts ()
"Open personal accounts file."
(interactive)
(find-file "~/etc/org/accounts.org"))
(defun my/agenda ()
"Show the default agenda view."
(interactive)
(org-agenda nil "n"))
(defun my/bible ()
"Open Bible file."
(interactive)
(find-file "~/lib/kjv/kjv-full.org"))
(defun my/check-init-file ()
(interactive)
(byte-compile-file user-init-file))
(defun my/commit-homedir-if-needed ()
"Add, commit, and push homedir changes, if any."
(interactive)
(save-some-buffers t)
(let* ((default-directory "~/")
(hostname (system-name))
(timestamp
(format-time-string "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"))
(commit-msg
(format "commit from %s at %s"
hostname timestamp)))
(when (not (string= (shell-command-to-string "git status --porcelain") ""))
(shell-command "git add .")
(shell-command (format "git commit -m \"%s\"" commit-msg))
(shell-command "git push"))))
(defun my/copy-current-line ()
"Copy the current line to the kill ring."
(interactive)
(kill-new (thing-at-point 'line t))
(message "Copied line."))
(defun my/draw-ascii-box-around-region (start end)
"Draw ASCII box around selected region."
(interactive)
(let* ((lines (split-string (buffer-substring start end) "\n"))
(max-len (apply #'max (mapcar #'length lines)))
(border (concat "+" (make-string (+ max-len 2) ?-) "+")))
(insert (concat border "\n"
(mapconcat (lambda (line)
(format "| %-*s |" max-len line))
lines "\n")
"\n" border "\n"))))
(defun my/filebar ()
"Toggle the dired sidebar."
(interactive)
(dired-sidebar-toggle-sidebar))
(defun my/generate-clocktable ()
"Generate a clocktable for today."
(interactive)
(org-clock-report))
(defun my/grep-thru-homedir (term)
"Search TERM recursively in home directory."
(interactive "sEnter search term: ")
(let ((dir (expand-file-name "~/"))
(pattern (if (string= term "all") "*.*" "*")))
(rgrep term pattern dir)))
(defun my/indent-entire-buffer ()
"Indent the whole buffer."
(interactive)
(indent-region (point-min) (point-max)))
(defun my/initfile()
"Open the user's init file."
(interactive)
(find-file user-init-file))
(defun my/insert-date-and-time ()
"Insert the current date and time in ISO format."
(interactive)
(insert (format-time-string "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%s)")))
(defun my/insert-markdown-link ()
"Insert a Markdown link using the clipboard URL."
(interactive)
(let ((url (current-kill 0)))
(insert (format "[%s](%s)" (read-string "Link text: ") url))))
(defun my/insert-seasonal-header ()
"Insert the current personal season and symbolic day into the buffer."
(interactive)
(insert (format "* Temporal Context: %s / %s\n\n"
(my/temporal-day-name)
(my/temporal-season))))
(defun my/insert-shell-command-results (command)
"Insert output of shell COMMAND at point."
(interactive "sShell command: ")
(insert (shell-command-to-string command)))
(defun my/bangin (command)
"Run shell COMMAND and show result in a buffer."
(interactive)
(let ((output (shell-command-to-string command)))
(with-current-buffer (get-buffer-create "*Shell Output*")
(erase-buffer)
(insert output)
(display-buffer (current-buffer)))))
(defun my/insert-time ()
"Insert the current time (HH:MM)."
(interactive)
(insert (format-time-string "%H:%M")))
(defun my/insert-time-and-epoch ()
"Insert current time and Unix epoch."
(interactive)
(insert (format-time-string "%H:%M (%s)")))
(defun my/journal ()
"Open today's journal entry, creating it if necessary, and insert the full ritual or timestamp entry."
(interactive)
(require 'org-journal)
(let ((today-file (ignore-errors (org-journal--get-entry-path))))
;; Open or create today's journal file
(if (and today-file (file-exists-p today-file))
(org-journal-open-current-journal-file)
(progn
(org-journal-new-entry nil)
(my/org-journal-ritual-insert)))
;; Go to end and insert new timestamped entry
(goto-char (point-max))
(unless (bolp)
(insert "\n"))
(insert "\n* " (format-time-string "%A, %B %d %Y") "\n")
(insert "** " (format-time-string "%H:%M"))
(save-excursion (insert "\n"))))
(defun my/json-format-buffer ()
"Pretty-print the JSON in the current buffer."
(interactive)
(json-pretty-print-buffer))
(defun my/mark-done-and-reset-agenda ()
"Toggle TODO state, refresh agenda, and save all org buffers."
(interactive)
(org-agenda-todo)
(org-agenda-redo)
(org-save-all-org-buffers))
(defun my/org-journal-ritual-insert ()
"Insert full org-journal ritual template: date, fortune, temporal context, and mood log."
(interactive)
(let* ((date (string-trim (shell-command-to-string "date")))
(fortune (string-trim (shell-command-to-string "fortune")))
(season (or (my/temporal-season) "☄️ Unknown Season"))
(day-name (or (my/temporal-day-name) "⏳ Unknown Day")))
(insert (format "%s\n" date))
(insert (format "* Temporal Context: %s / %s\n\n" day-name season))
(insert (format "%s\n\n" fortune))
(insert "* Morning Check-In\n\n"
"* Snapshot\n"
"- Mood (1 word):\n"
"- Energy (low / steady / high):\n"
"- Mental Weather (fog / overcast / clear / turbulent / don’t know yet):\n"
"\n"
"* Current Noise\n"
"- What’s on loop?\n"
"- What’s unfinished from yesterday?\n"
"- Any lingering dreams or emotions?\n"
"* Center of Gravity\n"
"- I’m pulled toward:\n"
"- I’m resisting:\n"
"- The smarter move might be:\n"
"* Signal Boost\n"
"- [ ] I’m overcomplicating\n"
"- [ ] I’m telling myself a story\n"
"- [ ] I’m tired, not doomed\n"
"- [ ] I’m fine™ (but am I really?)\n"
"- [ ] No radar hits — we’re good\n"
"* Reground (Pick 1 or Skip)\n"
"- [ ] Coffee + breathe\n"
"- [ ] 2-minute body scan\n"
"- [ ] Externalize (journal, draw, talk)\n"
"- [ ] Move before mind spirals\n"
"- [ ] Permission to coast today\n"
"* Small Wisdom\n"
"- One thing I know right now, that I tend to forget later:\n\n")))
(defun my/prayers ()
"Open prayer list."
(interactive)
(find-file "~/etc/org/prayer-list.org"))
(defun my/pull-homedir ()
"Pull latest changes to homedir."
(interactive)
(let ((default-directory "~/"))
(shell-command "git pull")))
(defun my/qrepl ()
"Run query regex replace."
(interactive)
(query-replace-regexp))
(defvar temp-file-name nil)
(defvar temp-file-buffer nil)
(defun my/read-file-into-temp-buffer ()
"Load a file into a temp buffer and extract lines starting with 'usage:'."
(interactive)
(let ((temp-file (read-file-name "File name to load: "))
(temp-buffer (generate-new-buffer "*temp-file-buffer*"))
usage-lines)
(with-current-buffer temp-buffer
(insert-file-contents temp-file)
(while (re-search-forward "^usage:.*$" nil t)
(push (match-string 0) usage-lines)))
(with-current-buffer (get-buffer-create "*scratch*")
(goto-char (point-max))
(insert "\n;; Usage lines:\n"
(mapconcat #'identity (nreverse usage-lines) "\n")
"\n"))))
(defun my/reload-yasnippets ()
"Reload all yasnippet snippets."
(interactive)
(yas-reload-all))
(defun my/replace ()
"Run regex replace."
(interactive)
(replace-regexp))
(defun my/setup-company-backends ()
"Configure company backends based on mode."
(interactive)
(setq-local company-backends '((company-files
company-keywords
company-capf
company-dabbrev-code
company-dabbrev
company-yasnippet))))
(defun my/show-message-buffer ()
"Open the *Messages* buffer."
(interactive)
(switch-to-buffer "*Messages*"))
(defun my/temporal-day-name ()
"Return the symbolic name for the current day of the week."
(interactive)
(let ((day (format-time-string "%u"))) ;; 1 = Monday ... 7 = Sunday
(cond
((string= day "1") "🗂️ Day of Planning")
((string= day "2") "📐 Day of Structure")
((string= day "3") "🌌 Day of the Rift")
((string= day "4") "📚 Day of Teaching")
((string= day "5") "🪞 Day of Reflection")
((string= day "6") "🛠️ Day of Crafting")
((string= day "7") "💤 The Dream Archive")
(t "⏳ Unnamed Day"))))
(defun my/temporal-season ()
"Return the name of the current personal season based on the month and day."
(interactive)
(let* ((month (string-to-number (format-time-string "%m")))
(day (string-to-number (format-time-string "%d")))
(md (+ (* month 100) day))) ;; e.g. April 4 becomes 404
(cond
((or (and (>= md 201) (<= md 415))) "🌫️ The Drift Season") ;; Feb 1 – Apr 15
((and (>= md 416) (<= md 731)) "🔥 The Forge Season") ;; Apr 16 – July 31
((and (>= md 801) (<= md 1031)) "🔧 The Rebuild Season") ;; Aug 1 – Oct 31
((or (and (>= md 1101) (<= md 1231)) (and (>= md 101) (<= md 131)))
"🌌 The Pull Season") ;; Nov 1 – Jan 31
(t "🌀 Unknown Season"))))
(defun my/uncapitalize-region (start end)
"Lowercase all text in the region."
(interactive "r")
(let ((text (buffer-substring start end)))
(delete-region start end)
(insert (downcase text))))
(defun my/view-homedir-dired ()
"Open home directory in Dired."
(interactive)
(dired "~/"))
(defun my/vt100 ()
"Open a bash shell in ansi-term."
(interactive)
(ansi-term "/bin/bash"))
(defun my/wrap-region-as-markdown-code-block (start end)
"Wrap selected region in Markdown code block."
(interactive)
(insert (format "```\n%s\n```\n" text)))
;;; set up homedir github repo maintenance
(add-hook 'emacs-startup-hook #'my/pull-homedir)
(add-hook 'kill-emacs-hook #'my/commit-homedir-if-needed)
(run-with-timer
600 ; wait 10 minutes
600 ; repeat every 10 minutes
#'commit-homedir-if-needed)
;;; set up journal diversions
;; (add-hook 'org-journal-after-entry-create-hook #'my/org-journal-ritual-insert)
;;; set up my hotkeys
;; create locked keys mode
(defvar my/locked-keys-map (make-sparse-keymap)
"Keymap for custom keybindings that should not be overridden.")
(define-minor-mode my/locked-keys-mode
"Minor mode to enforce permanent keybindings."
:init-value t
:global t
:keymap my/locked-keys-map)
;; C-c m keybindings
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "C-c m a") #'my/agenda)
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "C-c m b") #'my/bible)
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "C-c m c") #'org-capture)
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "C-c m d") #'my/filebar)
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "C-c m i") #'my/initfile)
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "C-c m j") #'my/journal)
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "C-c m m") #'my/accounts)
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "C-c m p") #'my/prayers)
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "C-c m q") #'my/qrepl)
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "C-c m r") #'my/replace)
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "C-c m s") #'my/bangin)
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "C-c m v") #'my/vt100)
;; function key bindings
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "") #'save-buffer)
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "") #'find-file)
(define-key my/locked-keys-map (kbd "") #'org-agenda-do-date-later)
;;; customize-variable settings
(custom-set-variables
;; custom-set-variables was added by Custom.
;; If you edit it by hand, you could mess it up, so be careful.
;; Your init file should contain only one such instance.
;; If there is more than one, they won't work right.
'(org-habit-following-days 3)
'(org-habit-preceding-days 8)
'(org-journal-find-file-fn 'find-file nil nil "Customized with use-package org-journal")
'(org-modules
'(ol-bbdb ol-bibtex ol-docview ol-doi ol-eww ol-gnus org-habit ol-info ol-irc ol-mhe ol-rmail ol-w3m)))
(custom-set-faces
;; custom-set-faces was added by Custom.
;; If you edit it by hand, you could mess it up, so be careful.
;; Your init file should contain only one such instance.
;; If there is more than one, they won't work right.
)