path: root/content/blog/2026-02-02-emacs-carnival-2026-02-completion.org

#+date:        [2026-02-02 Mon 18:40:21]
#+title:       Emacs Carnival: Completion
#+description: My response to the Emacs Carnival prompt for February 2026.
#+slug: emacs-carnival-2026-02-completion
#+filetags:    :emacs:personal:

I'm having a great time with the Emacs Carnival, as it has inspired me to write
two posts in such a short time. It's been a much-needed inspiration to write
during my busy season at work.

Anyway, let's get to it. The topic today is [[https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/CategoryCompletion][Completion]]: the magical thing that
turns someone like me, who cannot remember long lists of commands to save my
life, from an illiterate to a literate programmer.

* Defining Custom Abbreviations

While you can define [[https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Abbrevs.html][abbrevs]] dynamically in the buffer with ~C-x a g~ (which
generally saves abbrevs to ~/.emacs.d/abbrev_defs~), I prefer to define my
abbreviations directly within my ~config.el~ file.

This allows for better portability between my machines, as well as clearer
configuration for myself.

To create a new abbrev, I simply open ~~/.config/doom/config.el~ and add a new one
to the list below.

#+begin_src elisp
;; Abbreviations
(setq-default abbrev-mode t)
(define-abbrev-table 'global-abbrev-table
  '(
    ;; ("abbreviation" "expansion")
    ("omw" "on my way")
    ("eml" "[email protected]")
    ("shrg" "¯\_(ツ)_/¯")
    ("teh" "the")
    ("xtoday" "" (lambda () (insert (format-time-string "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"))))
    ("xnow" "" (lambda () (insert (format-time-string "%H:%M:%S"))))
    ))
#+end_src

Now, I can type something like ~xtoday~ in my buffer and get the fully formatted
time string, like so: ~2026-02-02 21:52:55~.

~¯\_(ツ)_/¯~

This comes in handy most at work, where I need to constantly use acronyms and
take shorthand notes to fill out phrases that I'm, unfortunately, required to
reuse constantly. Looking at you, "completeness and accuracy of the data".

* Doom Configuration

I have played around with a few different completion options for my purposes and
have settled on the following packages.

Here is how I have my ~:completion~, ~:tools~, and ~:lang~ modules toggled in
~~/.config/doom/init.el~:

#+begin_src elisp
(doom! :input
       :completion
       (corfu +orderless)  ; complete with cap(f), cape and a flying feather!
       vertico             ; the search engine of the future

        :checkers
       syntax              ; tasing you for every semicolon you forget
       (spell +flyspell)   ; tasing you for misspelling mispelling
       grammar             ; tasing grammar mistake every you make


       :tools
       (lsp +eglot)        ; M-x vscode

       :lang
       data                ; config/data formats
       emacs-lisp          ; drown in parentheses
       json                ; At least it ain't XML
       javascript          ; all(hope(abandon(ye(who(enter(here))))))
       markdown            ; writing docs for people to ignore
       (org +dragndrop     ; drag & drop images/files into org
            +journal       ; daily logging
            +noter         ; for annotating PDFs (great for research)
            +roam2)        ; Zettelkasten note-taking
       python              ; beautiful is better than ugly
       sh                  ; she sells {ba,z,fi}sh shells on the C xor

       :config
       (default +bindings +smartparens))
#+end_src

With this setup, I am able to get a wonderful IDE-level experience within Emacs
and without the bloat of a traditional IDE. It's the perfect balance of speed
and power for my work and hobbies.

** [[https://github.com/minad/vertico][vertico]] + [[https://github.com/minad/marginalia][marginalia]]

Vertico is wonderful for finding files (~SPC .~) or running commands (~SPC :~). It
provides a clean, vertical interface for the minibuffer.

Marginalia works wonderfully with Vertico, as it provides marginalia to the
minibuffer commands within the command selection buffer.

#+caption: Vertico: Command
[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20260202-emacs-carnival-2026-02-completion/vertico-commands.webp]]

#+caption: Vertico: Files
[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20260202-emacs-carnival-2026-02-completion/vertico-files.webp]]

** [[https://github.com/oantolin/orderless][orderless]]

Orderless is a game changer. As I mentioned above, I'm terrible with
memorization. Therefore, I use this package and am able to search with multiple
out-of-order terms to find a result in my Vertico searches.

#+caption: Orderless
[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20260202-emacs-carnival-2026-02-completion/orderless.webp]]

** [[https://github.com/minad/corfu][corfu]]

For code completion, I’ve swapped out Company mode for Corfu. It’s faster, stays
out of my way until I need it, and uses a small popup that feels right at home
in a terminal or a GUI.

#+caption: Corfu
[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20260202-emacs-carnival-2026-02-completion/python.webp]]

** [[https://github.com/joaotavora/eglot][eglot]]

To actually "know" what my code is doing, I use LSP (Language Server Protocol).
I've enabled the ~+eglot~ flag in Doom because Eglot is now built into Emacs core
and tends to be a bit more stable and performant for my Python and JavaScript
workflows.

** [[https://github.com/leotaku/flycheck-aspell?tab=readme-ov-file][flyspell]]

Flyspell is the last piece to my puzzle, as it allows for easy help in
correcting grammar errors within the buffer. I combine ~flyspell~ + ~syntax~ +
~grammar~ for ultimate writing guidance. Whether or not I choose to follow that
guidance is another story entirely.

#+caption: Flyspell
[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20260202-emacs-carnival-2026-02-completion/suggestions.webp]]

* Looking Forward

I know this is just the tip of the iceberg, so I've made a list of packages I
want to dive into deeper in the future:

- ~tempel~
- ~yasnippet~
- ~consult~
- ~embark~
- ~cape~
- ~kind-icon~
- ~prescient.el~

Completion and expansion utilities are phenomenal and have been one of the
larger tools in my development and writing.

#+begin_quote
Want to participate in the Emacs Carnival or read more posts? Visit the main
[[https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/Carnival][Carnival]] page on the Emacs Wiki to learn more.
#+end_quote