Emacs is a text editor with many features that make it convenient for writing computer programs, and, more specifically, Java programs. Incidentally, emacs is also helpful in creating HTML documents.

Emacs features many useful keyboard shortcuts, some of the most common of which are presented in the following table. The first two, ctrl-g and ctrl-_, are especially good to know.

command meaning comment
ctrl-g abandon current command extremely handy -- use this when you're in the middle of something you don't understand
ctrl-_ undo also very handy
esc x font-lock-mode turn on/off syntax coloring  
ctrl-k cut to the end of the line  
ctrl-y paste the last line(s) cut with ctrl-k  
ctrl-a move to the beginning of the line  
ctrl-e move to the end of the line  
ctrl-h t take an emacs tutorial if you have a free hour or two and you're interested in learning emacs, take this tutorial


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