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Emacs has such a steep and long learning curve that I couldn’t justify learning it while doing actual work. Still attracted by it, any suggestion for a smoother adoption?

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The learning curve is not so steep, as long as you don't try to learn ALL OF EMACS upfront. Just start using it for your basic editing, learn how to open/save files, how to navigate, buffer management, as you go. When you need something more specific, you can easily look it up in the great in-built documentation. You can also use something like Doom, which simplifies more advanced setups, and adds to discoverability (press the leader key, and you get a set of options for what else you can do from there).

It's the same with Vim, if you learn how to do basic editing, the rest comes along easily, as you need it. (remember "ESC :q!", though :) )

I like "emacs bedrock" config to start with. And use magit (can be enabled in bedrock). You'll save so much time using git which means a) you'll never go back and b) you can use the time saved to get better at emacs.

I won't lie to you, though. Emacs is the single greatest source of yak shaving there is. It becomes your passion project as you try to craft your ultimate editing experience. It's so cool to be able to use your own passion project for work every day.

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