Python Mode for Emacs

13 April 2007

Hand-me-downs

My temporary Summer 2006 Python notes (see here for the backstory) carried on into last winter (if there really was a winter), but I then retired that page. This post was first published on Sunday, 12th Nov 2006.

Python Mode for Emacs

I saw Andrew doing some Python shenanigans with Vim, so I thought I should look into Python specific commands for Emacs.

When you are editing a file with extension .py, then Emacs goes into python mode. Perhaps the interesting commands are:

C-c C-c Executes the current buffer.

C-c ! Brings up the Python Shell.

C-c C-w Runs pychecker on the current buffer.

C-c ? Brings up the help file for Python Mode (As normal, use C-M-v to scroll the help window).

There are loads of other commands that the help file will explain, such as how to move through the buffer according to the Python elements or how to execute parts of the file, but I will try to remember these four to start with!

Guide to Emacs Key-bindings

If you did not understand the above then you need to know that, following normal Emacs conventions, Control is represented by the large C, the small c is the 'c key', i.e. the third letter of the alphabet. M means Meta, which is a key on 1970s Unix keyboards, called Alt on the mass-produced IBM PC- compatible keyboards that we have today.

As an alternative, you can use escape and then take a little breath before pressing the next key; this is handy to know in a couple of situations:

Some graphical terminals use Alt for their own shortcuts, i.e. shortcuts controlling the box rather than passing the key commands to the application inside. You can use ESC in this situation or (better) edit the preferences of the terminal.
When connected to a remote terminal, especially if it is running a more traditional Unix, sometimes Alt commands cannot reach the remote server.

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