Emacs 31 is around the corner: The changes I'm daily driving
rahuljuliato.com
June 18, 2026
15 min read
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67/100
Summary
Emacs 31 is in development, with new features being tested from both the emacs-31 branch and the master branch. Users can expect enhancements that build on the existing capabilities of Emacs.
Key Takeaways
- Emacs 31 introduces a simplified Tree-sitter integration that automatically installs language grammars and switches to tree-sitter variants for supported major modes.
- A built-in markdown-ts-mode is included in Emacs 31, developed collaboratively by Karthik Chikmagalur and Stéphane Marks.
- Emacs 31 is currently in pre-release development, with features and defaults subject to change before the official release.
- Auto-installed grammars in Emacs 31 are not architecture-specific, which may cause compatibility issues when sharing configurations across different machines.
Community Sentiment
Positives
- The integration of modern features like LSP and tree-sitter in Emacs 31 enhances its capabilities, making it more competitive with contemporary IDEs.
- Users appreciate the ongoing improvements in Emacs, such as multiple-cursor editing and enhanced autocomplete, which streamline their coding experience.
- The ability to leverage LLMs for configuring Emacs can significantly reduce the steep learning curve, making it more accessible for new users.
Concerns
- Many users express frustration over the steep learning curve associated with Emacs, which can deter new adopters from fully utilizing its features.
- There are concerns about the complexity of configuration in Emacs, with some users wishing for simpler presets to avoid extensive setup.
- Some users have switched to other editors like VSCode due to performance issues with Emacs in specific use cases, such as remote coding.
