Two Years of Emacs Solo: 35 Modules, Zero External Packages, and a Full Refactor
rahuljuliato.com
March 10, 2026
20 min read
Summary
Emacs Solo has been maintained for two years with a focus on using 35 modules without any external packages. All components are either built into Emacs or custom-written in the lisp/ directory.
Key Takeaways
- Emacs Solo is a personal Emacs configuration that uses no external packages, relying solely on built-in Emacs features and custom Elisp code.
- The recent architectural refactor split the configuration into two layers: a core `init.el` for built-in features and a `lisp/` directory for self-contained extra modules.
- The separation of core configuration and custom modules simplifies maintenance, understanding, and sharing of the Emacs setup.
- The project includes 35 self-contained modules that replace popular external packages, allowing users to easily integrate them into their own configurations.
Community Sentiment
MixedPositives
- The ability to write custom functions tailored to specific needs empowers users, allowing for a highly personalized editing experience that enhances productivity.
- The control over the codebase when using self-written modules fosters a deeper understanding of the system, which can lead to more efficient debugging and customization.
Concerns
- The reliance on built-in packages that may not receive timely updates raises concerns about potential bugs, which could hinder the user experience.
- Using Lisp for text editing is questioned, as it seems to lack the versatility and popularity of other programming languages, potentially limiting the community and support.
Source
rahuljuliato.com
Published
March 10, 2026
Reading Time
20 minutes
Relevance Score
64/100
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Why It Matters
This page is optimized for focused reading: quick context up top, a clean summary block, and a direct path to the original source when you want the full story.