EmacsConf 2023
Table of Contents
Overview
EmacsConf 2023 was held online on December 2-3, 2023 (Saturday-Sunday), from 9am-5pm EST (UTC-5) / 2pm-10pm UTC. The conference featured 41 talks across two parallel tracks (General and Development), with 16 hours of presentations and 12 hours of Q&A via BigBlueButton web conference, plus lively discussion across IRC and Etherpad.
The General track was hosted by Leo Vivier, the Development track by Amin Bandali, with other volunteers running things mostly backstage. There was also a satellite event in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Notable Talks
AI and Large Language Models
LLM Clients in Emacs: Functionality and Standardization
Andrew Hyatt explored what LLMs are and their use cases, followed by a survey of significant LLM client packages for Emacs. The talk highlighted the need for standardization so users do not have to configure API keys independently for each package. One attendee noted: "Emacs was born in an AI lab," reflecting on how relevant a programmable text processing environment is to the new world of LLMs.
MatplotLLM: Iterative Natural Language Data Visualization
Abhinav Tushar demonstrated MatplotLLM, a natural language interface over matplotlib for Python visualizations. The talk showed how powerful LLMs enable a more natural interface where users work with text instructions and feedback on generated plots.
Org Mode and Literate Programming
Org-Mode Text Adventure Game
Chung-hong Chan presented an Org-Mode-based text adventure game for learning Emacs basics, introducing newcomers to Emacs through interactive gameplay.
Teaching Computer and Data Science with Literate Programming
A case study on using Emacs and Org-mode for literate programming in undergraduate computer and data science courses, covering R, Python, C/C++, SQL, and more. The speaker noted that especially in AI-assisted teaching, literate programming tools will become even more important.
Taming Things with Org Mode
A talk on practical productivity workflows using Org mode for task management and organization.
Literate Documentation with Emacs and Org Mode
Exploration of creating living documentation that combines prose with executable code using Org mode's babel capabilities.
Collaborative Editing
Collaborative Data Processing Using Org-babel and CRDT
Jonathan Hartman and Lukas C. Bossert demonstrated reproducible research collaboration in Emacs using the CRDT package (conflict-free replicated data type) along with Org Mode's support for running many different languages. Attendees were enthusiastic, with comments like "watching two users editing the same buffer simultaneously is BLOWING MY MIND."
GNU Hyperbole
Top 10 Ways Hyperbole Amps Up Emacs
Bob Weiner demonstrated the capabilities of the Hyperbole system for creating interactive documents and buttons, showcasing advanced hypertext features within Emacs.
What I Learned by Writing Test Cases for GNU Hyperbole
Mats Lidell discussed the journey from no tests to over 300 ERT tests for the Hyperbole package, sharing lessons learned about test-driven development in Elisp.
Emacs Core Development
Emacs Core Development: How It Works
A look at how Emacs development functions as a project approaching 40 years of continuous development, examining what allows such longevity in an open source project.
Emacs Development Updates
Updates on Emacs 30, including new TreeSitter-based major modes for Lua, Elixir, and HTML, plus the exciting announcement that Emacs 30 will run on Android devices, enabling native Emacs on tablets.
Conference Infrastructure
EmacsConf.org: How We Use Org Mode and TRAMP to Organize and Run a Multi-track Conference
The organizers demonstrated how the conference itself is run using Org Mode and TRAMP, showcasing practical infrastructure built entirely on Emacs.
Key Themes
Large Language Models and AI Integration
EmacsConf 2023 marked significant interest in LLM integration, with talks on llm.el, gptel, and org-ai packages. The community explored standardization for LLM clients to improve interoperability.
Org Mode Full Day
The first day opened with a full schedule of Org Mode talks, from introductory content through advanced literate programming and collaborative workflows.
GNU Hyperbole Renaissance
Multiple talks showcased Hyperbole developments and workflows, reflecting renewed interest in this powerful hypertext system.
Collaborative Editing
CRDT-based collaborative editing demonstrated the potential for real-time multi-user Emacs sessions, generating significant excitement.
Tree-sitter Maturation
Tree-sitter integration continued to mature, with new modes coming to Emacs 30 and broader language support across the ecosystem.
Technical Highlights
- LLM integration packages: llm.el, gptel, org-ai
- CRDT collaborative editing for real-time multi-user sessions
- Emacs 30 Android support announcement
- New TreeSitter major modes (Lua, Elixir, HTML)
- Hyperbole with 300+ ERT tests
Resources
- Conference Website: https://emacsconf.org/2023/
- Talk Schedule: https://emacsconf.org/2023/talks/
- Watch Videos: https://emacsconf.org/2023/watch/
- Conference Report: https://emacsconf.org/2023/report/
- IRC: #emacsconf on Libera.Chat
All talks are available with complete transcripts and BigBlueButton Q&A recordings, enabling the community to benefit from presentations regardless of live attendance.