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(2021-07-10T05:11:07+0530)
So I wanted an overview of definitions in the current buffer, and set about evaluating the options I was suggested.
What I like -
✔️ Displays files and definitions in each file.
✔️ Hides package prefixes in Elisp code
✔️ Automatically displays outline of buffer in current window (i.e. follows the current window)
What I don't -
❌ Makes a new frame instead of a side window.
❌ Very dated-looking icons
wgreenhouse: yeah, it's very late-90s Visual Studio
What I like -
✔️ Makes a side window
✔️ Displays files and definitions in each file.
✔️ Automatically displays outline of buffer in current window (i.e. follows the current window)
✔️ [Elisp buffers] Hides package prefixes in outline
What I don't -
❌ MELPA's version is from 2016 (!!!); has some bugs, e.g. error when running `sr-speedbar`, and erroneous code to detect if it is active (haven't tested with `emacs -q`, although I'm not sure that will affect it)
❌ Very dated-looking icons, same as `speedbar`
Other characteristics -
1. identical to `speedbar` in almost all aspects
dale: treemacs is probably closer to the Sublime experience. Let me know if you figure out how to... use it.
dale: I have it. I turn it on sometimes. Files get displayed, it looks pretty. Things usually go downhill from there.
dale: I don't know why everyone wants to have "roots" and "projects". It's irritating.
What I like -
✔️ Makes a side window
✔️ Pretty, modern-looking icons
What I don't -
❌ [Elisp buffers] Does not hide package prefixes
❌ Following the current window is...complicated.
* `treemacs-follow-mode` follows the file visited by the current _buffer_, but I want Treemacs to display the files in the directory of the current _window_!
* `treemacs-tag-follow-mode` automatically displays tags of the open file, but only if it's in a subdirectory of the path of the "default workspace"
* I made a comment about this to bring it to the attention of the author.
https://github.com/Alexander-Miller/treemacs/issues/489#issuecomment-876696131
Other characteristics -
1. Default left-click action is to place point on an item. This can be changed with e.g. -
(use-package treemacs :bind (:map treemacs-mode-map ([mouse-1] . #'treemacs-single-click-expand-action)))
What I like -
✔️ Makes a window
✔️ Highlights items to indicate where you are in the buffer
✔️ Automatically displays outline of buffer in current window (i.e. follows the current window)
✔️ Does not use icons at all. I find this more Emacs-y, like Dired.
✔️ Nice colors - gives you an indication of heading depth in Org buffers (although it's different from the heading colors of the Org buffer itself)
What I don't -
❌ Window is not a "Side Window", in Emacs terminology - it can be removed via `delete-other-windows`.
- dale pointed out this hack to make `imenu-list` run in a side window; I haven't tried it yet -
https://github.com/dsedivec/dot-emacs-d/blob/master/recipes/imenu-list-in-side-buffer.el
Other characteristics -
1. [Org mode buffers] Displays headings which can be folded. The depth of headings displayed (2 by default) can be changed with `org-imenu-depth`.
What I like -
✔️ Makes a side window
* But...it can be deleted with `delete-other-windows`? 🤔
✔️ Funny name
✔️ Highlights items to indicate where you are in the buffer
✔️ Does not use icons at all. I find this more Emacs-y, like Dired.
What I don't -
❌ Does not follow the file visited in the current window, you have to run `side-hustle-toggle` each time you switch buffers.
❌ [Elisp buffers] Does not hide package prefixes
❌ Colors are all the same; uses indentation to compensate
Other characteristics -
1. [Org mode buffers] Displays headings which can be folded. The depth of headings displayed (2 by default) can be changed with `org-imenu-depth`.
I went with imenu-list for the moment. As and when Treemacs implements the sort of follow-behavior I want, I may consider moving to it.
Know some more sidebar solutions? Want to share your experiences?