Peter Prevos has developed Emacs Writing Studio (EWS), a specialized Emacs profile designed for academic writing. EWS leverages org-mode for document assembly, citar for bibliography management, and denote for knowledge management. This setup is tailored for academics, a significant segment of Emacs users.
Prevos presented EWS at EmacsConf in December 2024, delivering one of the most well-structured talks at the event. Additionally, he has created a five-video YouTube series covering various aspects of deploying EWS. To further support users, he has authored a book detailing how to utilize EWS effectively. The e-book is available for purchase, while its org-source files are freely accessible in the Documents/book folder on the EWS website.
A Groundbreaking Book
This book stands out for several reasons. It is the first Emacs book to discuss modern writing workflows using citar and denote. Additionally, it is the first book structured around an init.el file, potentially inspiring other authors to explore similar approaches. The book’s structure is as follows:
- The first 50 pages provide an excellent introduction to Emacs for both coders and writers.
- The next 100 pages focus on the writing process within EWS.
- The final 50 pages contain an invaluable appendix that walks through the
init.elfile, explaining the roles of each setting and package.
The book, however, lacks an index—a surprising omission given the relative ease of implementing indexing in LaTeX within org-mode. This omission may stem from challenges in exporting indices to multiple publication formats.
Learning EWS: A Recommended Approach
For those new to EWS, a learning spiral approach is recommended. Watching Prevos’ EmacsConf talk provides a great starting point, followed by his YouTube videos. Reading the book afterward will then solidify the concepts. While the book is accessible, its ease for absolute beginners is uncertain, as experienced Emacs users may find it difficult to gauge a novice’s perspective.
Innovative Packages and Features
Prevos has developed several packages that enhance the denote-based knowledge management experience, making it more appealing to org-roam users. These include:
- citar-denote: Integrates citar for generating literature notes within denote.
- denote-explore: Offers tools for analyzing note distribution across topics and generating directed graphs of interlinked notes.
These additions make denote more functional and attractive for academic users, particularly those transitioning from org-roam.
Denote differs from org-roam by relying on filenames rather than a database for note retrieval. While robust, its backlinking process remains as time-consuming as in org-roam, making it less ideal for those working under strict deadlines.
Installation and Usability
EWS is designed for easy installation and minimal customization. Users must define a few file paths, such as where denote notes will be stored. The initial launch of Emacs with the EWS init.el file requires several minutes to install packages, but subsequent launches take only 1-2 seconds.
EWS has been tested on Emacs 30.1 for macOS, where it runs as expected despite an ignorable error message. It features a visually appealing theme that enhances the Emacs experience, and its custom key bindings for denote and denote-explore function seamlessly.
The Ongoing Evolution of Denote
As noted in community discussions, Prot, the developer of denote, is optimizing the package by separating non-core functionalities into distinct add-ons. This restructuring ensures that denote remains streamlined while allowing users to extend its capabilities as needed.
Alternative Bibliography Management: The Role of Ebib
While EWS integrates citar, some users advocate for ebib due to its seamless interaction with org-mode, pdf-tools, and biblio. Ebib offers robust bibliography management, supporting dependent databases, keyword tagging, and customized bibliographic views. Users familiar with org-ref’s DOI import functions may explore biblio as a potential replacement.
Conclusion
Peter Prevos’ Emacs Writing Studio represents a significant advancement in academic writing workflows within Emacs. By integrating modern tools like org-mode, citar, and denote, EWS provides a streamlined and powerful writing environment. The accompanying book and video resources make it easier for academics to adopt this workflow. With continued community engagement and package evolution, EWS is poised to become an essential tool for Emacs-based academic writing.