GNU Emacs vs Aquamacs Emacs : Which is Better?

GNU Emacs icon

GNU Emacs

GNU Emacs is the most popular and most ported Emacs text editor. Developed by The Free Software Foundation

License: Open Source

Categories: Development

Apps available for Mac OS X Windows Linux BSD

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Aquamacs Emacs icon

Aquamacs Emacs

Aquamacs is an Emacs text editor for macOS. Developed by David Reitter

License: Open Source

Categories: Development

Apps available for Mac OS X

GNU Emacs VS Aquamacs Emacs

GNU Emacs is a highly customizable and powerful text editor favored by advanced users and developers, while Aquamacs Emacs offers a more user-friendly interface tailored for macOS users. The choice between them often depends on the user’s familiarity with Emacs and their specific editing needs.

GNU Emacs

Pros:

  • Highly customizable with Emacs Lisp
  • Extensive package ecosystem
  • Strong community support
  • Powerful text manipulation features
  • Built-in terminal for command line tasks

Cons:

  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Less visually appealing out of the box
  • Configuration can be complex for new users
  • Performance can be slower with many packages
  • Requires manual installation of packages

Aquamacs Emacs

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface tailored for macOS
  • Better integration with macOS features and applications
  • Pre-configured settings for common tasks
  • Simplified installation and setup
  • Visual enhancements for a more modern look

Cons:

  • Limited customization compared to GNU Emacs
  • Not as powerful for advanced users
  • Less community support due to more niche use
  • Performance issues with very large files
  • Fewer built-in features than GNU Emacs

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