4 ms·

I keep seeing long articles about org-mode, but nothing very helpful to use it. It tried downloading it once and it didn't seem to come with any useful documen

I keep seeing long articles about org-mode, but nothing very helpful to use it. It tried downloading it once and it didn't seem to come with any useful documentation, and as a non-emacs users, couldn't really even make it "start", never mind do anything useful. As a non-emacs, non-lisp users, is this really worth trying to learn? And if so, how can I get started with something small and useful?

deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
Sukotto 16y ago
Try this: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4940680/i-want-to-try-org-mode-whats-the-shortest-path-from-zero-to-typing/4940751#4940751 http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4940680/i-want-to-try-org...
kanak 16y ago
> As a non-emacs, non-lisp users, is this really worth trying to learn? I've been using org for about 2 years to take notes... I've taken several hundred pages worth of notes using it by now. I've been using it for about a month as my task / appointment manager, and I'm impressed by its flexibility. I was in the same spot when I started because there's a lot of things that Org is capable of. I used the following resources when I was learning Org. You might find them helpful: 1. Carsten Dominick (lead dev of Org-Mode) talks about Org at Google: http://orgmode.org/talks/index.html#sec-1 http://orgmode.org/talks/index.html#sec-1 2. "Power users describe their setup" section on the worg tutorial list: http://orgmode.org/worg/org-tutorials/index.html http://orgmode.org/worg/org-tutorials/index.html By this point, you'll have atleast some idea about how org can be used. If you decide to delve in further: 3. Sacha Chua's blog posts on Org-Mode: http://sachachua.com/blog/ http://sachachua.com/blog/ 4. Org compact guide: http://orgmode.org/guide/index.html http://orgmode.org/guide/index.html
alaithea 16y ago
If you happen to be a Vim user, and in the mood to try a bleeding-edge project, you might find this nascent Org-mode clone interesting: https://github.com/hsitz/VimOrganizer https://github.com/hsitz/VimOrganizer http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=3342 http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=3342
- ecyrb 16y ago
  Or you could use the Viper and Vimpulse packages to enable Vi style emulation in Emacs.
  - honeycrisp 16y ago
    Would I notice any differences? Does it still feel like vim?
    - spacemanaki 16y ago
      I tried this for a while and there were little things that drove me crazy. I can't remember the exact issues I had, but I'm sure other long time Vimmers would have some problems. I just found myself having to look up "why is this command xyz not doing what I expect in Viper mode" all the time. YMMV
mcn 16y ago
Emacs could be a stumbling block, but you don't need to learn lisp to use org mode. I initially ran into the same problem of getting to the point where I could follow a tutorial, so here's a 2 minute quick start. The next paragraph guides you through making your first org outline, and should leave you with the tip of the iceberg and a snorkel. Once you have org installed, hit "Control-x f" to open/create a file, and name one "orgtest.org". Type "* first header" -- if it doesn't turn blue, type "alt-x org-mode" to turn on org-mode. Now type "alt-enter", then hit tab a few times -- it should change the number of stars (level of indentation). Leave it with two stars. Type "take dog to park" on that line, now hit "control-c control-t" several times. It should cycle through a todo/done tag. Hit a regular enter this time, and type "remember your frisbee". Type "control-c control-s"; a calender should pop up, click on tomorrow's date. Now type shift-tab a few times and watch the outline fold/unfold. Note that the date line and TODO tag are plain text, as is the entire .org file. It could be helpful to think of org-mode as a code editor and interpreter for org markup. I believe the above should take you to the point where you can follow org-mode tutorials and reference material, although if you decide to really dive in you should probably take some time to learn emacs as well.
baddox 16y ago
It's funny. I've been using Emacs as my sole editor for about 8 months now, but I still haven't been able to reach enlightenment with org-mode. I have it installed, and I occasionally use it for todo lists, but I guess I'm just not good enough with it to see its value. I think the main stumbling block is the documentation (as with most things Emacs). There needs to be some use cases or something. Even the enthusiastic bloggers never seen to give concrete examples. The best advertisement for org-mode I've seen is this long Google Tech Talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJTwQvgfgMM&hd=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJTwQvgfgMM&hd=1
- sedachv 16y ago
  I've been using Emacs as my editor for 8 years, and I don't get org-mode.
  - melling 16y ago
    M-x org-mode and just start typing. Hyperlinks are clickable. Add a check lists. - [ ] Read Hacker News; C-c C-c when complete - [ ] Write blog * More readable links [[http://news.ycombinator.com][Hacker http://news.ycombinator.com][Hacker News]] * Level I * * Level II -- There are two asterisks with no space. - [x] Write lesson one.
    - silentbicycle 16y ago
      What I don't get is why it uses multiple asterisks for levels (and an ugly font-lock hack to hide all but the last): * header ** second level *** third level **** fourth level etc. when it's feasible to set outline-regexp to " *[*+.-]" ; broken out due to HN's formatting and then just use spaces and asterisks (and dots, pluses, minuses, etc.) directly: * header * second * third * fourth org-mode is really powerful, but does so much that it's hard to learn upfront. I've used Emacs heavily for several years, but never quite gotten into it. I have my own variant (a thin extension to outline-mode), which uses the 10% of org-mode's functionality that I actually care about.

deleted 16y ago

[deleted]

Sukotto 16y ago

Try this: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4940680/i-want-to-try-org-mode-whats-the-shortest-path-from-zero-to-typing/4940751#4940751 http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4940680/i-want-to-try-org...

kanak 16y ago

> As a non-emacs, non-lisp users, is this really worth trying to learn? I've been using org for about 2 years to take notes... I've taken several hundred pages worth of notes using it by now. I've been using it for about a month as my task / appointment manager, and I'm impressed by its flexibility. I was in the same spot when I started because there's a lot of things that Org is capable of. I used the following resources when I was learning Org. You might find them helpful: 1. Carsten Dominick (lead dev of Org-Mode) talks about Org at Google: http://orgmode.org/talks/index.html#sec-1 http://orgmode.org/talks/index.html#sec-1 2. "Power users describe their setup" section on the worg tutorial list: http://orgmode.org/worg/org-tutorials/index.html http://orgmode.org/worg/org-tutorials/index.html By this point, you'll have atleast some idea about how org can be used. If you decide to delve in further: 3. Sacha Chua's blog posts on Org-Mode: http://sachachua.com/blog/ http://sachachua.com/blog/ 4. Org compact guide: http://orgmode.org/guide/index.html http://orgmode.org/guide/index.html

alaithea 16y ago

If you happen to be a Vim user, and in the mood to try a bleeding-edge project, you might find this nascent Org-mode clone interesting: https://github.com/hsitz/VimOrganizer https://github.com/hsitz/VimOrganizer http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=3342 http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=3342

ecyrb 16y ago
Or you could use the Viper and Vimpulse packages to enable Vi style emulation in Emacs.
- honeycrisp 16y ago
  Would I notice any differences? Does it still feel like vim?
  - spacemanaki 16y ago
    I tried this for a while and there were little things that drove me crazy. I can't remember the exact issues I had, but I'm sure other long time Vimmers would have some problems. I just found myself having to look up "why is this command xyz not doing what I expect in Viper mode" all the time. YMMV

mcn 16y ago

Emacs could be a stumbling block, but you don't need to learn lisp to use org mode. I initially ran into the same problem of getting to the point where I could follow a tutorial, so here's a 2 minute quick start. The next paragraph guides you through making your first org outline, and should leave you with the tip of the iceberg and a snorkel. Once you have org installed, hit "Control-x f" to open/create a file, and name one "orgtest.org". Type "* first header" -- if it doesn't turn blue, type "alt-x org-mode" to turn on org-mode. Now type "alt-enter", then hit tab a few times -- it should change the number of stars (level of indentation). Leave it with two stars. Type "take dog to park" on that line, now hit "control-c control-t" several times. It should cycle through a todo/done tag. Hit a regular enter this time, and type "remember your frisbee". Type "control-c control-s"; a calender should pop up, click on tomorrow's date. Now type shift-tab a few times and watch the outline fold/unfold. Note that the date line and TODO tag are plain text, as is the entire .org file. It could be helpful to think of org-mode as a code editor and interpreter for org markup. I believe the above should take you to the point where you can follow org-mode tutorials and reference material, although if you decide to really dive in you should probably take some time to learn emacs as well.

baddox 16y ago

It's funny. I've been using Emacs as my sole editor for about 8 months now, but I still haven't been able to reach enlightenment with org-mode. I have it installed, and I occasionally use it for todo lists, but I guess I'm just not good enough with it to see its value. I think the main stumbling block is the documentation (as with most things Emacs). There needs to be some use cases or something. Even the enthusiastic bloggers never seen to give concrete examples. The best advertisement for org-mode I've seen is this long Google Tech Talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJTwQvgfgMM&hd=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJTwQvgfgMM&hd=1

sedachv 16y ago
I've been using Emacs as my editor for 8 years, and I don't get org-mode.
- melling 16y ago
  M-x org-mode and just start typing. Hyperlinks are clickable. Add a check lists. - [ ] Read Hacker News; C-c C-c when complete - [ ] Write blog * More readable links [[http://news.ycombinator.com][Hacker http://news.ycombinator.com][Hacker News]] * Level I * * Level II -- There are two asterisks with no space. - [x] Write lesson one.
  - silentbicycle 16y ago
    What I don't get is why it uses multiple asterisks for levels (and an ugly font-lock hack to hide all but the last): * header ** second level *** third level **** fourth level etc. when it's feasible to set outline-regexp to " *[*+.-]" ; broken out due to HN's formatting and then just use spaces and asterisks (and dots, pluses, minuses, etc.) directly: * header * second * third * fourth org-mode is really powerful, but does so much that it's hard to learn upfront. I've used Emacs heavily for several years, but never quite gotten into it. I have my own variant (a thin extension to outline-mode), which uses the 10% of org-mode's functionality that I actually care about.