Have you tried looking at VIM-LaTeX (http://vim-latex.sourceforge.net http://vim-latex.sourceforge.net)? It does exactly what you described and is just as custo

Have you tried looking at VIM-LaTeX (http://vim-latex.sourceforge.net http://vim-latex.sourceforge.net)? It does exactly what you described and is just as customisable as auctex. For example: <leader>ll will compile your document, multiple times if necessary, and show you warnings/errors in a new window, letting you hit enter on each to jump to the line. Lots of helpers for inserting environments, items, packages, too! But if you're used Emacs just for auctex, more power to you for harnessing the power of two awesome editors!