Abstract:

This article argues that most Emacs users underutilize the package Avy, typically using it only for jumping to visible text. The author introduces a "Filter → Select → Act" interaction model and demonstrates that Avy's true power lies in its composability, particularly in the "Act" phase. By customizing Avy's dispatch actions (avy-dispatch-alist), a single command like avy-goto-char-timer can be used to perform a vast range of operations—such as killing, yanking, moving, or looking up definitions—on any text visible on the screen, without moving the cursor. The article further explores integrating Avy with other powerful packages like Isearch and Embark, creating a highly efficient, dynamic, and cognitively light editing system that transforms Avy from a simple navigation tool into a comprehensive interaction-at-a-distance framework.

Unlocking Avy's Full Potential: From Jumping to Acting

• The Core Argument: The author posits that users are barely scratching the surface of what Avy can do. Instead of just jumping, Avy can be used to perform any action on any visible text.
• "Filter → Select → Act" Model: Most Emacs interactions follow this pattern: filter a list of candidates, select one, and then act upon it. Avy excels at this by separating these stages, allowing users to customize the "Act" part.
• The Problem with Too Many Commands: Avy provides many commands for specific actions (e.g., avy-copy-line), but this creates mental gridlock. The proposed solution is to use one general-purpose command (avy-goto-char-timer) and then choose the action at the end of the process.
• Customizing Actions: The key to this workflow is customizing the avy-dispatch-alist variable. This allows you to assign keys to custom functions that will run on the selected Avy candidate.
  • Examples provided: Kill/copy/move words or lines, run a spell-check, look up a word's definition, find documentation for a symbol, or perform a Google search.
• Avy + Embark: A Powerful Combination: This integration offers the best of both worlds. Avy is used to select a location on the screen, and Embark provides a menu of context-aware actions for the semantic unit (word, symbol, URL, etc.) at that location. This creates an incredibly powerful and dynamic workflow.
• Avy + Isearch: Enhanced Searching: Users can start a search with the standard Isearch (C-s) and then invoke Avy to select and act on any of the visible matches. This decouples Isearch's powerful filtering from its simple "jump-to-next" action.
• Handling the "Single Match" Case: A potential issue is that Avy automatically jumps if there's only one match, bypassing the action dispatch. The solution is to either filter less specifically to ensure multiple candidates or to let Avy jump, perform the action manually, and then jump back using the mark ring (C-u C-SPC).
• Key Takeaway: Reducing Cognitive Load: The ultimate goal is not just to be faster but to reduce the mental context switching required for complex editing tasks. By making Avy actions mnemonic (e.g., k for kill) and integrating it with tools like Embark, the user can perform complex operations on any visible text without ever leaving their current position, leading to a smoother and more focused workflow.