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Emacs

Published by GNU Project

The extensible self-documenting text editor

Open sourceGPL-3.0-or-later

Highlights

  • Editor behaviour written in Emacs Lisp and redefinable while running
  • Built-in documentation for every command, key binding and variable
  • Major and minor modes cover code, Org mode outlines, files, shells and mail
  • Package manager installs extensions from GNU ELPA and other archives
  • Android build runs the same Lisp code and configuration as desktop Emacs

About this application

GNU Emacs is a text editor whose behaviour is written almost entirely in its own Lisp dialect and can be redefined while it is running. Any key, command or display rule is changeable without rebuilding the program, and every function and variable carries documentation the editor will show you on the spot — the reason it is called self-documenting.

Because editing behaviour is decided by major and minor modes, Emacs covers a great deal beyond programming: Org mode for outlines, notes, tasks and documents that mix prose with code; Dired for file management; shells and a terminal emulator running inside a buffer; version control; mail and news readers. A package manager installs further extensions from GNU ELPA and other archives.

This entry is the Android build, which runs the same C core and the same Lisp code as the desktop version, so an existing configuration and installed packages largely carry over. Emacs leans heavily on Control and Meta key combinations, which are awkward on a touch keyboard, so it is considerably more comfortable with a physical keyboard attached.

Android

  • App storeF-Droid

    From the publisher

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    Package identifier: org.gnu.emacs

    v30.257.5 MBreleased 06/14/2026

    SHA-256 from the manifest published by F-Droid, compared on 08/04/2026

    5f54729c82efd5732a67db6230a1f689cd7c77be402ad45362cf65b327d32339

We do not host this file, we do not scan it and we do not inspect its contents. Read what the source says, then decide for yourself.