How can I get Emacs style key bindings in Visual Studio?

Question

How can I get Emacs style key bindings in Visual Studio? Is it available in Settings? Do I need a Plug-in?

Solution 1

You can try the Emacs keyboard scheme (Tools->Options->Environment->Keyboard)

Solution 2

Xkeymacs does a really good job of this. It is possible to configure this tool for every application running on your desktop.

Solution 3

After posting that Emacs keybindings/emulation would no longer be available in Visual Studio 2010, Emacs Emulation is now available as a free extension for VS 2010.

Solution 4

With Settings:

Try the Emacs keyboard scheme on Environment options.

Plugins:

I have only seen this one: VisEmacs, it will integrate Emacs as the default text editor for Visual Studio.

Solution 5

For VS2019 it is an extension written by the community.

(Installing the extension)

1. Open Visual Studio 2019
2. Click Extensions -> Manage Extensions
3. Select "Online" in the left-side panel.
4. In the search box, enter "emacs"
5. As of March 2020, "Emacs Emulation 2" seems to be the thing. Select it and click "Download"
6. Close the window and close all open copies of Visual Studio. VSIX Installer will install the plug-in with your permission.

(Turning on EMACS)

7. Open Visual Studio
8. Use the menu Tools -> Customize. Click the "Keyboard" button at the bottom.
9. In the box at the top there will be an EMACS scheme that wasn't there before. Pick it. Click OK.
10. Close and reopen any code/text editing windows.

Press Ctrl-A, Ctrl-E, Ctrl-F.. It feels like a warm blanket on a cold day.

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