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+title = "Multiprocess Emacs environment"
+author = ["Michał Sapka"]
+date = 2024-06-17T17:46:00+02:00
+categories = ["emacs"]
+draft = false
+weight = 3003
+image_dir = "emacs"
+image_max_width = 480
+primary_menu = "cool-emacs-appendix"
+abstract = "Running dedicated Emacs processes"
+alias = ["/cool-emacs/multi-process-emacs"]
+[menu]
+  [menu.cool-emacs-appendix]
+    weight = 3003
+    identifier = "multiprocess-emacs-environment"
++++
+
+The more you move into Emacs, the happier you may become.
+But at the same time, Emacs is not a **real** shell, but a text editor.
+This means there is no real way to manage functionality similarly one would manage applications.
+It's all a buffer - the file you opened, each IRC channel, email list, and so on.
+There are ways to manage it, like dedicated "workspace" plugins[^fn:1] or simple tabs.
+But all those don't fit my mental model.
+I am "Editing a file" or "chatting" or "writing a web page".
+Those are separate concerns, so I want to have dedicated spaces for them.
+
+At the same time I want them in Emacs, as it gives me a unified interface.
+I don't need to think how to change IRC channel, how to spell check, or how to actually write in my selected keybindings.
+
+
+## Dedicated Emacs instances {#dedicated-emacs-instances}
+
+This led me to use multiple, dedicated Emacs instances.
+This way, I've a got a dedicated IRC client, Code editor, Notepad, Email client, and so on.
+I have unified interface, but at the same time it's still akin to dedicated programs.
+
+This has the added benefit of fault protection.
+Tramp session hanging entire Emacs doesn't disconnect me from IRC, as those are separate processes.
+
+Therefore, I have functions which I call _ultimate modes_[^fn:2] to configure Emacs for given use case.
+
+A simple ultimate mode for IRC would look like:
+
+```emacs-lisp
+(defun mms-irc-mode()
+  "use this instance of Emacs for IRC"
+  (interactive)
+
+  (load-theme 'ef-bio)
+
+  (erc-tls :server "irc.tilde.chat" :port "6697"
+           :nick "mms" :full-name "https://michal.sapka.me")
+  (erc-tls :server "irc.libera.chat" :port "6697"
+       :nick "mms" :full-name "https://michal.sapka.me")
+  )
+```
+
+This simple function:
+
+-   Loads a dedicated theme, so I won't get lost. IRC is a happy place, therefore green.
+-   Connects me to my servers
+
+ERC is configured elsewhere, so all auto-joins are there, just redacted, but nothing limits the number of things the ultimate mode setup up.
+Want to defer loading of bigger package?
+Want to reconfigure Ispell language?
+Or maybe you want to load parts of Emacs configurations only when they make sense?
+Shy is the limit!
+
+Now, I can either run `Emacs` and call `mms-irc-mode` or have a dedicated OS level key binding to run Emacs in this mode via:
+
+```shell
+emacs --eval='(mms-irc-mode)'
+```
+
+This method could easily be expanded to run dedicated `emacs servers` and connected clients, but I wanted a simpler way.
+
+[^fn:1]: Like [perspective.el](https://github.com/nex3/perspective-el)
+[^fn:2]: Yes, it breaks the musical theory naming scheme.
+    I could have used "tonic" there to run the `erc` and pla play with the wordplay, but I decided against it.
+    Dammit Jim, I'm an engineer, not a musician!
+    Also, diatonic modes don't fit the "larger than major" mode.