When you're deep into coding with JavaScript in Emacs, you want everything to align just right. But what do you do when Js2 Mode decides to go with tabs instead of spaces? Don't worry, I'm here to help you navigate this issue and get your coding environment just the way you want it.
Js2 Mode is a popular major mode for Emacs that provides syntax highlighting and error-checking for JavaScript code. But when it comes to indentation settings, it can be a bit stubborn. If you prefer spaces over tabs for indenting your code, follow these steps to configure Js2 Mode to use spaces instead.
First things first, you need to locate your Emacs configuration file. This file is usually named `.emacs` or `init.el` and is where you can customize various settings for your Emacs setup. Once you've found it, open the file in Emacs for editing.
Next, add the following lines of code to your Emacs configuration file:
-lisp
(setq-default js2-basic-offset 2)
(setq-default js-indent-level 2)
(setq-default indent-tabs-mode nil)Let's break down what each of these lines does:
- `(setq-default js2-basic-offset 2)`: This line sets the basic offset for Js2 Mode to 2 spaces. You can adjust the number to your preferred indentation width.
- `(setq-default js-indent-level 2)`: This line sets the default indentation level for JavaScript code to 2 spaces. It ensures that when you press the TAB key for indentation, it will insert spaces instead of tabs.
- `(setq-default indent-tabs-mode nil)`: This line disables the use of tabs for indentation in Js2 Mode and ensures that only spaces are used.
Once you have added these lines to your Emacs configuration file, save the file and restart Emacs for the changes to take effect. Now, when you start editing JavaScript code in Js2 Mode, you should see that spaces are used for indentation instead of tabs.
Keep in mind that these changes will only affect Js2 Mode. If you work with other modes that use different settings for indentation, you may need to customize them separately.
In conclusion, configuring Js2 Mode to use spaces instead of tabs in Emacs is a simple process that can greatly improve your coding experience. By adjusting a few settings in your Emacs configuration file, you can ensure that your JavaScript code is neatly formatted with spaces for indentation. Happy coding!