# auto-dictionary-mode

> automatic dictionary switcher for Emacs spell checking

**Wikidata**: [Q131425247](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131425247)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/auto-dictionary-mode

## Summary
auto-dictionary-mode is an automatic dictionary switcher for Emacs spell checking that allows users to seamlessly change dictionaries based on the text being edited. This Emacs extension enhances spell checking accuracy by automatically selecting the appropriate dictionary for different languages or technical terms encountered in documents.

## Key Facts
- auto-dictionary-mode is written in Emacs Lisp, the dialect of Lisp used in GNU Emacs.
- It is licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later.
- The latest stable version is 1.1, released on 2013-06-26.
- The software is available on GitHub at https://github.com/nschum/auto-dictionary-mode.
- It is included in the GNU Emacs operating system and distributed as free software.
- The package is available for Ubuntu as "elpa-auto-dictionary" and in Nix as "emacsPackages.auto-dictionary".
- The Debian source package is "auto-dictionary-mode," which became available starting from 2018-09-24.

## FAQs
### Q: What does auto-dictionary-mode do?
A: auto-dictionary-mode automatically switches spell checking dictionaries in Emacs based on the language or technical terms in the text being edited. This enhances spell checking accuracy by using the appropriate dictionary for different parts of a document.

### Q: How do I install auto-dictionary-mode?
A: auto-dictionary-mode can be installed through various package managers. On Ubuntu, it's available as the "elpa-auto-dictionary" package. In Nix, it can be installed as "emacsPackages.auto-dictionary." It can also be manually installed from its GitHub repository.

### Q: What programming language is auto-dictionary-mode written in?
A: auto-dictionary-mode is written entirely in Emacs Lisp, the dialect of Lisp specifically designed for extending GNU Emacs with new features.

## Why It Matters
auto-dictionary-mode addresses a common challenge in text editing: accurate spell checking across multiple languages or specialized terminology. By automatically detecting and switching dictionaries, it eliminates the need for manual dictionary selection, improving the user experience and increasing spell checking accuracy. This is particularly valuable for users who work with multilingual documents or technical content requiring specialized terminology. As a free software component within the Emacs ecosystem, it demonstrates the collaborative nature of open-source development in creating specialized tools that enhance productivity for developers and writers worldwide.

## Notable For
- Being specifically designed as an automatic dictionary switcher for Emacs spell checking, a focused solution to a common text editing problem
- Its implementation in Emacs Lisp, making it tightly integrated with Emacs' text processing capabilities
- Its inclusion in major distribution package repositories, including Ubuntu's software repositories and Debian
- Its maintenance and development on GitHub, following modern open-source development practices
- Its status as free software under the GPL, allowing users to study, modify, and distribute it freely

## Body
### Development and Licensing
auto-dictionary-mode is developed as an Emacs extension and is distributed under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later. The project is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/nschum/auto-dictionary-mode, which serves as its primary source code repository. The project has undergone several version releases, with version 1.0 being released on 2008-07-16, followed by version 1.0.1 on 2013-03-26, version 1.0.2 also on 2013-03-26, and the current stable version 1.1 being released on 2013-06-26.

### Technical Implementation
The software is written entirely in Emacs Lisp, the dialect of Lisp used specifically in GNU Emacs. This allows it to be tightly integrated with Emacs' text processing capabilities. It functions as an automatic dictionary switcher for spell checking, detecting the language or specialized terminology in text and selecting the appropriate dictionary accordingly.

### Distribution and Installation
auto-dictionary-mode is distributed through multiple channels:
- As a package in Ubuntu's repositories, named "elpa-auto-dictionary"
- In Nix as "emacsPackages.auto-dictionary"
- In Debian, both as a source package ("auto-dictionary-mode") available since 2018-09-24 and as an installable package
- It can also be installed directly from its GitHub repository

The project has maintained consistent compatibility with GNU Emacs across its development history, making it a reliable tool for users working within the Emacs ecosystem.

## References

1. [Source](https://metadata.ftp-master.debian.org/changelogs//main/a/auto-dictionary-mode/auto-dictionary-mode_1.1+14.gb364e08-2_copyright)
2. [Release 1.0. 2008](https://github.com/nschum/auto-dictionary-mode/releases/tag/1.0)
3. [Release 1.0.1. 2013](https://github.com/nschum/auto-dictionary-mode/releases/tag/1.0.1)
4. [Release 1.0.2. 2013](https://github.com/nschum/auto-dictionary-mode/releases/tag/1.0.2)
5. [Release 1.1. 2013](https://github.com/nschum/auto-dictionary-mode/releases/tag/1.1)
6. [Source](https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/auto-dictionary-mode)
7. GNU Guix
8. [Source](https://packages.debian.org/source/bookworm/auto-dictionary-mode)