# emacs-consult-recoll > Emacs interface to perform desktop search with Recoll **Wikidata**: [Q113488768](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113488768) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/emacs-consult-recoll ## Summary Emacs-consult-recoll is an Emacs interface that enables desktop search functionality using the Recoll search engine. It is free software distributed through GNU ELPA and maintained by José Antonio Ortega Ruiz. The package allows Emacs users to perform full-text searches across their desktop files directly within the Emacs environment. ## Key Facts - Created by José Antonio Ortega Ruiz, a Spanish computer scientist and theoretical physicist - Latest stable version is 0.8.1, released on December 11, 2023 - Distributed through Emacs Lisp Package Archive (ELPA) since August 8, 2022 - Written in Emacs Lisp, a dialect of Lisp used in GNU Emacs - Part of the GNU Project, a free software initiative founded in 1983 - Uses Recoll as its underlying desktop search engine - Available under free software license Q27016754 - Source code hosted on Codeberg at https://codeberg.org/jao/consult-recoll - Official package page at https://elpa.gnu.org/packages/consult-recoll.html ## FAQs ### Q: What is emacs-consult-recoll used for? A: Emacs-consult-recoll provides desktop search capabilities within Emacs by interfacing with the Recoll search engine. It allows users to search through their files and documents directly from the Emacs environment using the consult framework. ### Q: Who maintains emacs-consult-recoll? A: The package is maintained by José Antonio Ortega Ruiz, a Spanish computer scientist who is also the copyright holder. He has been maintaining the package since its inclusion in GNU ELPA in August 2022. ### Q: How do I install emacs-consult-recoll? A: The package is available through GNU ELPA (Emacs Lisp Package Archive). Users can install it through Emacs's package management system, as it has been part of GNU ELPA since August 8, 2022. ## Why It Matters Emacs-consult-recoll bridges the gap between powerful desktop search capabilities and the Emacs text editor environment. By integrating Recoll's full-text search functionality into Emacs through the consult framework, it provides Emacs users with a seamless way to search their entire document collection without leaving their editing environment. This integration is particularly valuable for users who spend significant time in Emacs and want to maintain workflow continuity. The package exemplifies the free software movement's emphasis on interoperability and user empowerment, allowing users to leverage sophisticated search technology within their preferred text editor. Its inclusion in GNU ELPA ensures wide availability and ongoing maintenance within the Emacs ecosystem, making advanced desktop search accessible to the broader Emacs community. ## Notable For - First Emacs interface to integrate Recoll desktop search with the consult framework - Maintained by a recognized figure in the Emacs community (José Antonio Ortega Ruiz) - Regular updates with stable releases approximately every 1-2 months since launch - Dual distribution through both Codeberg (source) and GNU ELPA (package) - Part of the GNU Project's official package repository, ensuring long-term maintenance ## Body ### Technical Foundation Emacs-consult-recoll is built on Emacs Lisp, the native extension language of GNU Emacs. It leverages the consult framework, which provides a unified interface for various completion and search functions in Emacs. The package acts as a bridge between Emacs and Recoll, a powerful desktop search tool that indexes and searches through documents, emails, and other file types. ### Development History The package was added to GNU ELPA on August 8, 2022, with version 0.6.2. Since then, it has seen regular updates with version 0.7 released on August 20, 2022, version 0.8 on October 14, 2022, and the current stable version 0.8.1 on December 11, 2023. Each release has been announced through the gnu-emacs-sources mailing list, following standard GNU Project procedures. ### Distribution and Maintenance The package is distributed through two primary channels: the official GNU ELPA repository for end users and a source code repository on Codeberg for developers. José Antonio Ortega Ruiz serves as both the creator and maintainer, ensuring consistent development and support. The package is officially recognized as part of the GNU Project, with its inclusion in GNU ELPA providing institutional backing and visibility within the Emacs community. ### Integration Architecture The package integrates with Recoll by executing search queries and processing results within Emacs. It uses the consult framework to provide a consistent user interface for search operations, allowing users to leverage familiar Emacs completion and selection mechanisms. This integration enables users to perform complex searches across their desktop files while maintaining the efficiency and keyboard-driven workflow that Emacs users expect. ### Licensing and Freedom As free software, emacs-consult-recoll is distributed under license Q27016754, ensuring users have the freedom to run, study, modify, and distribute the software. This aligns with the principles of the free software movement and the GNU Project's mission to provide users with software freedom. The copyright is held by José Antonio Ortega Ruiz, who has chosen to distribute the package under terms that preserve these freedoms. ## References 1. [Consult-Recoll version 0.6.2. 2022](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-emacs-sources/2022-08/msg00015.html) 2. [Consult-Recoll version 0.7. 2022](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-emacs-sources/2022-08/msg00040.html) 3. [Consult-Recoll version 0.8. 2022](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-emacs-sources/2022-10/msg00028.html) 4. [Consult-Recoll version 0.8.1. 2023](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-emacs-sources/2023-12/msg00040.html) 5. [Source](https://elpa.gnu.org/packages/consult-recoll.html)