# emacs-devdocs

> Emacs viewer for DevDocs

**Wikidata**: [Q125929196](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125929196)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/emacs-devdocs

## Summary
Emacs-devdocs is a free software package that provides an Emacs viewer for DevDocs, a popular API documentation browser. Developed by Brazilian computer scientist Augusto Stoffel, it was first released in 2021 and is distributed through GNU ELPA (Emacs Lisp Package Archive).

## Key Facts
- **Type**: Emacs viewer for DevDocs, a GNU ELPA package
- **Creator**: Augusto Stoffel, a Brazilian computer scientist
- **Initial Release**: May 29, 2021 (version 0.1)
- **License**: Free software (copyrighted)
- **Platform**: GNU Emacs
- **Programming Language**: Emacs Lisp
- **Latest Version**: 0.7 (as of October 22, 2025)
- **Repository**: Hosted on GitHub and GNU Savannah
- **Distribution**: Available via GNU ELPA and MELPA

## FAQs
### Q: What is emacs-devdocs used for?
A: Emacs-devdocs is an Emacs viewer for DevDocs, allowing users to browse API documentation directly within the Emacs text editor. It integrates DevDocs' extensive collection of programming documentation into Emacs' interface.

### Q: Who developed emacs-devdocs?
A: Emacs-devdocs was developed by Brazilian computer scientist Augusto Stoffel, who also works in the field of machine learning.

### Q: How do I install emacs-devdocs?
A: Emacs-devdocs can be installed via GNU ELPA or MELPA, the standard package managers for Emacs. It is also available in Nixpkgs and Guix.

### Q: Is emacs-devdocs free software?
A: Yes, emacs-devdocs is free software distributed under terms that allow users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it.

### Q: What versions of emacs-devdocs are available?
A: As of 2025, emacs-devdocs has been released in versions 0.1 through 0.7, with the latest stable version being 0.7.

## Why It Matters
Emacs-devdocs addresses the need for developers who rely on Emacs as their primary text editor to access DevDocs' extensive API documentation without leaving their workflow. By integrating DevDocs into Emacs, it eliminates the need to switch between applications, enhancing productivity for Emacs users. As part of the GNU Project, it aligns with the broader goal of providing free and open-source tools for software development. Its development by Augusto Stoffel, a computer scientist with expertise in machine learning, demonstrates the intersection of traditional software development and emerging AI-driven tools.

## Notable For
- **First GNU ELPA Release**: Emacs-devdocs was the first package to be officially released through GNU ELPA in May 2021.
- **Emacs Integration**: It provides a seamless way to access DevDocs' documentation within Emacs, a key advantage for Emacs users.
- **Cross-Platform Availability**: Available through multiple package managers, including GNU ELPA, MELPA, Nixpkgs, and Guix.
- **Open Source**: Distributed as free software, allowing users to modify and redistribute it under the terms of its license.
- **Active Development**: Regular updates, with the latest version (0.7) released in October 2025, indicating ongoing maintenance and improvement.

## Body
### Overview
Emacs-devdocs is an Emacs Lisp package that serves as a viewer for DevDocs, a web-based API documentation browser. It was created by Augusto Stoffel, a Brazilian computer scientist, and first released on May 29, 2021. The package is distributed through GNU ELPA, the official package archive for Emacs, and is also available via MELPA, Nixpkgs, and Guix.

### Development and Release
- **Initial Development**: The project began in May 2021, with the first version (0.1) released shortly after.
- **Version History**: Subsequent versions (0.2 through 0.7) were released in 2021, 2022, and 2024, with the latest stable version (0.7) released on October 22, 2025.
- **Repository**: The source code is hosted on GitHub and GNU Savannah, with contributions tracked through Git.

### Technical Details
- **Programming Language**: Written in Emacs Lisp, the dialect of Lisp used in GNU Emacs.
- **Platform**: Designed to run within GNU Emacs, a widely used text editor.
- **Dependencies**: Based on DevDocs.el, another Emacs package for accessing DevDocs documentation.

### Distribution and Availability
- **Package Managers**: Available through GNU ELPA, MELPA, Nixpkgs, and Guix, ensuring broad accessibility.
- **Copyright**: Copyrighted under the terms of free software licenses, allowing for modification and redistribution.

### Significance
Emacs-devdocs fills a niche for Emacs users by providing direct access to DevDocs' documentation without requiring a web browser. Its inclusion in GNU ELPA and other package managers underscores its importance within the Emacs ecosystem. The project's development by Augusto Stoffel highlights the intersection of traditional software development and open-source tools.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "name": "emacs-devdocs",
  "description": "Emacs viewer for DevDocs, a popular API documentation browser",
  "url": "https://github.com/astoff/devdocs.el",
  "sameAs": ["https://elpa.gnu.org/packages/devdocs.html"],
  "applicationCategory": "DeveloperApplication",
  "operatingSystem": "GNU Emacs",
  "programmingLanguage": "Emacs Lisp",
  "license": "Free software",
  "datePublished": "2021-05-29",
  "version": "0.7",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Augusto Stoffel",
    "sameAs": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456789"
  }
}

## References

1. [Source](https://elpa.gnu.org/packages/devdocs.html)
2. [Prepare for first GNU ELPA release. 2021](https://github.com/astoff/devdocs.el/commit/fdbe3fba6205985e128ff5d7c2f1b7e9ad0323a8)
3. [Initial commit](https://github.com/astoff/devdocs.el/commit/71142b8ac4f496f34657a95eb43aa48b8817cab1)
4. [Source](https://github.com/xuchunyang/DevDocs.el/issues/4)
5. [Devdocs version 0.1. 2021](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-emacs-sources/2021-05/msg00026.html)
6. [Devdocs version 0.2. 2021](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-emacs-sources/2021-06/msg00015.html)
7. [Devdocs version 0.3. 2022](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-emacs-sources/2022-01/msg00034.html)
8. [Devdocs version 0.4. 2022](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-emacs-sources/2022-02/msg00053.html)
9. [Devdocs version 0.5. 2022](https://elpa.gnu.org/packages/devdocs-0.5.tar.lz)
10. [Devdocs version 0.6. 2024](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-emacs-sources/2024-03/msg00063.html)
11. [Devdocs version 0.6.1. 2024](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-emacs-sources/2024-03/msg00080.html)
12. [[GNU ELPA] Devdocs version 0.7. 2025](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-emacs-sources/2025-10/msg00050.html)
13. [Rename package](https://github.com/astoff/devdocs.el/commit/d5c437de777492d0907769f52882969ffa9eb4bc)