[NTG-context] Re: context-lmtx-mode – Emacs package for editing .ctx files in ConTeXt LMTX

[seyal.zavira@gmail.com]

Hi everyone,

My apologies for the very delayed reply. My focus was recently captured by
another project I was excited to finish, the CONTEXT-STARTERKIT, which I
shared in a separate thread. Thank you all for your patience and for the
incredibly positive and encouraging feedback on the context-lmtx-mode
package. It's fantastic to see this level of interest.

A special thank you to Hraban for adding the project to the ConTeXt
Garden wiki! I truly appreciate that; it’s a huge honor and will help
more users discover it.

Joaquín and Riviera, I was thrilled to read your enthusiastic comments.
I hope the package proves useful, and I look forward to any feedback or
ideas you might have whenever you get a chance.

Jim asked a very important question about how this package compares to
AUCTeX's context mode. It's a great point, and I'll do my best to
clarify my goals, though I must be transparent about my own experience.

To be honest, as I am relatively new to the world of TeX and ConTeXt, I
haven't used AUCTeX extensively myself. Therefore, I can't offer a
detailed user-experience comparison based on deep, long-term usage.
Instead, I can explain the philosophy and technical goals that drove me
to create context-lmtx-mode as an alternative:

My primary motivation was to build a modern editing experience from the
ground up, designed *exclusively* for ConTeXt LMTX, with these
principles in mind:

1. Simplicity and "Just Works" Philosophy:
   I aimed for a lightweight package that requires minimal configuration.
   The goal is for it to work seamlessly out of the box, especially for
   things like compiler detection, which can sometimes be a hurdle.

2. Superior Multi-Language Highlighting (via Polymode):
   This is the core technical advantage. context-lmtx-mode uses
   polymode to correctly handle and highlight different languages
   embedded within a .ctx file. This means if you have Lua code inside
   \startluacode, Metapost code inside \startMPcode, or XML blocks,
   each snippet gets its own proper syntax highlighting and indentation.
   This is a common pain point in other editors, and I wanted to solve
   it properly.

3. Strict Focus on LMTX:
   The package is intentionally built only for modern ConTeXt LMTX.
   This focus allows for more accurate syntax and tooling, without the
   legacy burden of supporting older MkII/MkIV versions.

4. Non-Intrusive and Safe Design:
   The package is self-contained. Any optional utilities are isolated
   and won't alter your global Emacs settings, making it safe to try
   out without disrupting your existing configuration.

So, rather than seeing it as a direct competitor to a mature suite like
AUCTeX, I see context-lmtx-mode as a focused tool that excels at the
*core editing task*, particularly for users who write modern,
multi-language ConTeXt documents and value simplicity.

I hope this gives a clearer picture of the vision. I welcome everyone to
give it a try and share their thoughts, open issues on GitHub, or
suggest features. Your feedback is what will shape its future.

Best regards,

Seyal
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