describe

Retrieve Emacs documentation for functions, variables, faces, and key bindings via emacsclient.

Updated Aug 27, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/benonions/dotfiles --skill describe-benonions
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: describe
Source: https://github.com/benonions/dotfiles/tree/main/codex/.codex/skills/community/emacs-skills/describe
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/benonions/dotfiles --skill describe-benonions

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This skill helps users quickly find and understand Emacs documentation without leaving the current environment.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Emacs Documentation Lookup: Searches Emacs functions, variables, faces, and key bindings.
  • Unified Search: Returns all findings as a single, comprehensive string.
  • Use Case: When you need to understand what a specific Emacs function like dired-mark does, you can use this skill to get a detailed explanation.

Quick Start

Use the describe skill to look up documentation for the Emacs function 'dired-mark'.

Frequently Asked Questions about describe

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I look up Emacs documentation for a specific function?

You can look up Emacs documentation by retrieving details for functions, variables, faces, and key bindings using emacsclient. This provides a consolidated summary of search results across multiple Emacs introspection mechanisms.

What do I need to search Emacs variables and key bindings from an external script?

To search Emacs variables and key bindings externally, you need an active Emacs session and the agent-skill-describe.el script loaded. The script is executed via emacsclient to return a unified documentation string.

Can I get a unified summary of Emacs faces and functions without leaving my environment?

Yes, you can get a unified summary of Emacs faces and functions without leaving your environment. The tool queries multiple Emacs introspection mechanisms and returns all findings as a single comprehensive string.

Does Emacs documentation lookup work for understanding specific functions like dired-mark?

Emacs documentation lookup works for understanding specific functions like dired-mark. It searches Emacs functions, variables, faces, and key bindings to provide a detailed explanation of what the function does.

What are the limitations of using emacsclient for Emacs documentation search?

The limitation of using emacsclient for Emacs documentation search is the dependency on having Emacs running. It requires the agent-skill-describe.el script to be loaded and executed via emacsclient to retrieve the consolidated summary.