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.