Emacs vs RubyMine: What are the differences?

# Introduction

# Key Differences between Emacs and RubyMine

1. **Customizability**: Emacs is highly customizable and extensible through the use of Emacs Lisp, allowing users to modify and tailor the editor to their specific needs. On the other hand, RubyMine, being an integrated development environment (IDE) specifically designed for Ruby and Rails development, offers a more structured and predefined set of features without the same level of customization as Emacs.
  
2. **Text Editing Features**: Emacs is primarily a text editor with a strong focus on keyboard shortcuts and text manipulation functionalities. It provides extensive support for advanced text editing tasks such as code folding, syntax highlighting, and text search/replace. In contrast, RubyMine offers specialized features for Ruby and Rails development, including code completion, refactoring tools, debugging capabilities, and integrated version control systems.
   
3. **Learning Curve**: Emacs has a steep learning curve due to its extensive customization options and unique keybindings, which may require significant time and effort for new users to become proficient. RubyMine, being a more specialized IDE, has a more gentle learning curve specifically tailored for Ruby developers, offering a more intuitive user interface and predefined workflows that align with common Ruby development practices.

4. **Community Support**: Emacs has a large and active community of users and developers who contribute plugins, extensions, and documentation to enhance the editor's functionality. This community-driven approach allows Emacs users to benefit from a vast array of resources and community support. In contrast, RubyMine has a smaller but dedicated community focused specifically on Ruby and Rails development, providing targeted support and resources for users working within these technologies.
  
5. **Platform Compatibility**: Emacs is a cross-platform editor that can be used on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring consistent performance and functionality across different environments. In comparison, RubyMine is primarily designed for use on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems, with optimized features and integration on these platforms.

6. **Cost**: Emacs is an open-source software available for free, allowing users to access and modify the source code without any licensing fees. RubyMine, being a commercial IDE, requires a paid license for full access to all features and updates, with different pricing options available for individual users, companies, and educational purposes.

# In Summary, Emacs and RubyMine differ in customizability, text editing features, learning curve, community support, platform compatibility, and cost.