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Bring command-line utilities to your Emacs workflow

Use dwim-shell-command-on-marked-files to define new functions that apply command-line utilities to current buffer or dired files.

For example:

(defun my/dwim-shell-command-convert-to-gif ()
  "Convert all marked videos to optimized gif(s)."
  (interactive)
  (dwim-shell-command-on-marked-files
   "Convert to gif"
   "ffmpeg -loglevel quiet -stats -y -i '<<f>>' -pix_fmt rgb24 -r 15 '<<fne>>.gif'"
   :utils "ffmpeg"))

Can be applied as:

This makes wrapping one-liners a breeze, so let’s do some more…

One-liners

(defun my/dwim-shell-command-convert-image-to-jpg ()
  "Convert all marked images to jpg(s)."
  (interactive)
  (dwim-shell-command-on-marked-files
   "Convert to jpg"
   "convert -verbose '<<f>>' '<<fne>>.jpg'"
   :utils "convert"))

(defun my/dwim-shell-command-convert-audio-to-mp3 ()
  "Convert all marked audio to mp3(s)."
  (interactive)
  (dwim-shell-command-on-marked-files
   "Convert to mp3"
   "ffmpeg -stats -n -i '<<f>>' -acodec libmp3lame '<<fne>>.mp3'"
   :utils "ffmpeg"))

(defun dwim-shell-commands-http-serve-dir ()
  "HTTP serve current directory."
  (interactive)
  (dwim-shell-command-on-marked-files
   "HTTP serve current dir"
   "python3 -m http.server"
   :utils "python3"
   :focus-now t
   :no-progress t))

Multi-line scripts

(defun dwim-shell-commands-image-view-location-in-openstreetmap ()
  "Open image(s) location in map/browser."
  (interactive)
  (dwim-shell-command-on-marked-files
   "Browse location"
   "lat=\"$(exiftool -csv -n -gpslatitude -gpslongitude '<<f>>' | tail -n 1 | cut -s -d',' -f2-2)\"
        if [ -z \"$lat\" ]; then
          echo \"no latitude\"
          exit 1
        fi
        lon=\"$(exiftool -csv -n -gpslatitude -gpslongitude '<<f>>' | tail -n 1 | cut -s -d',' -f3-3)\"
        if [ -z \"$lon\" ]; then
          echo \"no longitude\"
          exit 1
        fi
        if [[ $OSTYPE == darwin* ]]; then
          open \"http://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=${lat}&mlon=${lon}&layers=C\"
        else
          xdg-open \"http://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=${lat}&mlon=${lon}&layers=C\"
        fi"
   :utils "exiftool"
   :error-autofocus t
   :silent-success t))

Pick your language

(defun dwim-shell-command-csv-to-json-via-python ()
  "Convert csv file to json (via Python)."
  (interactive)
  (dwim-shell-command-on-marked-files
   "Convert csv file to json (via Python)."
   "
import csv
import json
text = json.dumps({ \"values\": list(csv.reader(open('<<f>>')))})
fpath = '<<fne>>.json'
with open(fpath , 'w') as f:
  f.write(text)"
   :shell-util "python"
   :shell-args "-c"))

(defun dwim-shell-command-csv-to-json-via-swift ()
  "Convert csv file to json (via Swift)."
  (interactive)
  (dwim-shell-command-on-marked-files
   "Convert csv file to json (via Swift)."
   "import Foundation
    import TabularData
    let filePath = \"<<f>>\"
    print(\"reading \\(filePath)\")
    let content = try String(contentsOfFile: filePath).trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
    let parsedCSV = content.components(separatedBy: CSVWritingOptions().newline).map{
      $0.components(separatedBy: \",\")
    }
    let jsonEncoder = JSONEncoder()
    let jsonData = try jsonEncoder.encode([\"value\": parsedCSV])
    let json = String(data: jsonData, encoding: String.Encoding.utf8)
    let outURL = URL(fileURLWithPath:\"<<fne>>.json\")
    try json!.write(to: outURL, atomically: true, encoding: String.Encoding.utf8)
    print(\"wrote \\(outURL)\")"
   :shell-pipe "swift -"))

Build a rich toolbox (or use mine)

While you may want to build your own command toolbox over time, I’ve also shared my toolbox (close to 100 commands).

If you create new command not found in my list, I’d love to hear about it. File an issue or just ping me (Mastodon / Twitter / Reddit / Email).

A shell-command, async-shell-command, and dired-do-shell-command alternative

Run M-x dwim-shell-command to execute disposable DWIM shell commands

• Asynchronously.
• Using noweb templates.
• Automatically injecting files (from dired or other buffers) or kill ring.
• Managing buffer focus with heuristics.
• Showing progress bar.
• Quick buffer exit.
• More reusable history.

Which files

dwim-shell-command determines which file(s) you want the command to operate on.

If visiting a dired buffer, draw the marked file(s).

If visiting a buffer with an associated file, use that.

noweb templates

Operate on drawn files using either the following:

• <<f>> (file path)
• <<fne>> (file path without extension)
• <<e>> (extension)
• <<td>> (generate a temporary directory)
• <<*>> (all files joined)
• <<cb>> (clipboard)

For example:

With drawn files path/to/image1.png and path/to/image2.png

convert <<f>> <<fne>>.jpg expands to

convert path/to/image1.png path/to/image1.jpg
convert path/to/image2.png path/to/image2.jpg

while ls -lh <<*>> expands to

ls -lh path/to/image1.png path/to/image2.png

Focus

dwim-shell-command creates a process buffer to capture command output, but neither displays nor focuses on it by default. Instead, it tries to guess what’s more convenient to focus on.

While the process is busy, show a spinner in the minibuffer. No focus changes.

After process is finished:

If there were any files created in the default-directory, jump to a dired buffer and move point to the new file (via dired-jump).

If no new files were created, automatically switch focus to the process buffer and display its output.

Note: You can prevent this automatic focus by prepending your command with whitespace.

” convert ‘<<f>>’ ‘<<fne>>.jpg’”

If the shell command caused any errors, offer to focus the process buffer and display its output.

Easily create utilities

Command-line utilities like ffmpeg can be easily integrated into Emacs flows (without the need to remember any flags or parameters) by wrapping command invocations into functions and invoking via M-x (or your favorite binding). Same DWIM behavior from dwim-shell-command is inherited.

Quick exit

Process buffers are read-only and can be quickly closed by pressing q.

More reusable history

Because of templates, command history becomes automatically reusable in other contexts.

Install

dwim-shell-command is available on MELPA.

1. Install via M-x package-install.
2. Require, set edit style, and add company backend:

(require 'dwim-shell-command)

Now you’re ready to run

M-x dwim-shell-command

use-package

Alternatively, can also install via use-package, define your own commands and remap to shell-command’s existing binding using something like:

(use-package dwim-shell-command
  :ensure t
  :bind (([remap shell-command] . dwim-shell-command)
         :map dired-mode-map
         ([remap dired-do-async-shell-command] . dwim-shell-command)
         ([remap dired-do-shell-command] . dwim-shell-command)
         ([remap dired-smart-shell-command] . dwim-shell-command))
  :config
  (defun my/dwim-shell-command-convert-to-gif ()
    "Convert all marked videos to optimized gif(s)."
    (interactive)
    (dwim-shell-command-on-marked-files
     "Convert to gif"
     "ffmpeg -loglevel quiet -stats -y -i '<<f>>' -pix_fmt rgb24 -r 15 '<<fne>>.gif'"
     :utils "ffmpeg")))

My toolbox

I’m including an optional package (dwim-shell-commands.el), with all the command line utilities I’ve brought in over time. You can load this optional package via:

(require 'dwim-shell-commands)

Note: dwim-shell-command(s).el gives you all commands, while dwim-shell-command.el provides only the building blocks.

Here are all the commands I’ve added so far…

Command	Description
dwim-shell-commands-audio-to-mp3	Convert all marked audio to mp3(s).
dwim-shell-commands-clip-round-rect-gif	Clip gif(s) with round rectangle.
dwim-shell-commands-clipboard-to-qr	Generate a QR code from clipboard.
dwim-shell-commands-copy-to-desktop	Copy file to ~/Desktop.
dwim-shell-commands-copy-to-downloads	Copy file to ~/Downloads.
dwim-shell-commands-docx-to-pdf	Convert docx(s) to pdf (via latex).
dwim-shell-commands-download-clipboard-stream-url	Download clipboard URL.
dwim-shell-commands-drop-video-audio	Drop audio from all marked videos.
dwim-shell-commands-duplicate	Duplicate file.
dwim-shell-commands-epub-to-org	Convert epub(s) to org.
dwim-shell-commands-external-ip	Copy external IP to kill ring.
dwim-shell-commands-files-combined-size	Get files combined file size.
dwim-shell-commands-gif-to-video	Convert all marked gif(s) to video(s).
dwim-shell-commands-git-clone-clipboard-url	Clone git URL in clipboard to `default-directory’.
dwim-shell-commands-git-clone-clipboard-url-to-downloads	Clone git URL in clipboard to “~/Downloads/”.
dwim-shell-commands-git-delete-untracked-files	Delete untracked git files in `default-directory’.
dwim-shell-commands-git-list-untracked-files	List untracked git files in `default-directory’.
dwim-shell-commands-http-serve-dir	HTTP serve current directory.
dwim-shell-commands-image-clear-exif-metadata	Clear EXIF metadata in image(s).
dwim-shell-commands-image-exif-metadata	View EXIF metadata in image(s).
dwim-shell-commands-image-horizontal-flip	Horizontally flip image(s).
dwim-shell-commands-image-reverse-geocode-location	Reverse geocode image(s) location.
dwim-shell-commands-image-scan-code	Scan any code (ie. qr, bar, etc) from image(s).
dwim-shell-commands-image-to-grayscale	Convert all marked images to grayscale.
dwim-shell-commands-image-to-icns	Convert png to icns icon.
dwim-shell-commands-image-to-jpg	Convert all marked images to jpg(s).
dwim-shell-commands-image-to-png	Convert all marked images to png(s).
dwim-shell-commands-image-trim-borders	Trim image(s) border (useful for video screenshots).
dwim-shell-commands-image-vertical-flip	Horizontally flip image(s).
dwim-shell-commands-image-view-location-in-map	Open image(s) location in map/browser.
dwim-shell-commands-image-view-location-in-openstreetmap	Open image(s) location in map/browser.
dwim-shell-commands-join-as-pdf	Join all marked images as a single pdf.
dwim-shell-commands-join-images-horizontally	Join all marked images horizontally as a single image.
dwim-shell-commands-join-images-vertically	Join all marked images vertically as a single image.
dwim-shell-commands-kill-gpg-agent	Kill (thus restart) gpg agent.
dwim-shell-commands-kill-process	Select and kill process.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-abort-recording-window	Stop recording a macOS window.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-add-to-photos	Add to Photos.app.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-bin-plist-to-xml	Convert binary plist to xml.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-caffeinate	Invoke caffeinate to prevent mac from sleeping.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-convert-to-mp4	Convert to mov to mp4
dwim-shell-commands-macos-end-recording-window	Stop recording a macOS window.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-install-iphone-device-ipa	Install iPhone device .ipa.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-make-finder-alias	Make macOS Finder alias.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-open-with	Open file(s) with specific external app.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-open-with-firefox	Open file(s) in Firefox.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-open-with-safari	Open file(s) in Safari.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-reveal-in-finder	Reveal selected files in macOS Finder.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-screenshot-window	Select and screenshot macOS window.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-set-default-app	Set default app for file(s).
dwim-shell-commands-macos-share	Share selected files from macOS.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-start-recording-window	Select and start recording a macOS window.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-toggle-bluetooth-device-connection	Toggle Bluetooth device connection.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-toggle-dark-mode	Toggle macOS dark mode.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-toggle-display-rotation	Rotate display.
dwim-shell-commands-macos-version-and-hardware-overview-info	View macOS version and hardware overview info.
dwim-shell-commands-make-swift-package-executable	Create a swift package executable
dwim-shell-commands-make-swift-package-library	Create a swift package library
dwim-shell-commands-make-transparent-png	Create a transparent png.
dwim-shell-commands-move-to-desktop	Move file to ~/Desktop.
dwim-shell-commands-move-to-downloads	Move file to ~/Downloads.
dwim-shell-commands-ocr-text-from-image	Extract text from image via tesseract.
dwim-shell-commands-open-clipboard-url	Open clipboard URL. Offer to stream if possible.
dwim-shell-commands-open-externally	Open file(s) externally.
dwim-shell-commands-optimize-gif	Convert all marked videos to optimized gif(s).
dwim-shell-commands-pass-git-pull	Pass git pull.
dwim-shell-commands-pdf-password-protect	Add a password to pdf(s).
dwim-shell-commands-pdf-to-txt	Convert pdf to txt.
dwim-shell-commands-ping-google	Ping google.com.
dwim-shell-commands-rename-all	Rename all marked file(s).
dwim-shell-commands-reorient-image	Reorient images.
dwim-shell-commands-resize-gif	Resize marked gif(s).
dwim-shell-commands-resize-image	Resize marked image(s).
dwim-shell-commands-resize-video	Resize marked images.
dwim-shell-commands-sha-256-hash-file-at-clipboard-url	Download file at clipboard URL and generate SHA-256 hash.
dwim-shell-commands-speed-up-gif	Speeds up gif(s).
dwim-shell-commands-speed-up-video	Speed up video(s).
dwim-shell-commands-stream-clipboard-url	Stream clipboard URL using mpv.
dwim-shell-commands-svg-to-png	Convert all marked svg(s) to png(s).
dwim-shell-commands-unzip	Unzip all marked archives (of any kind) using `atool’.
dwim-shell-commands-upload-to-0x0	Upload the marked files to 0x0.st
dwim-shell-commands-video-to-gif	Convert all marked videos to gif(s).
dwim-shell-commands-video-to-hevc-mkv	Convert all marked videos to hevc mkv.
dwim-shell-commands-video-to-mp3	Drop audio from all marked videos.
dwim-shell-commands-video-to-optimized-gif	Convert all marked videos to optimized gif(s).
dwim-shell-commands-video-to-thumbnail	Generate a thumbnail for marked video(s).
dwim-shell-commands-video-to-webp	Convert all marked videos to webp(s).
dwim-shell-commands-video-trim-beginning	Drop audio from all marked videos.
dwim-shell-commands-video-trim-end	Drop audio from all marked videos.
dwim-shell-commands-zip	Zip all marked files into archive.zip.
dwim-shell-commands-zip-password-protect	Protect/encrypt zip file(s) with password.

Evaluating elisp functions

This can be done with either of the following:

emacs --quick --batch --eval '(message "<<f>>")'

emacsclient --eval '(message "<<f>>")'

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