Will Python Replace Emacs Lisp as the Default Extension Language in Emacs?

As of my last knowledge update in August 2023, there were no official plans to replace Emacs Lisp with Python as the default extension language in Emacs. Emacs Lisp has been the core language of Emacs since its inception and it is deeply integrated into the editor's architecture. While there has been interest in using other languages, including Python, for scripting and extending Emacs, any significant shift toward making Python the default would require substantial changes to the Emacs ecosystem.

Why Python Isn't Replacing Emacs Lisp

Emacs is not just a text editor; it is an Emacs Lisp interpreter that functions as one. Emacs Lisp offers unique advantages such as homoiconicity and the convenience of Lisp macros, which can be defined with just one keyword: defmacro. If you wish to rewrite the configuration of Emacs completely in Python, you are welcome to attempt it, but it is important to note that the existing userbase will likely resist this change, and it may not gain acceptance as a viable programming project.

Attempting to replace Emacs Lisp with Python would face significant challenges. It is deeply integrated into the editor's core functionalities. Unless you rewrite Emacs from scratch, it is not feasible to take the Lisp out and replace it with Python. Besides, Lisp is in many ways a far superior language to Python, particularly for a text editor like Emacs.

Technical Challenges in Replacing Emacs Lisp with Python

The replacement of Emacs Lisp with Python would require one of three things:

Creating an entirely new editor from scratch that shares the same interface as Emacs, with a Python interpreter at its core. All core Emacs Lisp code would have to be rewritten in Python and would need to be maintained.

Writing a complete implementation of Python in Emacs Lisp or in C, with all the necessary code to interface with Emacs Lisp. This would be a massive undertaking, requiring deep integration with Emacs's workings.

Providing an API that allows Python code to directly manipulate the data of a running instance of Emacs. However, this approach would still require substantial development effort.

None of these options are small projects; they would require significant effort to build and maintain. The core Emacs developers would have to be willing to expend this effort to keep the Python interface updated in every subsequent release.

Conclusion

Therefore, it is highly unlikely that Python will replace Emacs Lisp as the default extension language in Emacs. The unique benefits of Emacs Lisp, combined with the ecosystem and userbase, make such a shift extremely challenging and improbable.

For the latest developments, it is best to check the official Emacs mailing lists, Git repositories, or community forums as these sources will provide the most current information and any ongoing discussions about Emacs and its extension languages.