doom-modeline

Table of Contents

• Feature
• Screenshots
• Install
  • Manual
  • Use-package
• Customize
• FAQ
• Donate

A fancy and fast mode-line inspired by minimalism design.

It's integrated into Centaur Emacs, Doom Emacs and Spacemacs.

Feature

The doom-modeline was designed for minimalism, and offers:

• A match count panel (for anzu, iedit, multiple-cursors, symbol-overlay, and evil-search, etc.)
• An indicator for recording a macro
• Current environment version (e.g. python, ruby, go, etc.) in the major-mode
• A customizable mode-line height (see doom-modeline-height)
• A minor modes segment which is compatible with minions
• An error/warning count segment for flymake/flycheck
• A workspace number/name segment for eyebrowse or tab-bar-mode
• A perspective name segment for persp-mode
• A window number segment for ace-window, winum and window-numbering
• An indicator for modal editing state, including evil, overwrite, god, ryo and xah-fly-keys, etc.
• An indicator for battery status
• An indicator for current input method
• An indicator for debug state
• An indicator for remote host
• An indicator for LSP state with lsp-mode or eglot
• An indicator for GitHub notifications
• An indicator for unread emails with mu4e-alert and gnus
• An indicator for IRC notifications with circe, rcirc or erc
• An indicator for buffer position which is compatible with nyan-mode or poke-line
• An indicator for party parrot
• An indicator for PDF page number with pdf-tools
• An indicator for markdown/org preview with grip
• Truncated file name, file icon, buffer state and project name in buffer information segment, which is compatible with project, projectile and find-file-in-project.
• New mode-line for Info-mode buffers
• New package mode-line for paradox
• New mode-line for helm buffers
• New mode-line for git-timemachine buffers

Screenshots

Install

Manual

From melpa, M-x package-install RET doom-modeline RET.

In init.el,

(require 'doom-modeline)
(doom-modeline-mode 1)

or

(add-hook 'after-init-hook #'doom-modeline-mode)

Use-package

(use-package doom-modeline
  :ensure t
  :init (doom-modeline-mode 1))

or

(use-package doom-modeline
  :ensure t
  :hook (after-init . doom-modeline-mode))

This package is able to display icons if nerd-icons package and required fonts are installed. Run M-x nerd-icons-install-fonts to install the necessary fonts. Please refer to the installation guide.

Strongly recommend to use doom-themes at the same time.

Customize

Run M-x customize-group RET doom-modeline RET or set the variables.

;; If non-nil, cause imenu to see `doom-modeline' declarations.
;; This is done by adjusting `lisp-imenu-generic-expression' to
;; include support for finding `doom-modeline-def-*' forms.
;; Must be set before loading doom-modeline.
(setq doom-modeline-support-imenu t)

;; How tall the mode-line should be. It's only respected in GUI.
;; If the actual char height is larger, it respects the actual height.
(setq doom-modeline-height 25)

;; How wide the mode-line bar should be. It's only respected in GUI.
(setq doom-modeline-bar-width 4)

;; Whether to use hud instead of default bar. It's only respected in GUI.
(setq doom-modeline-hud nil)

;; The limit of the window width.
;; If `window-width' is smaller than the limit, some information won't be
;; displayed. It can be an integer or a float number. `nil' means no limit."
(setq doom-modeline-window-width-limit 85)

;; How to detect the project root.
;; nil means to use `default-directory'.
;; The project management packages have some issues on detecting project root.
;; e.g. `projectile' doesn't handle symlink folders well, while `project' is unable
;; to hanle sub-projects.
;; You can specify one if you encounter the issue.
(setq doom-modeline-project-detection 'auto)

;; Determines the style used by `doom-modeline-buffer-file-name'.
;;
;; Given ~/Projects/FOSS/emacs/lisp/comint.el
;;   auto => emacs/l/comint.el (in a project) or comint.el
;;   truncate-upto-project => ~/P/F/emacs/lisp/comint.el
;;   truncate-from-project => ~/Projects/FOSS/emacs/l/comint.el
;;   truncate-with-project => emacs/l/comint.el
;;   truncate-except-project => ~/P/F/emacs/l/comint.el
;;   truncate-upto-root => ~/P/F/e/lisp/comint.el
;;   truncate-all => ~/P/F/e/l/comint.el
;;   truncate-nil => ~/Projects/FOSS/emacs/lisp/comint.el
;;   relative-from-project => emacs/lisp/comint.el
;;   relative-to-project => lisp/comint.el
;;   file-name => comint.el
;;   buffer-name => comint.el<2> (uniquify buffer name)
;;
;; If you are experiencing the laggy issue, especially while editing remote files
;; with tramp, please try `file-name' style.
;; Please refer to https://github.com/bbatsov/projectile/issues/657.
(setq doom-modeline-buffer-file-name-style 'auto)

;; Whether display icons in the mode-line.
;; While using the server mode in GUI, should set the value explicitly.
(setq doom-modeline-icon t)

;; Whether display the icon for `major-mode'. It respects option `doom-modeline-icon'.
(setq doom-modeline-major-mode-icon t)

;; Whether display the colorful icon for `major-mode'.
;; It respects `nerd-icons-color-icons'.
(setq doom-modeline-major-mode-color-icon t)

;; Whether display the icon for the buffer state. It respects option `doom-modeline-icon'.
(setq doom-modeline-buffer-state-icon t)

;; Whether display the modification icon for the buffer.
;; It respects option `doom-modeline-icon' and option `doom-modeline-buffer-state-icon'.
(setq doom-modeline-buffer-modification-icon t)

;; Whether display the lsp icon. It respects option `doom-modeline-icon'.
(setq doom-modeline-lsp-icon t)

;; Whether display the time icon. It respects option `doom-modeline-icon'.
(setq doom-modeline-time-icon t)

;; Whether display the live icons of time.
;; It respects option `doom-modeline-icon' and option `doom-modeline-time-icon'.
(setq doom-modeline-time-live-icon t)

;; Whether to use unicode as a fallback (instead of ASCII) when not using icons.
(setq doom-modeline-unicode-fallback nil)

;; Whether display the buffer name.
(setq doom-modeline-buffer-name t)

;; Whether highlight the modified buffer name.
(setq doom-modeline-highlight-modified-buffer-name t)

;; When non-nil, mode line displays column numbers zero-based.
;; See `column-number-indicator-zero-based'.
(setq doom-modeline-column-zero-based t)

;; Specification of \"percentage offset\" of window through buffer.
;; See `mode-line-percent-position'.
(setq doom-modeline-percent-position '(-3 "%p"))

;; Format used to display line numbers in the mode line.
;; See `mode-line-position-line-format'.
(setq doom-modeline-position-line-format '("L%l"))

;; Format used to display column numbers in the mode line.
;; See `mode-line-position-column-format'.
(setq doom-modeline-position-column-format '("C%c"))

;; Format used to display combined line/column numbers in the mode line. See `mode-line-position-column-line-format'.
(setq doom-modeline-position-column-line-format '("%l:%c"))

;; Whether display the minor modes in the mode-line.
(setq doom-modeline-minor-modes nil)

;; If non-nil, a word count will be added to the selection-info modeline segment.
(setq doom-modeline-enable-word-count nil)

;; Major modes in which to display word count continuously.
;; Also applies to any derived modes. Respects `doom-modeline-enable-word-count'.
;; If it brings the sluggish issue, disable `doom-modeline-enable-word-count' or
;; remove the modes from `doom-modeline-continuous-word-count-modes'.
(setq doom-modeline-continuous-word-count-modes '(markdown-mode gfm-mode org-mode))

;; Whether display the buffer encoding.
(setq doom-modeline-buffer-encoding t)

;; Whether display the indentation information.
(setq doom-modeline-indent-info nil)

;; Whether display the total line number。
(setq doom-modeline-total-line-number nil)

;; If non-nil, only display one number for checker information if applicable.
(setq doom-modeline-checker-simple-format t)

;; The maximum number displayed for notifications.
(setq doom-modeline-number-limit 99)

;; The maximum displayed length of the branch name of version control.
(setq doom-modeline-vcs-max-length 12)

;; Whether display the workspace name. Non-nil to display in the mode-line.
(setq doom-modeline-workspace-name t)

;; Whether display the perspective name. Non-nil to display in the mode-line.
(setq doom-modeline-persp-name t)

;; If non nil the default perspective name is displayed in the mode-line.
(setq doom-modeline-display-default-persp-name nil)

;; If non nil the perspective name is displayed alongside a folder icon.
(setq doom-modeline-persp-icon t)

;; Whether display the `lsp' state. Non-nil to display in the mode-line.
(setq doom-modeline-lsp t)

;; Whether display the GitHub notifications. It requires `ghub' package.
(setq doom-modeline-github nil)

;; The interval of checking GitHub.
(setq doom-modeline-github-interval (* 30 60))

;; Whether display the modal state.
;; Including `evil', `overwrite', `god', `ryo' and `xah-fly-keys', etc.
(setq doom-modeline-modal t)

;; Whether display the modal state icon.
;; Including `evil', `overwrite', `god', `ryo' and `xah-fly-keys', etc.
(setq doom-modeline-modal-icon t)

;; Whether display the modern icons for modals.
(setq doom-modeline-modal-modern-icon t)

;; When non-nil, always show the register name when recording an evil macro.
(setq doom-modeline-always-show-macro-register nil)

;; Whether display the mu4e notifications. It requires `mu4e-alert' package.
(setq doom-modeline-mu4e nil)
;; also enable the start of mu4e-alert
(mu4e-alert-enable-mode-line-display)

;; Whether display the gnus notifications.
(setq doom-modeline-gnus t)

;; Whether gnus should automatically be updated and how often (set to 0 or smaller than 0 to disable)
(setq doom-modeline-gnus-timer 2)

;; Wheter groups should be excludede when gnus automatically being updated.
(setq doom-modeline-gnus-excluded-groups '("dummy.group"))

;; Whether display the IRC notifications. It requires `circe' or `erc' package.
(setq doom-modeline-irc t)

;; Function to stylize the irc buffer names.
(setq doom-modeline-irc-stylize 'identity)

;; Whether display the battery status. It respects `display-battery-mode'.
(setq doom-modeline-battery t)

;; Whether display the time. It respects `display-time-mode'.
(setq doom-modeline-time t)

;; Whether display the misc segment on all mode lines.
;; If nil, display only if the mode line is active.
(setq doom-modeline-display-misc-in-all-mode-lines t)

;; The function to handle `buffer-file-name'.
(setq doom-modeline-buffer-file-name-function #'identity)

;; The function to handle `buffer-file-truename'.
(setq doom-modeline-buffer-file-truename-function #'identity)

;; Whether display the environment version.
(setq doom-modeline-env-version t)
;; Or for individual languages
(setq doom-modeline-env-enable-python t)
(setq doom-modeline-env-enable-ruby t)
(setq doom-modeline-env-enable-perl t)
(setq doom-modeline-env-enable-go t)
(setq doom-modeline-env-enable-elixir t)
(setq doom-modeline-env-enable-rust t)

;; Change the executables to use for the language version string
(setq doom-modeline-env-python-executable "python") ; or `python-shell-interpreter'
(setq doom-modeline-env-ruby-executable "ruby")
(setq doom-modeline-env-perl-executable "perl")
(setq doom-modeline-env-go-executable "go")
(setq doom-modeline-env-elixir-executable "iex")
(setq doom-modeline-env-rust-executable "rustc")

;; What to display as the version while a new one is being loaded
(setq doom-modeline-env-load-string "...")

;; By default, almost all segments are displayed only in the active window. To
;; display such segments in all windows, specify e.g.
(setq doom-modeline-always-visible-segments '(mu4e irc))

;; Hooks that run before/after the modeline version string is updated
(setq doom-modeline-before-update-env-hook nil)
(setq doom-modeline-after-update-env-hook nil)

FAQ

1. How to display icons correctly?

   nerd-icons are necessary. Then run M-x nerd-icons-install-fonts to install the resource fonts. On Windows, the fonts should be installed manually. nerd-icons supports both GUI and TUI.

   If you don't like color icons, (setq nerd-icons-color-icons nil) to disable it. Please refer to nerd-icons.el for details.

   If you prefer all-the-icons, please use release 3.4.0. It hasn't been supported since 4.0.0.

2. I am experiencing the laggy issue, how to resolve it?

   Add this configuration into your init file:

   ;; Don’t compact font caches during GC.
   (setq inhibit-compacting-font-caches t)

3. A ridiculous path is displayed on the mode-line while visiting a symbolink.

   It's the default behaviors of Vanilla Emacs. If you want to display the real names, please put this into your init file.

   (setq find-file-visit-truename t)

   If the file is controlled by vc, refer to the documentation of vc-follow-symlinks.

4. Why doesn't change of branch reflect in modeline?

   Actually it's related to magit and vc-mode.

   • Workaround:
     • Revert the buffers manually.
     • (setq auto-revert-check-vc-info t) brings the performance issue.
   • Refer to:
     • The mode-line information isn’t always up-to-date
     • Maybe provide an alternative to VC's mode-line information

5. Can I add my mode-line segments myself? How to do that? How can I define my own mode-line?

   There are two methods.

   • If the information is simple, just add to mode-line-misc-info or global-mode-string.

   • Use doom-modeline-def-modeline to define your own mode-line and set it as default.

     For example:

     ;; Define your custom doom-modeline
     (doom-modeline-def-modeline 'my-simple-line
       '(bar matches buffer-info remote-host buffer-position parrot selection-info)
       '(misc-info minor-modes input-method buffer-encoding major-mode process vcs checker))
     
     ;; Set default mode-line
     (add-hook 'doom-modeline-mode-hook
               (lambda ()
                 (doom-modeline-set-modeline 'my-simple-line 'default)))
     
     ;; Configure other mode-lines based on major modes
     (add-to-list 'doom-modeline-mode-alist '(my-mode . my-simple-line))
     
     ;; Or disable other mode-lines
     (setq 'doom-modeline-mode-alist nil)

6. How to specify font family and size in modeline?

   For example:

   (setq doom-modeline-height 1) ; optional
   (if (facep 'mode-line-active)
       (set-face-attribute 'mode-line-active nil :family "Noto Sans" :height 100) ; For 29+
     (set-face-attribute 'mode-line nil :family "Noto Sans" :height 100))
   (set-face-attribute 'mode-line-inactive nil :family "Noto Sans" :height 100)

   or

   (setq doom-modeline-height 1) ; optional
   (custom-set-faces
     '(mode-line ((t (:family "Noto Sans" :height 0.9))))
     '(mode-line-active ((t (:family "Noto Sans" :height 0.9)))) ; For 29+
     '(mode-line-inactive ((t (:family "Noto Sans" :height 0.9)))))

   Please refer to #189 and #301.

7. The right side of the modeline is cut off. How to fix it?

   • Tweak nerd-icons-scale-factor. e.g. (setq nerd-icons-scale-factor 1.1)
   • Use another font family or size. See above.

8. How to disable symbolic links expanding in mode-line?

   If you encounter the issue like this

   

   please try this:

   ;; built-in `project' on 26+
   (setq doom-modeline-project-detection 'project)
   ;; or `find-in-project' if it's installed
   (setq doom-modeline-project-detection 'ffip)

   For more details, refer to #209 and #224.

9. Is doom-modeline able to show match count while search with evil-search?

   Yes. For better experience, should enable anzu-mode and load evil-anzu.

10. How to show that the R is running in inferior ess R mode?

    The ess R mode modifies mode-line-buffer-identification directly to display the status. To display the status in doom-modeline, you can add the status to mode-line-process or global-mode-string as below.

    (add-hook 'inferior-ess-mode-hook
          (lambda ()
            (add-to-list 'mode-line-process '(:eval (nth ess--busy-count ess-busy-strings)))))

11. How to display company mode-line information?

    Enable doom-modeline-minor-modes or (add-to-list 'global-mode-string company-lighter).

12. How to display LaTeX compilation information in the mode line?

    Use process package. Please refer to #387 for more details.

    (require 'procress)
    (procress-load-default-svg-images)
    (add-hook 'LaTeX-mode-hook #'procress-auctex-mode)

13. How to prevent mode-line aligning with fill column in visual-fill-column-mode?

    Use (setq mode-line-right-align-edge 'right-fringe). Please refer to #672 for more details.

Donate

If you think it's helpful for you, please consider paying a cup of coffee for me. Thank you! 😄