Sidebuf

A simple, zero-dependency buffer list sidebar for Emacs.

Sidebuf displays a persistent, sorted list of your open buffers in a side window. It tracks the active buffer, lets you pin favorites to the top, and provides quick toggles for filtering and sorting -- all in about 400 lines of Elisp with no external dependencies.

Features

• Pinned sidebar -- always-visible buffer list on the left or right
• Alphabetical or recent sort order, toggled with s
• Pin buffers to the top of the list with i
• Filter *special* and hidden buffers on the fly
• Smart selection -- reuses an existing window if the buffer is already displayed
• Display without switching -- preview a buffer with o
• Modified/read-only indicators next to buffer names
• Active-buffer tracking with fringe indicator
• Kill buffers from the sidebar with k

Installation

From source (use-package)

Clone the repo and point use-package at it:

(use-package sidebuf
  :load-path "~/sidebuf"
  :commands (sidebuf-open sidebuf-close sidebuf-toggle))

MELPA (coming soon)

(use-package sidebuf
  :ensure t
  :commands (sidebuf-open sidebuf-close sidebuf-toggle))

Usage

Command	Description
sidebuf-toggle	Open or close the panel
sidebuf-open	Open the panel
sidebuf-close	Close the panel

Press ? inside the panel to see all keybindings:

Navigation:
  p, C-p, up, left     Previous buffer
  n, C-n, down, right  Next buffer

Actions:
  RET                  Select buffer (smart window reuse)
  o                    Display buffer (keep focus here)
  k                    Kill buffer at point
  i                    Pin/unpin buffer at point
  g                    Refresh buffer list

Toggles:
  s                    Toggle sort (alphabetical / recent)
  *                    Toggle *special* buffer visibility
  .                    Toggle hidden buffer visibility

Other:
  ?                    Show this help
  q                    Close sidebuf panel

Customization

All options are in the sidebuf customization group (M-x customize-group sidebuf):

Variable	Default	Description
sidebuf-side	left	Panel placement (left or right)
sidebuf-width	24	Panel width in characters
sidebuf-show-special	t	Show *special* buffers
sidebuf-show-hidden	nil	Show hidden (space-prefixed) buffers
sidebuf-sort-order	alphabetical	alphabetical or recent
sidebuf-pin-new-position	bottom	Where new pins go (top or bottom)
sidebuf-show-indicators	t	Show modified/read-only markers

Faces

Face	Purpose
sidebuf-hl-line	Current line when panel is focused
sidebuf-hl-line-inactive	Current line when panel is unfocused
sidebuf-fringe-indicator	Fringe indicator color
sidebuf-pinned	Pinned buffer names
sidebuf-special	*Special* buffer names
sidebuf-hidden	Hidden (space-prefixed) buffer names
sidebuf-modified	Modified indicator

Requirements

Emacs 27.1 or later. No external dependencies.

License

GPL-3.0-or-later. See LICENSE.