[ UPDATE 2026-09-03: Starting with Emacs 31, this package is no longer needed. You can get almost the same experience by configuring built-in features. I did a video on the matter: https://protesilaos.com/codelog/2026-07-29-emacs-default-minibuffer-completion-overview/. ]
Opinionated changes and enhancements to the default minibuffer completion UI of Emacs:
-
Live completions to update the results as you type.
-
Passlist and blocklist of commands or completion categories to control whether the
*Completions*buffer shows up eagerly. -
Other relevant options to control when the
*Completions*are displayed. -
Per command or completion category sorting methods.
-
A cleaner
*Completions*buffer, optionally without a mode line. -
Commands to cycle from the minibuffer to the
*Completions*and vice versa.
In essence, MCT is (i) a layer of interactivity on top of the out-of-the-box completion experience, and (ii) glue code that combines built-in functionalities to make the default completion framework work like that of more featureful third-party options.
- Package name (GNU ELPA):
mct - Official manual: https://protesilaos.com/emacs/mct
- Change log: https://protesilaos.com/emacs/mct-changelog
- Git repositories:
- GitHub: https://github.com/protesilaos/mct
- GitLab: https://gitlab.com/protesilaos/mct
- Video demo: https://protesilaos.com/codelog/2021-10-22-emacs-mct-demo/
- Backronym: Minibuffer Confines Transcended; Minibuffer and Completions in Tandem.