How to open a file in an existing emacs process from command line

I do this:

1. C-x C-v (find-alternate-file)
2. C-a (move-beginning-of-line)
3. C-k (kill-line)
4. C-g (keyboard-quit)

It's quicker than using the minibuffer history. If all you want is the base name, it's even faster - just skip the C-a in the second step.

This drove me mad.. until I fixed it.

Now there's no scratch, messages, or completions buffers to screw with your flow. Enjoy!

Place this in your .emacs:

;; Makes *scratch* empty.
(setq initial-scratch-message "")

;; Removes *scratch* from buffer after the mode has been set.
(defun remove-scratch-buffer ()
  (if (get-buffer "*scratch*")
      (kill-buffer "*scratch*")))
(add-hook 'after-change-major-mode-hook 'remove-scratch-buffer)

;; Removes *messages* from the buffer.
(setq-default message-log-max nil)
(kill-buffer "*Messages*")

;; Removes *Completions* from buffer after you've opened a file.
(add-hook 'minibuffer-exit-hook
      '(lambda ()
         (let ((buffer "*Completions*"))
           (and (get-buffer buffer)
                (kill-buffer buffer)))))

;; Don't show *Buffer list* when opening multiple files at the same time.
(setq inhibit-startup-buffer-menu t)

;; Show only one active window when opening multiple files at the same time.
(add-hook 'window-setup-hook 'delete-other-windows)

Bonus:

;; No more typing the whole yes or no. Just y or n will do.
(fset 'yes-or-no-p 'y-or-n-p)