I have two files with the same name but in different directories:
apples/main.cpp
oranges/main.cpp
I open them in one emacs window via emacs apples/main.cpp oranges/main.cpp
When I use C-x b to switch between these two buffers, the buffer names are "main.cpp" and "main.cpp<2>". I would love to be able to see the full path of these two files when switching buffers, so that I may disambiguate between the apples and the oranges version. Is there a way to do this?
One way could be to modify whatever code generates the <2> after the second main.cpp when Emacs detects that a buffer with that name is already open. However, I couldn't find how to do this.
Use uniquify. I use it like that:
(require 'uniquify)
(setq uniquify-buffer-name-style 'forward)
Expanding on Tomasz's answer.
There are other options for uniquify-buffer-name-style, besides forward, that you may consider:
Files /foo/bar/mumble/name and /baz/quux/mumble/name would have the following buffer names in the various styles:
forward bar/mumble/name quux/mumble/name
reverse name\mumble\bar name\mumble\quux
post-forward name|bar/mumble name|quux/mumble
post-forward-angle-brackets name<bar/mumble> name<quux/mumble>
If you want to strip common directory suffixes of conflicting files, add the line below to your emacs init file.
(setq uniquify-strip-common-suffix t)
Now, if you open /a1/b/c/d and /a2/b/c/d, the buffer names will say
"d|a1" and "d|a2" instead of "d|a1/b/c" and "d|a2/b/c".
Use lusty explorer. Configure it with:
(require 'lusty-explorer)
;; Override the normal file-opening and buffer switching.
(global-set-key (kbd "C-x C-f") 'lusty-file-explorer)
(global-set-key (kbd "C-x b") 'lusty-buffer-explorer))
