Re-open *scratch* buffer in Emacs?

Question

If I accidentally closed the scratch buffer in Emacs, how do I create a new scratch buffer?

Answer 1

To add to the accepted answer, if you have ILO mode on (and it is autocompleting after C-x b, thus not letting you write *scratch*), then try:

C-xb C-b*scratch* RET

C-x b C-b *scratch* RET

Answer 2

I found this years ago when I first started using emacs; I have no idea where now but it has always had a home in my personal .el files. It does pop up in google searches.

;;; Prevent killing the *scratch* buffer -- source forgotten
;;;----------------------------------------------------------------------
;;; Make the *scratch* buffer behave like "The thing your aunt gave you,
;;; which you don't know what is."
(save-excursion
  (set-buffer (get-buffer-create "*scratch*"))
  (make-local-variable 'kill-buffer-query-functions)
  (add-hook 'kill-buffer-query-functions 'kill-scratch-buffer))

(defun kill-scratch-buffer ()
  ;; The next line is just in case someone calls this manually
  (set-buffer (get-buffer-create "*scratch*"))

  ;; Kill the current (*scratch*) buffer
  (remove-hook 'kill-buffer-query-functions 'kill-scratch-buffer)
  (kill-buffer (current-buffer))

  ;; Make a brand new *scratch* buffer
  (set-buffer (get-buffer-create "*scratch*"))
  (lisp-interaction-mode)
  (make-local-variable 'kill-buffer-query-functions)
  (add-hook 'kill-buffer-query-functions 'kill-scratch-buffer)

  ;; Since we killed it, don't let caller do that.
  nil)
;;;----------------------------------------------------------------------

Answer 3

I used to use dwj's solution, and I was quite happy about it, until the day I realized that it failed when you actually rename the scratch buffer (for example by saving it).

Then I adopted this, which works well for me :

  (run-with-idle-timer 1 t
    '(lambda () (get-buffer-create "*scratch*")))

Answer 4

Like the docstring says, this function will:

Switch to the scratch buffer. If the buffer doesn't exist create it and write the initial message into it."

This will bring a new scratch buffer up which looks like the initial scratch buffer.

(defun switch-buffer-scratch ()
  "Switch to the scratch buffer. If the buffer doesn't exist,
create it and write the initial message into it."
  (interactive)
  (let* ((scratch-buffer-name "*scratch*")
         (scratch-buffer (get-buffer scratch-buffer-name)))
    (unless scratch-buffer
      (setq scratch-buffer (get-buffer-create scratch-buffer-name))
      (with-current-buffer scratch-buffer
        (lisp-interaction-mode)
        (insert initial-scratch-message)))
    (switch-to-buffer scratch-buffer)))

(global-set-key "\C-cbs" 'switch-buffer-scratch)