minimal-ish Emacs config to work with Bibliographies and references

init.el

(require 'package)
(add-to-list 'package-archives
             '("melpa" . "https://melpa.org/packages/") t)
(package-initialize)

(require 'use-package)

(setq custom-file (expand-file-name "emacs-custom.el" user-emacs-directory))
(load custom-file)

;;;==========================================================================
;;;   Discoverability tools, for a minimal, discoverable Emacs experience
;;;==========================================================================

;; Which-key does not alter Emacs' behavior but shows you context-aware help,
;; making it easier to discover Emacs' functionality.
(use-package which-key
  :ensure t
  :init
  (which-key-mode)
  )

;; Another package which helps with discoverability.
;; Can be customized a lot, but just using standard settings for now.
(use-package vertico
  :ensure t
  :init
  (vertico-mode)
  )

;; Consult helps with better selection functions and works nicely with Emacs
;; Example configuration for Consult copied 
(use-package consult
  :ensure t
  ;; Enable automatic preview at point in the *Completions* buffer. This is
  ;; relevant when you use the default completion UI.
  ;:hook (completion-list-mode . consult-preview-at-point-mode)
  :init
  (recentf-mode)
  )

;; Marginalia provides helpful extra information in the Vertico suggestions area.
(use-package marginalia
  :ensure t
  :init
  (marginalia-mode))

;; Embark provides quick-access actions to stuff in the Narrowing frameworks
;; and normal buffers. Kind of like a right-click menu with no clicks.
(use-package embark
  :ensure t
  :bind
  (("C-." . embark-act))
  )

(use-package embark-consult
  :ensure t
  :after (embark consult)
  )

;; Orderless is not strictly necessary, but very nice and I do not want to live without it.
(use-package orderless
  :ensure t
  :custom
  (completion-styles '(orderless basic))
  (completion-category-overrides '((file (styles basic partial-completion))))
  )

;;;==========================================================================
;;;   Now to the bibiliography relevant stuff.
;;;==========================================================================

;; Org-roam: Zettelkasten-like note handling for Emacs/Org-mode
(use-package org-roam
  :ensure t
  :custom
  (org-roam-directory (file-truename "/home/user/roamdir/"))
  :config
  (org-roam-setup)
  )

(use-package org-roam-bibtex
  :ensure t
  :config
  (setq orb-note-actions-interface 'hydra)
  (setq orb-preformat-keywords
	'("citekey" "title" "url" "author-or-editor" "keywords" "file")
	orb-process-file-keyword t
	orb-file-field-extensions '("pdf")
	)
  (org-roam-bibtex-mode)
  )

;; Org-ref: More better citation and reference handling.
(use-package org-ref
  :ensure t
  :config
  (setq bibtex-completion-bibliography "/home/user/main.bib" )
  (setq bibtex-completion-library-path "/home/user/pdfdir/")
  (setq biblio-download-directory "/home/user/pdfdir/")
  (advice-add #'completing-read-multiple :override #'consult-completing-read-multiple)
  (require 'org-ref)
  (require 'doi-utils)
  )

;; Citar

(use-package citar
  :ensure t
  :custom
  (citar-open-note-function 'orb-citar-edit-note)
  (citar-select-multiple t)
  (citar-notes-paths '("/home/user/roamdir/"))
  (citar-library-paths '("/home/user/pdfdir/"))
  (advice-add #'completing-read-multiple :override #'consult-completing-read-multiple)
  (org-cite-follow-processor 'citar)
  (citar-bibliography '("/home/user/main.bib"))
  )

(use-package citar-embark
  :ensure t
  :after citar embark
  :no-require
  :config (citar-embark-mode)
  )

(use-package citar-org-roam
  :ensure t
  :after citar org-roam
  :no-require
  :custom
  (citar-org-roam-subdir nil)
  :config (citar-org-roam-mode)
  )

;; Ebib to take care of the actual bibliography
(use-package ebib
  :ensure t
  :config
  (setq ebib-preload-bib-files '("/home/user/main.bib"))
  )