Re: Conkeror-like functionality for EWW

[Eric Abrahamsen]

Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen <address@hidden> writes:

> Ted Zlatanov <address@hidden> writes:
>
>> AK> here https://github.com/m00natic/eww-lnum
>> AK> There were voices before for such, so if it seems worthy, I'd gladly add
>> AK> it to GNU ELPA.  For those who wonder what this conkeror shmazi-pazi is
>> AK> - sort of combination between Isearch and ace-jump that operates only
>> AK> over links, buttons and forms.  It makes for quick and precise
>> AK> alternative to mouse browsing.
>>
>> Hi Andrey,
>>
>> your code is neat and useful. Could it integrate with the existing
>> `next-error' and `previous-error' Emacs functionality, though? That's
>> not just for errors, but for visiting points of interest in general.
>
> I just had another look at the code.  If I understand it correctly, you
> hit `f', numbers are assigned to the links, and then you enter the
> number of the link you want to visit?
>
> I'm afraid I don't find this compelling functionality.  Anything that
> makes me read numbers from the screen and then type them in doesn't seem
> like something a lot of people would want to do when they can just mouse
> or tab to the link.

I'm a conkeror user, and find this system a wonderful way to avoid the
mouse. One key feature is that, in addition to typing the number, you
can type a substring of the anchor text, and conkeror will progressively
narrow down the set of matching links, often until there's only one, and
you just hit RET. For certain types of website, you could wear out your
TAB key before you found the link you wanted.

Even farther afield, but worth considering: this link-selection behavior
works exactly the same across many different functions: copying link
hrefs, downloading linked files, following links, following links in a
new tab, etc etc. It's pretty nice.

Eric