Re: Some developement questions

[hw]

Davis Herring <address@hidden> writes:

>>>> And I don't remember how to get back when following links in info
>>>> documentation
>>>
>>> You can type 'l' (for "last"), or use the left arrow button on the
>>> tool bar, or click on "Info" in the menu bar and select "Back in
>>> History", or click on Info->History and select any node you visited at
>>> random.
>>
>> Ah!  I remembered something about arrows and tried to use the cursor
>> keys --- how about making it so that you can go back and forth in info
>> with Alt+<Cursor> like you can do in web browsers?
>
> There is the usual issue of Emacs' traditional keybindings clashing
> with those from other (usually newer) domains: Alt generally meaning
> Meta, M-left/M-right are already used for backward-/forward-word.

Meta seems to be ESC.  Alt doesn't do anything like what ESC does, and I
inevitably have two entirely different Alt keys because I'm using a
German keyboard.

Some key combinations that require some combination of Meta and Control
do not work at all.

Who would ever press ESC-right or ESC-left to move a word?

Hm, ok, I tried Alt, and it now does work, at least in an X frame.  Only
the Alt key is on the wrong side of the keyboard, as is ESC, to be
useful for moving.

Since when does Alt work the same as ESC?

> Of course, we also have M-b/M-f for those, but the point is that such
> changes do not come without cost.  You are free to argue something
> along the lines of "For the future userbase of Emacs, consistency with
> the rest of the world is important enough to change X.", but that's
> quite a bit different from "how about...?".

The issue in this case is not traditional key bindings vs. more recently
invented ones.  The issue is that I very rarely use info and thus do not
remember its key bindings.  Does the help page I got stuck in say
anywhere how to get back?

Why shouldn't Emacs adjust to changes and adopt new key bindings so it
becomes easier to use?

>> I have menu and toolbar disabled ...
>
> Complaining about navigability and discoverability of an interface
> while having disabled its most discoverable features meant to guide
> new users is a strange combination.

I'm pointing out a usability issue and you call it complaining.  That
must be the right attitude.

Fine, I'll give vim a try.


PS: I tried vim in the meantime, and I'll probably switch.

>> Basically, I want to use the Emacs server the usual way how you use any
>> server, like a web server or an ssh server or an XMPP server.
>
> Or an X server, which is attached to the hardware that faces the user?
> There's more than one way to think of the word.

I don't want it to use like an X server, and there are always many ways
to think of all words.