Re: Proposal for an Emacs User Survey

[Adrien Brochard]

Thank you for your response. Please find the list of questions I have
gathered at the end of this email.

> [[[ To any NSA and FBI agents reading my email: please consider    ]]]
> [[[ whether defending the US Constitution against all enemies,     ]]]
> [[[ foreign or domestic, requires you to follow Snowden's example. ]]]
>
> I think using Google to communicate the users is bad because Google
> does so many bad things.  We should not endorse it with our actions.
>
> In addition, most Google services require users to run nonfree
> software (Javascript code).  If answering our questions requires the
> user to run some nonfree JS code, that would put us in a moral
> contradiction.
>
> Our goal is much more than just developing a successful editor; GNU
> Emacs is a GNU package, and the purpose of the GNU operating system is
> to win freedom for the users.  We have to set an example of respecting
> and defending freedom in the methods we use, not just the program we
> are working on.  See https://gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html and
> https://gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html.
>
> I think Reddit is the wrong place to discuss this plan, for a similar
> reason.  As I understand it, Reddit requires nonfree software to post
> on Reddit nowadays.  Is that not so?

I understand the position. My primary concern though is that without
some convenience, it is difficult to convince a lot of people to
respond. Which is why I am proposing two channels: an a dedicated email
address that will accept plain text responses (at the risk of data
quality), and an online form. That plain text form to be email can be
hosted on a static site that people can access from Emacs itself.

> If possible, we should tell users how to select various behaviors, so
> that they can state their opinions based on comparing actual
> experiences.
>
> End the inquiry statement with the following text.
>
>      We do not seek "votes", but rather understanding.  If you are for
>      the change, please explain why.  Would it help you directly?  If
>      so, in what scenarios?  How often, and how strongly, would it
>      benefit you?  What would the benefit be?
>
>      Or is it that you think it will improve Emacs, or speed Emacs
>      development, by helping other users?  How so?
>
>      Please distinguish between what you know and what you predict.
>
>      Likewise, if you are against the change, please explain why.
>      Would it inconvenience you directly?  If so, in what scenarios?
>      How often, and how strongly, would it inconvenience you?  What
>      would the inconvenience be?
>
>      Or is it that you think it will harm Emacs or Emacs development by
>      inconveniencing others?  How so?
>
>      We invite you also to propose alterations in the proposed change that
>      you think would improve it -- saying in what scenario that would be an
>      improvement, and how so, etc.
>
>      Please post the URL of this page in forums where it is appropriate,
>      and resend it to Emacs users and mailing lists where you know people
>      will be glad to receive it.
>
> It is crucial to urge people repeatedly to explain their positions
> because there is a strong tendency for people not to bother.

I am all in favor of this. Thank you for putting it together. Let me
know if you think the wording is still coherent given the questions.

> * Put the inquiry statement in a web page under gnu.org/software/emacs.
>
> * Mail the inquiry statement info-gnu-emacs, help-gnu-emacs and
> emacs-tangents, with the URL of the web page _and_ the full text
> of the inquiry statement.
>
> Also post a note referring to the web page on reddit.com/r/emacs, and
> any other suitable places.  Mail the URL to Sacha Chua
> <sacha@sachachua.com>.
>
> * Wait until at least two weeks after the deadline, then study and
> record the responses.  Note down all interesting comments, since they
> are the most important information in the responses.

Yes to all of that.

> * Do count how many people support each position that people support,
> but it would be a mistake to make the actual decision based simply on
> counting.  A given change can affect one user very often, and affect
> another user only rarely, but they could both state a "strong
> preference".
>
> * We are not compelled to choose between "make that change" and "no
> change".  The best outcome of the inquiry is that the responses show
> us how to design a way to please almost all users, almost all the
> time, and not displease any user very much.

I also agree with this. I think no matter what we are going to get
selection bias and we should not rush any decision based on the survey
results.


* Survey Questions
(Please note that any "other" should allow for free text entry for the
respondent to elaborate)

** How would you characterize your use of Emacs?
   - Use it for work
   - I use it for serious "hobby" projects
   - I'm just tinkering
   - I use it for my studies
   - Other

** What do you use Emacs for?
    - Software development
    - Research writing
    - Data science
    - Writing
    - Other

** How long have you been using Emacs?

** Which version of Emacs do you use?

** What OS do you primary use?
    - Linux
    - Windows
    - MacOS
    - BSD
    - Other

** How do you use Emacs?
    - GUI
    - Terminal (TUI)
    - Both

** How do you run Emacs?
    - Client/Server mode only
    - Standalone application only
    - Both

** Describe your configuration
   - I am using vanilla emacs (little to no configuration).
   - Custom configuration
   - Spacemacs - https://github.com/syl20bnr/spacemacs
   - Doom Emacs - https://github.com/hlissner/doom-emacs
   - Prelude - https://github.com/bbatsov/prelude
   - purcell emacs.d - https://github.com/purcell/emacs.d
   - magnars emacs.d - https://github.com/magnars/.emacs.d
   - Emacs Starter Kit - https://github.com/eschulte/emacs-starter-kit
   - oh-my-emacs - https://github.com/xiaohanyu/oh-my-emacs
   - Better Defaults - https://github.com/technomancy/better-defaults
   - Graphene - https://github.com/rdallasgray/graphene
   - ohai-emacs - https://github.com/bodil/ohai-emacs
   - ergoemacs-mode - https://github.com/ergoemacs/ergoemacs-mode
   - Rho Emacs - https://github.com/GChristensen/rho-emacs
   - Radian - https://github.com/raxod502/radian
   - Centaur Emacs - https://github.com/seagle0128/.emacs.d
   - Other

** What keybindings do you use?
   -  Emacs defaults
   -  Evil/Spacemacs/Doom-Emacs (all the vim-likes)
   -  CUA-mode
   -  God-mode
   -  Boon
   -  Xah-Fly-Keys
   -  Custom modal (ryo-modal, etc)
   -  Custom modifiers (Emacs from scratch)
   -  Other

** Prior to using Emacs what was your primary editor?
   - VIM
   - VScode
   - Eclipse
   - Notepad++
   - Sublime
   - Intelij
   - Other

** org-mode usage
    - I use emacs only for org-mode
    - dayly
    - from time to time
    - Not a org-mode user

** Which completion/selection framework do you use?
   - helm
   - ivy
   - ido
   - icomplete
   - other
   - i don't use a completion framework

** How do you manage third-party elisp?
    - built-in package.el
    - Spacemacs does it for me
    - straight.el
    - borg
    - leaf
    - el-get
    - Nix
    - git submodules without Borg
    - git subtrees
    - git clones
    - guix
    - quelpa
    - cask
    - No third-party deps
    - other

** How do you get emacs packages(if applicable)?
    - No repos
    - Gnu Elpa
    - Melpa/Melpa Stable
    - Directly from the source (e. g. using straight).

** Can you list some of your favorite package?

** What package do you use for error checking?
   - Flymake
   - Flycheck
   - None

** Do you use TRAMP?

** DO you use Magit?

** What package do you use for project management?
    - project.el
    - projectile
    - Other(mention)
    - None

** Do you use shell/terminal emulator in Emacs?
    - eshell
    - shell
    - term
    - ansi-term
    - do not use.

** Do you use mail client in Emacs?
    - Mu4e
    - Gnus
    - Mut
    - notmuch
    - do not use

** What is your Elisp proficiency?
    - Beginner/No knowledge
    - Basic elisp understanding
    - Intermediate
    - Advanced
    - Expert

** If you use Emacs for programming, which languages do you program in?

** do you use a language server with lsp-mode? With what languages?

** Do you use Emacs for debugging? What do you use? (Gdb, dap-mode etc)

** Which theme do you use?

** Have you ever contributed to GNU Emacs core/Elpa?
    - No
    - No, but I would do that if the process is changed(e. g. using
github pull requests instead of the mailing list, no papers, etc**.
    - I do PRs from time to time
    - I provide PRs regularly
    - I am active contributor/maintainer

** Have you ever contributed to Melpa package?
    - No
    - I do PRs from time to time
    - I provide PRs regularly
    - I am a package maintainer

** What Emacs community forums have you visited in the past year?
Answers would be things like
    - r/emacs
    - Emacs mailing list
    - irc
    - Emacs meetups
    - I follow twitter Emacs related accounts
    - Other

** What are some of the Emacs improvements you are the most interested in?
** what do you think are Emacs' greatest strengths?
** can you recall any difficulties you faced initially learning Emacs?
** What is the one thing you would like emacs to do differently?
** How did you hear about this survey?
** If there is another survey in 2021, would you be opposed to it
containing optional & general demographics questions?
   It could include age backets, gender, country or language
** Do you have a preferred platform for filling out the survey in the
future?
** General feedback about the survey process?