Re: [PATCH] `completing-read`: Add `group-function` support to completion metadata

[Dmitry Gutov]

On 27.04.2021 06:41, Stefan Monnier wrote:

> I was thinking only of tweaking the existing UI to better support the
> case of "selection" compared to "completion".  What you suggest here is
> nice and it goes much further but I don't think the two are competing.

Perhaps a "selection" tweak on the *Completions* interface could look 
like this:

When completing-read is called (or selecting-read, IDK), *Completions* 
buffer is popped up. The first element in the list is highlighted with 
some noticeable background, thus telling the user that if they press RET 
right away, that item will be selected. The user can now type some 
characters to narrow down the matches, or the can move the selection 
along the list with, say, arrow keys. Or C-n/C-p. Or press RET right 
away to choose the first completion. Not sure if iteration with TAB is a 
good idea, but it could be added as well.

That doesn't solve the issue of hiding a "useful" window with this 
buffer, but there's probably not much that can be done. When necessary, 
the user could switch to the previous buffer from that window in some 
other window.