Re: Propose to add setup-wizard.el to ELPA

[Po Lu]

Yuan Fu <casouri@gmail.com> writes:

> My point is that all configurations would be in one commented block of
> code, instead of separated into different places.

So you can place `global-set-key' and `setq' in a single form, and also
have it come out meaningfully?

Otherwise, I don't understand what you mean by "block".

> Maybe that’s true for some users. I had my fair share of struggle and
> confusion with custom when I started using Emacs. IME a few lines of
> setq, global-set-key and xxx-mode are simpler and more predicable than
> custom.

I think the problem with people finding custom confusing is that they
tend to blindly paste code from other people's configurations, and that
code tends to not work well with custom.  There is no reason to worsen
that problem by providing a setup wizard which doesn't work with custom.

> Neither of us has surveyed enough number of new Emacs users, so I
> don’t think we can make definitive claims.  For example, I don’t think
> it is unacceptable to expect a user to understand what does setq,
> global-set-key or xxx-mode means.

You don't need to survey anyone to come to such a conclusion.  Just ask
yourself this: do users of CLion have to know Java?  If not, then users
of Emacs shouldn't have to learn Emacs Lisp either.

Especially people who have zero hours of previous experience working
with Emacs.

> It is hard for the user to find them. Plus other problems with custom
> and Customize described above that you don’t seem to mind. Aren’t they
> confusing for even a not-so-new user? They surely confused and annoyed
> me for a long time back then.

Easy Customization is documented in the manual, it is in the menu bar,
and there is a link in the splash screen.

If it's confusing to new users, I think it should be fixed.

Thanks.