Re: Proposal: new default bindings for winner and windmove

[Daniel Colascione]

On July 2, 2024 12:32:07 PM EDT, Juri Linkov <juri@linkov.net> wrote:
>>>> +@kindex C-x 4 DOWN
>>>
>>>I can't believe someone might want to use such long key sequences
>>>for one of the most frequent actions.  It's even longer than
>>>'C-x o' it's supposed to improve.
>>
>> It's an improvement on C-x o for some use cases because it's more
>> predictable, not because it's shorter.  Besides, the key sequence
>> isn't even that hard to type.  Have you tried it?
>
>Press and hold the Control key, press the x key on the bottom row,
>release the Control key, press the 4 key on the top row, press
>an arrow key on the keypad.  OTOH, with a modifier: press and
>hold the modifier key, press an arrow, release the modifier key.

Counting keystrokes gives a misleading picture of key binding complexity. Try 
it yourself: C-x 4 LEFT. The left hand invokes the familiar C-x, then glides up 
to hit 4 with no further coordination. The right hand hits an arrow key as 
another familiar action. C-x 4 LEFT might seem long, but I find it a lot more 
fluid than things like M-j in practice.


>
>>> I think there are no better keys
>>>for switching windows than arrows with a modifier.
>>
>> I use these and they're fine.  The problem with binding a modifier
>> with bare arrow keys is that all sorts of customizations and modes
>> bind these already.  C-x 4 is vacant, logical, and short enough.
>
>So you personally use a modifier, and propose a long key sequence
>that nobody will use?

No. I use the keys I've proposed.



>
>>>Since all keybindings in the 'C-x 4' keymap are for commands
>>>that display a buffer in another window, 'C-x 4 LEFT/...'
>>>could do the same to display the buffer of the next command
>>>in the specified window.
>>
>> Such a command doesn't exist and doesn't sound particularly useful to me.
>
>It's 'windmove-display-default-keybindings'.  It's less frequently used
>than 'windmove-default-keybindings', so a longer key sequence
>like 'C-x 4 DOWN' would be fine for 'windmove-display-in-direction'.

That seems like a lot of extra steps for something conceptually simple.


>
>> Putting window management under C-x 4 makes logical sense.
>
>We already have a new keymap for window management under C-x w.
>Whereas C-x 4 is for buffer display.  Therefore it makes more sense
>to put 'windmove-display-default-keybindings' under C-x 4.