Re: Folding emacsclient into emacs

[David Kastrup]

Bill Wohler <address@hidden> writes:

> Chong Yidong <address@hidden> writes:
>
>> On modern computers, Emacs starts up so quickly and uses such an
>> insignificant amount of memory that there is basically much no
>> difference between starting a new Emacs and returning to a
>> pre-existing Emacs session.
>
> Agreed.

Not here.

> Not only that, consider other legitimate use cases such as "sudo
> emacs FILE" or "ssh SOME_REMOTE_MACHINE; emacs -nw FILE".

C-x C-f /sudo::FILE RET
C-x C-f /ssh:SOME_REMOTE_MACHINE:FILE RET

> Here's something completely different: If it hurts when the user
> does something, don't let them do it.
>
> Many programs today will attach themselves to an existing process
> when started. Emacs can do the same thing. If the "emacs" executable
> detects an existing process on the local machine owned by the same
> user in the same session (X server), and the -nw option is not
> specified, it can behave like emacsclient; otherwise, it starts a
> new process.

Emacs is not multi-threaded, so there are legitimate use cases to have
several Emacs sessions open.  Actually, another argument against the
"there need only be one" claim.

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum