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Re: Unuseful keybindings
From: |
Thierry Volpiatto |
Subject: |
Re: Unuseful keybindings |
Date: |
Wed, 19 Dec 2012 07:32:23 +0100 |
User-agent: |
Gnus/5.130006 (Ma Gnus v0.6) Emacs/24.2.91 (gnu/linux) |
"Drew Adams" <address@hidden> writes:
>> Can't you just rebind these keys? I mean, you would
>> have to do that anyway, to use them for your purposes, right?
>
> Yes, but the fact that users can do that is never a good enough reason _on its
> own_ for Emacs Dev to sacrifice a particular key sequence for a default
> binding.
>
> For one thing, the very fact that there exists a default key binding sometimes
> dissuades libraries from binding the key sequence, because some user will
> holler
> bloody hell that the library steps on a default key binding, even if using the
> library is a voluntary act, and even if the user can override the library
> binding.
>
> No, there is nothing wrong with a user or a library doing that, but some
> people
> overly respect what they see as the established order, even though Emacs
> points
> out in its doc that you are free to customize etc. Somehow, default key
> bindings can tend, for some people, to take on a sacred aura.
>
> An additional rationale was given in this case, however, I believe. IIRC
> (excuse me if I remember incorrectly), this was it: many people use it outside
> Emacs for the same (or a similar) thing.
>
> I find that particular rationale quite weak, if it stands alone. Yes, it has
> _some_ merit, but there can be much stronger, internal-consistency or
> user-behavior reasons for Emacs to bind a given key sequence by default.
>
> For one thing, a key such as `f11' is repeatable, so it is preferable not to
> waste it on a command/action that is not repeatable by just holding down the
> key. Most possible key sequences (e.g. `C-x r l') are not repeatable, and we
> should make best use of those that are. Repeatable keys are a scarce
> resource,
> to be treasured and put to wise use.
>
> We first went down this silly path when we bound `f3' and `f4' - not too long
> ago. That was a big mistake, IMHO. Or was `f10' prior?
>
> Well, you could even argue that the first such abuse was binding `f1', but
> there
> are a lot more people who know and use `f1' for help outside Emacs than there
> are that use `f11'. Plus, `f1' is precisely for getting help. There is a
> much
> stronger case to be made for sacrificing `f1' than `f3', `f4', `f10', or
> `f11',
> IMO.
>
> It used to be that Emacs made an effort to stay away from binding function
> keys.
> Alas, that boat sailed long ago.
1+
--
Thierry
Get my Gnupg key:
gpg --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --recv-keys 59F29997
- Unuseful keybindings, Thierry Volpiatto, 2012/12/18
- Re: Unuseful keybindings, Andreas Schwab, 2012/12/18
- Re: Unuseful keybindings, Thierry Volpiatto, 2012/12/18
- Re: Unuseful keybindings, Sam Steingold, 2012/12/18
- Re: Unuseful keybindings, Mathias Dahl, 2012/12/18
- Re: Unuseful keybindings, Thierry Volpiatto, 2012/12/18
- RE: Unuseful keybindings, Drew Adams, 2012/12/18
- Re: Unuseful keybindings,
Thierry Volpiatto <=
- Re: Unuseful keybindings, Leo, 2012/12/19
Re: Unuseful keybindings, Xue Fuqiao, 2012/12/18
Re: Unuseful keybindings, Eli Zaretskii, 2012/12/18