Re: Binding F11 and F12 to buffer-switching and file-saving by default

[Jason Spiro]

2007/1/30, Juanma Barranquero <address@hidden> wrote:
> On 1/30/07, Jason Spiro <address@hidden> wrote:
...
> > I define it as "the benefits to new Emacs users with no .emacs file
> > outweigh the costs."  IMO, it is important that new users enjoy Emacs
> > as soon as possible.  If they enjoy it, they will continue using it
> > forever.
>
> Well, I think an Emacs user, if he's to be an Emacs user for any
> significant amount of time, needs to learn to use the .emacs file
> sooner rather than later.
Correct.

> > That's OK. People without those keys can use C-x C-s and C-x b.
>
> Multiplying bindings for common commands adds confusion IMHO.
Hmm. Perhaps that is true. (To the rest of you: Do you agree?)

But M-x compile and M-x recompile have no default binding. Perhaps a
better answer, then, would be to bind them to some easy-to-press
combination of keys by default. And also to bind a fast
buffer-switching command to some key combination as well.

...
> Do you really consider `recompile' a basic command that most users
> *without* an .emacs file will need on a one-key binding?

I suspect that one of the most popular uses of Emacs is programming.

M-x recompile takes time to type. M-x <UpArrow><UpArrow><UpArrow> RET
is suboptimal because you must take your mind off your work for a
moment to watch the minibuffer until the proper history entry comes
up. IMO, a keybinding that all Emacs users could use, no matter what
machine they were using, would be better.

> > True, but it can be handy to have useful bindings preset by default.
>
> Yeah. The really difficult issue is deciding what are the useful bindings ;-)

Yes. I wonder if people have ever studied the issue, for example,
usability researchers.

> > So, do the benefits to newbies outweigh the costs?
>
> That's for others to decide.

Yes, but as Stefan mentions in his reply to this message, we should at
least bind F11 and F12 to *something*.

Cheers,
Jason

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