Re: org-mode, please change the name of function org-metaleft etc

[Lennart Borgman (gmail)]

Richard Stallman wrote:
>     In org-mode the functions that are bound to some keys are named after 
>     the key binding, for example:
>
>        <M-left>        org-metaleft
>
> M-left is a basic cursor motion key which runs backward-word.
> It is not good for any major mode to rebind such keys,
> unless the new binding is a sort of extension or adaptation
> of the standard binding.  It is hard to see how backward-word
> could require any adaptation to a given major mode.
>
> What's up here?

Several things it seems to me.

* First your remark that M-left runs backward-word. I have never noticed 
that, since backward-word is also on C-left. C-left is what is used for 
backward word moving on w32 in virtually all applications.

So if you have experience from w32 you expect C-left to run 
backward-word. I do not know about other systems, but what be glad to 
learn. Can someone comment, please?

Personally I see no reason to have backward-word on M-left too, but I 
guess it is there for historical reason. However it takes up a valuable 
binding.

* Second, the (info "(elisp) Key Binding Conventions") says nothing 
about the arrow keys.

* Then it was my proposal to change the name of functions like 
org-metaleft. The description of org-metaleft is

  (org-metaleft &optional arg)

  Promote heading or move table column to left.
  Calls `org-do-promote' or `org-table-move-column', depending on
  context.
  With no specific context, calls the Emacs default `backward-word'.
  See the individual commands for more information.

The function name does not describe what it does. It is of course, as 
Bastien pointed out, quite hard to name this function after that ...