Re: Stepping Back: A Wealth Of Completion systems Re: [ELPA] New package: vertico

[Dmitry Gutov]

On 11.04.2021 21:19, Eli Zaretskii wrote:
> > From: Dmitry Gutov <dgutov@yandex.ru>
> > Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2021 20:16:29 +0300
> > Cc: emacs-devel@gnu.org, stefankangas@gmail.com, monnier@iro.umontreal.ca
> >
> > I agree we should be able to keep both kinds of completion and let the
> > users choose they generally prefer, that's why I made emphasis on which
> > usages really *can't* employ the wrong kind of completion (and thus
> > would generally follow the programmer's hint and not the user
> > customization).
>
> I'm not sure there could be use cases where it is clear up front which
> UI is "right" and which is "wrong".  In every situation I thought
> about there could be a place for both, depending on what the user
> wants to do and how.

We have discussed the case of xref-show-definitions-completing-read, 
whose use of completing-read you described as "very confusing" and 
"weird paradigm".

Whereas xref-show-definitions-buffer provides, in a way, a "selecting 
read" behavior, which you are fine with. So if 
xref-show-definitions-completing-read could itself reliably use a more 
"selecting read"-like interface, the impression should be better.

> > I do think it's unfortunate you're adamant about using only one of these
> > approaches, because we're missing out on valuable feedback and
> > recommendations this way (and maybe some strategic support)
>
> You make it sound like I could easily use the other approach, but just
> won't because I'm stubborn or worse.  Nothing is farther from the
> truth.  I cannot change my workflows, they are burnt into my muscle
> memory.  I can only try "the other approach" briefly, and that is
> unlikely to give you any useful feedback.

I do not think it is easy, nor do I think you owe us anything, or that 
you don't have better things to do with your time.

I do believe the odds are high you could improve your workflows if you 
spend time on it, but I don't really know your work requirements, so I 
wouldn't bet a house on this.

But I'll probably continue asking for it, because even minor 
improvements in your efficiency are a win for us all. And the other 
stuff mentioned previously.