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bug#41021: [PATCH] New command apropos-function
From: |
Stefan Kangas |
Subject: |
bug#41021: [PATCH] New command apropos-function |
Date: |
Sat, 02 May 2020 13:35:46 +0200 |
User-agent: |
Gnus/5.13 (Gnus v5.13) Emacs/28.0.50 (gnu/linux) |
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> writes:
> OK, but now that you have read it, why do we still need an additional
> command?
This is not about me personally. I related my experience only as a
description of a likely use-case.
> If you type "M-x apropos TAB", how many commands you see there
> already?
If I count correctly, I see 13 commands:
- apropos
- apropos-command
- apropos-documentation
- apropos-follow
- apropos-library
- apropos-local-value
- apropos-local-variable
- apropos-mode
- apropos-next-symbol
- apropos-previous-symbol
- apropos-user-option
- apropos-value
- apropos-variable
>From looking at that list, I have concluded in the past that there is
no way to search for functions, but only interactive commands. This
is not a bad first approximation, I think, based on seeing the list of
completions. Only upon reading the docstring of 'apropos-command'
will you understand that this conclusion was wrong.
But why would you even look there? The nature of these functions is
to _narrow_ the search in comparison to straight 'apropos'. It is not
natural to expect that there might be a prefix argument you could use
to _widen_ it again.
In effect I have to say "display only those functions that *are*
commands, only in this case I want to include also all functions that
*are not* commands".
> Is it a good idea to add one more, when we already have the same
> functionality?
Yes, I don't see why not. We have precedent.
>> I think a new command would help make this feature more
>> discoverable, especially to beginners.
>
> We are being told many beginners don't even want to use the apropos commands.
I would disagree with that statement; on the contrary, apropos is an
important tool /particularly/ to beginners. I'm sure you agree.
Best regards,
Stefan Kangas