Re: Emacs learning curve

[joakim]

Leo <address@hidden> writes:

> On 2010-07-23 20:12 +0100, Tom wrote:
>> Óscar Fuentes <ofv <at> wanadoo.es> writes:
>>
>>> Of course it is very hard to show statistics for newbies. 
>>
>> I tried to collect some real world data on the reasons why
>> newbies don't like Emacs, but the Stack Overflow admins closed
>> the question quickly, because they were afraid of a flame war. :)
>> (Though I didn't ask which tool was better.)
>>
>> Anyway, here it is, some answers had made through before the 
>> question was closed:
>>
>> http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3321392/for-what-reasons-you-dont-use-emacs
>
> Long discussion in emacs-devel has a pattern of stupidity. The longer
> the discussion, the more likely inaction is the best action.
>
> The data on SO shows the major barrier is functionality, reliably
> working and superior features are what make people come to Emacs and
> sadly Emacs just has so many to catch up. To borrow what Carsten said in
> his google tech talk:
>
>   "Org-mode does not offer a finished and closed solution; instead,
>   org-mode facilitates a learning and development process."
>
> That kind of thinking will be beneficial to Emacs development. Don't
> limit but facilitate what users can do with Emacs i.e. if they want to
> implement a "firefox" (hinting the failure of w3) for Emacs in elisp,
> make it possible. Then, you will have many more people developing cool
> apps for Emacs.
>
> The recent proposal to use CUA and the like keys is just absurd. It
> treats everybody like idiots, newbies and current Emacs users. There is
> absolutely no evidence that all newbies want or are bothered by the 2 or
> 3 keys i.e. no evidence to go as far as to make it the default,
> including fiddling about those [C-insert] keys.
>
> I think a better way to address this issue of learning curve and
> friendliness is to look at the tentative plan¹ for Emacs 24 and see
> whether we can help with one thing or two so that the key developers can
> focus on major features planned. Another area is to write some good
> documents, tutorials (we need more and everywhere) and manuals for elisp
> packages.

100% agreement. The TODO is very long, there is much to do.

> Leo
>
>
>
> Footnotes: 
> ¹  http://repo.or.cz/w/emacs.git/blob/HEAD:/etc/TODO-- 
> Any Emacs contains an ad hoc, informally-specified, bug-ridden, slow
> implementation of half of Common Lisp. -- Leo
>
-- 
Joakim Verona