Show HN: Emacs Configuration Generator • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: Emacs Configuration Generator

#101

Post by daptaq » Wed, Apr 20, 2022, 9:12 AM UTC

chimprich wrote: post #100

daptaq wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for noticing the issues, I will fix the issues and add the other features. > Did you not add use-package because it's not in the repositories you're using, or something else? Mainly that, but also I am not too fond of use-package. If I add support, it would be with my own package (setup) as an alternative. > Great choice adding Modus themes! Well they are bundled in by default. > * undo-tree. Not sure about th…

> I am not too fond of use-package. What do you dislike about it? It seems like almost a standard now. Even if you don't personally like it, it might be useful to beginner Emacs users to use the tools that everyone else is using. I could say the same about helm.

I believe it to have had issues that lead to inconsistencies and unnecessary complications. More details can be read out of my comparison between the package I wrote and use-package: https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/SetupEl#h5o-20.

Yet in principle I do agree that it would be nice to have the option. The issue is how to explain this to someone who doesn't know anything yet about Emacs. Talking about the advantages or disadvantages of using a configuration macro requires some basic understanding of what the issue even is.

Re: Show HN: Emacs Configuration Generator

#102

Post by southerntofu » Wed, Apr 20, 2022, 12:15 PM UTC

catern wrote: post #92

dmortin wrote: post #4

Interesting, but you know what might even be better? If it could be done directly from emacs. E.g. if you start with a brand new emacs then you could paste a line into scratch, eval it, and then these question would come up, you give answers and then an emacs file is generated, written, evalled and you get your configured emacs instantly. But of course a web interface also has its advantages, it's prettier than bareb…

The customize interface built into Emacs already provides this. Though it supports customizing far more things, so it might be overwhelming. Maybe a new user customization group would be good.

Exactly. A settings panel does not fit the same usecase as an onboarding configuration panel. Having both would be amazing.

Re: Show HN: Emacs Configuration Generator

#103

Post by cbsmith » Mon, Apr 25, 2022, 8:14 PM UTC

daptaq wrote: post #99

gnufx wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know what's the basis for denying it, but the parent is correct about the intention when it was developed. I don't understand why it should be thought to imply Lisp knowledge. It is useful to lay out the customization possibilities, but that's a bonus.

Ok, I might have misread the comment. But to clarify my own position, I it doesn't necessarily have to be the lack of Experience with Elisp, but with the way you use Emacs and how it behaves (managing buffers and windows, how scrolling works, the little differences in how GUI features behave, etc.). To make use of the easy customization interface, and not get frustrated by it, it help to have some basic experience wi…

Again, not questioning your goals/intentions at all.

I'm more questioning the reaction to the project. The project suggests some ways that Customize could be improved, but the reaction doesn't seem to match that.