Show HN: Devil Mode: A twisted Emacs key translator for modifier-free editing
1–10 of 57 posts
Re: Show HN: Devil Mode: A twisted Emacs key translator for modifier-free editing
#2This looks fantastic :))
Re: Show HN: Devil Mode: A twisted Emacs key translator for modifier-free editing
#3I wonder how well this would work with SPC as the devil key.
Re: Show HN: Devil Mode: A twisted Emacs key translator for modifier-free editing
#4Reminds me of god-mode: https://github.com/emacsorphanage/god-mode. Although I use Evil, it still comes in handy on occasion when I need to type something without an Evil keybind. Alas, it’s been abandoned, though it still seems to work for me on the rare occasions I need it.
Re: Show HN: Devil Mode: A twisted Emacs key translator for modifier-free editing
#5Interesting concept. The constant modifiers in Emacs are really such a turn-off. I want to give Emacs another try, but I cannot understand why functionalities are accessed like this in the first place. In sublime text, with ctrl+shift+p I can access most of the functionalities I need. Still a weird key combination, but sure beat ctrl+x ctrl+f...
Edit: I am still not sure why it isn't just something more direct like ctrl+j, since it is used so much, maybe someone can enlighten me...
Re: Show HN: Devil Mode: A twisted Emacs key translator for modifier-free editing
#6Reminds me of god-mode: https://github.com/emacsorphanage/god-mode . Although I use Evil, it still comes in handy on occasion when I need to type something without an Evil keybind. Alas, it’s been abandoned, though it still seems to work for me on the rare occasions I need it.
That was the first thing I thought of too. I'm guessing the name itself is a parody, especially given the cheeky readme.
Re: Show HN: Devil Mode: A twisted Emacs key translator for modifier-free editing
#7Interesting concept. The constant modifiers in Emacs are really such a turn-off. I want to give Emacs another try, but I cannot understand why functionalities are accessed like this in the first place. In sublime text, with ctrl+shift+p I can access most of the functionalities I need. Still a weird key combination, but sure beat ctrl+x ctrl+f... Edit: I am still not sure why it isn't just something more direct like c…
ST's command palette is a descendant of M-x in emacs.
Re: Show HN: Devil Mode: A twisted Emacs key translator for modifier-free editing
#8Interesting concept. The constant modifiers in Emacs are really such a turn-off. I want to give Emacs another try, but I cannot understand why functionalities are accessed like this in the first place. In sublime text, with ctrl+shift+p I can access most of the functionalities I need. Still a weird key combination, but sure beat ctrl+x ctrl+f... Edit: I am still not sure why it isn't just something more direct like c…
By default in Emacs, `M-x` is analogous to Ctrl+Shift+p. Most users like a vertical completion candidate interface for it, such as the `vertico.el` package (among very very many other options). You actually have a ton of control over how this interface works, between `completion-styles` (candidate filtering algorithms, which themselves can be sorted in a hierarchy or even changed dynamically while the menu is open), and various packages like `marginalia` to get richer annotations. You can even dock it somewhere else on the screen using the `posframe.el` package.
Vertico and Selectrum are two modern popular options, Ivy and Helm are two older ones, and there are very creative ones like Raven (https://github.com/chameco/raven) or MCT (https://protesilaos.com/emacs/mct).
Emacs comes with `cua-mode`, which provides some more modern conventions like `C-s` to save, `C-o` to open files, etc., however most users find that the default system does make sense once you learn it. `C-c`, `C-u`, and `C-x` prefixes have very consistent meanings by default across all major modes, and by convention across basically all elisp packages.
I don't use QWERTY, so I find the rebinder package very useful (https://github.com/darkstego/rebinder.el), but I think it can improve the ergonomics of those prefixes across any keyboard layout. My equivalents to `C-x` and `C-u` are on my home-row. I also use home-row mods (https://precondition.github.io/home-row-mods) which make the feel of interacting with Emacs very smooth.
Keybinding discovery is also very easy between the `C-h` family, The `which-key.el` package, and the `helpful.el` package. The `M-x` menu also shows keybindings, even by default.
What's really nice about Emacs is that changing keybindings is very easy, and between hooks, advices, and modes, the keybindings and their behavior are incredibly flexible.
Re: Show HN: Devil Mode: A twisted Emacs key translator for modifier-free editing
#9Interesting concept. The constant modifiers in Emacs are really such a turn-off. I want to give Emacs another try, but I cannot understand why functionalities are accessed like this in the first place. In sublime text, with ctrl+shift+p I can access most of the functionalities I need. Still a weird key combination, but sure beat ctrl+x ctrl+f... Edit: I am still not sure why it isn't just something more direct like c…
ST's command palette is a descendant of M-x in emacs.
Tangent: any tips on how to make the M-x line more usable, similar to a command palette?
I just got started with Emacs, and the archaic terminology and inconsistent naming is causing me to have to consult StackOverflow for basic things like “what are the copy and paste commands called?”. (Those were probably both in the tutorial, but I already forgot them a few times.)
I’m aware of “apropos”, but it also uses antiquated terminology, so it’s frequently not useful to me.
I’m sure this problem has been solved :)
Re: Show HN: Devil Mode: A twisted Emacs key translator for modifier-free editing
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
ST's command palette is a descendant of M-x in emacs.
Tangent: any tips on how to make the M-x line more usable, similar to a command palette? I just got started with Emacs, and the archaic terminology and inconsistent naming is causing me to have to consult StackOverflow for basic things like “what are the copy and paste commands called?”. (Those were probably both in the tutorial, but I already forgot them a few times.) I’m aware of “apropos”, but it also uses antiqua…
You probably want posframe along with one of the many options for a vertical completion candidate minibuffer (I like vertico), and a package like marginalia to annotate the options like VS Code. A non-default completion-style like hotfuzz, flx, or orderless might also interest you.