Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux
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Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux
1–10 of 22 posts
Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux
#2I feel like this post is just an OSX fan ranting about how he likes his hot keys in this spot instead of that spot.
Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux
#3I feel like this post is just an OSX fan ranting about how he likes his hot keys in this spot instead of that spot.
I disagree. There is a fundamental difference. In OS X, keys tend to do the same things everywhere because there is this carefully drawn distinction between Cmd and Control. Other OS's have context sensitive key bindings.
Of course this isn't universally true, but OS X does seem to do it better than the other two.
Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux
#4Most OS's give you the ability to remap keys as you see fit. in addition, most modern Linux distros allow you to hook up an Apple keyboard. Combine the two and this entire post is unnecessary.
All of that being said, there's no difference between using the Apple key for commands vs. other key combos (ctrl-alt-shift, etc) it's simply user preference.
If you take this argument down to it's base level, it's a frustration at having to learn the UI of a new program, the equivalent of Vim vs Emacs. All of that is fine, but burying that sentiment in a general "only Mac software can do this" post which isn't the case.
All of this being said, it's looking more and more like Textmate development is dead, perhaps it's time to look at one of the alternatives?
Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux
#5I feel like this post is just an OSX fan ranting about how he likes his hot keys in this spot instead of that spot.
I disagree. There is a fundamental difference. In OS X, keys tend to do the same things everywhere because there is this carefully drawn distinction between Cmd and Control. Other OS's have context sensitive key bindings. Of course this isn't universally true, but OS X does seem to do it better than the other two.
Apple has done a good job of keeping software relatively uniform, instead of having random menus, keystrokes, UI's they've managed to keep the look and feel of most programs relatively similar.
But, key bindings are hardly OS dependent, rendering the general point of this post irrelevant. It would be really interesting to see this transformed into a rant against a lack of uniform standards for standard functions.
Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux
#6Because OS X is the only OS that distinguishes between GUI editing and line editing.
Nope.
I could write a long point-by-point response to this post, but realized that I already did several months ago:
http://zentu.net/oss/?q=node/27
It's the concept of multiple desktops that Windows doesn't have and OSX doesn't get, either, that makes working on Linux systems so worth it. Productivity can be dependent upon how you organize and switch between these desktops.
Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux
#7I feel like this post is just an OSX fan ranting about how he likes his hot keys in this spot instead of that spot.
I disagree. There is a fundamental difference. In OS X, keys tend to do the same things everywhere because there is this carefully drawn distinction between Cmd and Control. Other OS's have context sensitive key bindings. Of course this isn't universally true, but OS X does seem to do it better than the other two.
I've recently switched to OSX from Ubuntu and I've found it equally frustrating in the other direction.
My biggest gripe is that the home and end keys don't work as I expect anymore. In Ubuntu (and windows afaik), the home and end keys work in pretty much every app (terminal, editor, browser and pretty much any text field) for moving to the start/end of the current line.
One of the other frustrations, which isn't entirely OSX's fault.. is that the shortcuts in my editor of choice (jEdit) sometimes use command and sometimes use ctrl.
I'm not trying to criticize any OS in particular.. but I've personally found it incredibly frustrating. I admit it's probably just because of keyboard shortcuts I've used for years are etched into my muscle memory.
I can definitely appreciate that switching in the other direction is equally as frustrating.
Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
I disagree. There is a fundamental difference. In OS X, keys tend to do the same things everywhere because there is this carefully drawn distinction between Cmd and Control. Other OS's have context sensitive key bindings. Of course this isn't universally true, but OS X does seem to do it better than the other two.
I've recently switched to OSX from Ubuntu and I've found it equally frustrating in the other direction. My biggest gripe is that the home and end keys don't work as I expect anymore. In Ubuntu (and windows afaik), the home and end keys work in pretty much every app (terminal, editor, browser and pretty much any text field) for moving to the start/end of the current line. One of the other frustrations, which isn't ent…
It's quite simple to rebind home/end to work like you expect in all Cocoa text controls (i.e., almost anywhere you edit text -- Firefox is the one frustrating exception I'm aware of). If you haven't taken a look at the Cocoa keybinding system, I suggest you do so. It's really quite flexible.
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~jrus/site/Cocoa%20Text%20System....
Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux
#9I feel like this post is just an OSX fan ranting about how he likes his hot keys in this spot instead of that spot.
I disagree. There is a fundamental difference. In OS X, keys tend to do the same things everywhere because there is this carefully drawn distinction between Cmd and Control. Other OS's have context sensitive key bindings. Of course this isn't universally true, but OS X does seem to do it better than the other two.
In OS X, keys tend to do the same things everywhere because there is this carefully drawn distinction between Cmd and Control.
It's my 2nd year on the Mac and I continue to struggle with hotkeys: they are a mess.
On top of my head: how come Ctrl+left won't bring me to the end of the line in Terminal but does in every other editable window? And why Shift+Command+arrows switch tabs in Terminal but not in Safari? OSX doesn't even have a universal "close this goddamn window" hot key, which drives me crazy - some windows go away with Esc while others need Command+W, plus you get a super weird 3rd variety which can't be closed from the keyboard at all!
OSX is by far the least typist friendly GUI in my humble opinion. On the other hand Linux, especially Gnome, absolutely rocks with their handling of hot keys: there are many more of them (I can move/resize windows on a keyboard) and the bindings are very consistent. Whereas OSX is simply not usable without a mouse: even top-level menu items don't have hot keys, like Alt+E for "Edit" or Alt+F for "File".
Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've recently switched to OSX from Ubuntu and I've found it equally frustrating in the other direction. My biggest gripe is that the home and end keys don't work as I expect anymore. In Ubuntu (and windows afaik), the home and end keys work in pretty much every app (terminal, editor, browser and pretty much any text field) for moving to the start/end of the current line. One of the other frustrations, which isn't ent…
It's quite simple to rebind home/end to work like you expect in all Cocoa text controls (i.e., almost anywhere you edit text -- Firefox is the one frustrating exception I'm aware of). If you haven't taken a look at the Cocoa keybinding system, I suggest you do so. It's really quite flexible. http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~jrus/site/Cocoa%20Text%20System....
And if the key bindings in OS X's System Preferences isn't something you want to use, Command+Left Arrow and Command+Right Arrow move the cursor to the front and end of the line respectively.