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Mastering Emacs

masteringemacs.org

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Re: Mastering Emacs

#41

Post by m3talridl3y »

damontal wrote: post #14
unknownzero wrote: post #2

I've always been an emacs user but have only recently gotten serious about customizing it to replace other applications I normally use. If anyone has bought this and at least skimmed through I'd love to hear your thoughts before I drop $35.99 to see for myself.

Swap your CTRL and caps lock keys. It will make it a lot easier to use.

If emacs expects 3 modifier keys, and emacs is wildly popular with programmers, then why hasn't someone made a keyboard with the windows key renamed and remapped to the missing meta key?

Re: Mastering Emacs

#42

Post by weland »

molteanu wrote: post #19
damontal wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Swap your CTRL and caps lock keys. It will make it a lot easier to use.

Nope, don't do that. Learn to proper touch-type instead. Use your palms to press the ctrl keys. See: http://ergoemacs.org/emacs/swap_CapsLock_Ctrl.html . You can then use Ctrl+m instead of Enter at the command line, as well. Save both pinkies from the extra effort.

Using your palms to press the ctrl keys is only seriously possible on some curved keyboards. Everyone else, who prefers to touch keys with their fingers, like they were meant to, is going to do the sensible stuff and put the more frequently used modifier in the more easily-reachable place.

All this press-ctrl-with-your-palms fad is a problem solved in the wrong place.

And I have to say I dislike the tone of that page, too:

> Swapped but never had a problem [...] > Because you don't actually type that much.

Right.

Re: Mastering Emacs

#43

Post by renke1 »

htns wrote: post #17
damontal wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Swap your CTRL and caps lock keys. It will make it a lot easier to use.

No, swap your alt-gr and ctrl.

Put Ctrl on left Alt. And left Alt und right Alt (Alt-Gr). Then you are free to finally map Caps Lock to Escape. After that map left Ctrl such that left Ctrl+E/S/D/F is Up, Left, Down and Right.

Re: Mastering Emacs

#44

Post by brudgers »

branchless wrote: post #39
brudgers wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn't downvote your post, but I can see why others might feel that it doesn't contribute to the conversation because basically the only possible responses are "Me too" and "You are wrong". Adding the complaint about the downvote would ordinarily get a downvote from me, but I'd already used my vote in search of justice. Anyway, consider the downvotes editorial feedback and perhaps taking advantage of the opportunit…

My post is about what a great blog it is. I'm fine with my original mark. If anyone wants to remove computer points from me please fire away.

And what is your last comment about and how does The comment make HN or the internet better? There are lots of places where typical internet behavior is typically acceptable and often encouraged. HN, for better or worse, is not one of them. That means it can't meet everyone's expectations.

Re: Mastering Emacs

#45

Post by yarrel »

vladharbuz wrote: post #8

I would personally recommend using vim bindings in emacs, as they are (in my opinion) easier to make sense of and more intuitive. However, I'm sure this book is a great resource for all the other stuff and it seems very well put-together.

If you already know vi then keeping them as you move over to Emacs makes sense. Otherwise I'd recommend not doing this, as vi keybindings are an airbrake for productivity.

Re: Mastering Emacs

#46

Post by 616c »

pcx wrote: post #29

I followed this blog for a while and loved it! Strongly recommended for Emacs beginners. Also, one thing beginners miss is how great it is to use an existing configuration to learn. I've personally used @bodil's config from here[1], it's pretty comprehensive and awesome. If you are a beginner though, you should totally start with @bbatsov's Emacs Prelude[2]. [1] https://github.com/bodil/emacs.d [2] https://github.com…

I went throught the hassle of not doing what you recommended, unaware, and it is funny how often you look for stuff to simplify Emacs usage and you find bbatsov.

Re: Mastering Emacs

#47

Post by branchless »

brudgers wrote: post #44
branchless wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My post is about what a great blog it is. I'm fine with my original mark. If anyone wants to remove computer points from me please fire away.

And what is your last comment about and how does The comment make HN or the internet better? There are lots of places where typical internet behavior is typically acceptable and often encouraged. HN, for better or worse, is not one of them. That means it can't meet everyone's expectations.

It's a community where the consensus is wherever the community decides. If you didn't speak your mind people like me would be the centre, if I didn't speak mine people like you would be the centre.

I'm not sure what you are trying to achieve. I've said my comment, I've re-iterated it. You have made two meta comments about HN that I have zero interest in. Create a new thread on HN meta and write about it.

Again: the author of the book has a great blog and I'd highly recommend subscribing to it.

Have a very positive, non-supercilious day.

Re: Mastering Emacs

#48

Post by lottin »

vladharbuz wrote: post #8

I would personally recommend using vim bindings in emacs, as they are (in my opinion) easier to make sense of and more intuitive. However, I'm sure this book is a great resource for all the other stuff and it seems very well put-together.

Key bindings are totally a matter of personal preferences. I like Emacs-style bindings better. The only thing I think vi in my opinion does better is copying and deleting lines (yy, dd, p), which in Emacs is not so simple for such a common operation.

Re: Mastering Emacs

#50

Post by alayne »

molteanu wrote: post #21

I haven't read this, but from the contents it seems like you can learn everything there is in the book from the official Emacs GNU documentation: https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/in...

As a long time Emacs user, I would recommend using the real documentation too. Learn how to use the built in info and help, and study some of the elisp.
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