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Surviving Emacs

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Re: Surviving Emacs

#21

Post by pivo »

visitor4rmindia wrote: post #16

Ok - I know I may be downmodded for this but wouldn't it just make more sense to switch to an editor that maybe doesn't cause you RSI problems? All I'm saying is that if you have to go through so much pain and trouble to use a piece of software then just maybe it's not right for you. Also I'm not suggesting Vi but Emacs has a pretty good Viper-mode that may help with RSI issues. I use EMacs with Viper and I can prett…

Emacs isn't the only source of RSI in the world. It just so happens that none of the emacs users in my office suffer from RSI, and several of the Eclipse users do.

I think it makes more sense to try to fix the problems the way Bill has than to give up on an editor which (we emacs users think) is incredibly productive. Besides, it may be that RSI will follow you to whatever other editor you choose.

That was the case for me, in fact, and I fixed it years ago by switching to a cheapo $30 Microsoft Natural keyboard.

Re: Surviving Emacs

#22

Post by parbo »

I work as a developer of embedded systems for automotive purposes, and I have got to ask: what fields of programming are you working in where you actually write code for prolonged periods of time? I would say that less than 20% of my time go to actual programming, and probably less than half of that involves typing a lot. More thinking.

Re: Surviving Emacs

#23

Post by ddorenz »

HI, You were very lucky to catch the RSI tendency in time.I am a massage therapist who has worked with many RSI "victims." Just to warn others: there is another problem-thoracic outlet syndrome that programmers and others get from too many hours at the computer. If you want to avoid this negative development and RSI, get up every 30 minutes from your computer and get your arms over your head; do the back stroke; bend over and let your head and arms hang down. The nerves get trapped in the chest muscles as they travel down from your neck to your arms and hands. Make sure you stretch your pectorals often: open arms out to sides. LIsten to your pain messages and don't push through pain because you might become disabled. take care.

Re: Surviving Emacs

#24

Post by visitor4rmindia »

silentbicycle wrote: post #20
visitor4rmindia wrote: post #16

Ok - I know I may be downmodded for this but wouldn't it just make more sense to switch to an editor that maybe doesn't cause you RSI problems? All I'm saying is that if you have to go through so much pain and trouble to use a piece of software then just maybe it's not right for you. Also I'm not suggesting Vi but Emacs has a pretty good Viper-mode that may help with RSI issues. I use EMacs with Viper and I can prett…

Yes, it would. People aren't persisting in using Emacs because it's a good editor, but rather because it's an integrated environment for manipulating anything textual (which happens to be scripted in a Lisp dialect). The integration is the important part, and it's integrated in a very different sense than, say, Visual Studio or Eclipse. It just happens to have ergonomically nightmarish default keybindings (and other…

I think you're missing the point. I'm not denying that EMacs is great at what it does (I use it extensively).

However, if I had RSI problems I would switch to something else - it's definitely worth learning a new tool if it helps my health and well being.

Re: Surviving Emacs

#25

Post by eru »

cwinters wrote: post #15

I've had a kinesis keyboard for ~9 years, and after using it for a few weeks I thought it should be required for any emacs user. Putting ctrl-alt (and enter) under your strongest digits just makes so much sense.

You should try out the foot pedals.
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