Re: [PATCH] `completing-read`: Add `group-function` support to completion metadata (REVISED PATCH VERSION 2)

[Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>]

> From: Daniel Mendler <mail@daniel-mendler.de>
> Date: Tue, 11 May 2021 21:46:17 +0200
> Cc: gregory@heytings.org, dgutov@yandex.ru, emacs-devel@gnu.org,
>  monnier@iro.umontreal.ca, juri@linkov.net
> 
> On 5/11/21 9:22 PM, Eli Zaretskii wrote:
> > Why not provide a defcustom that can accept both simple value, for the
> > most popular sort methods, and also allow function values for advanced
> > users?
> 
> This is exactly what I did. If the user selects "No sorting" the value
> identity is taken and if the value "Sort alphabetically" is selected,
> the value completions-group-sort-alphabetically is taken. There is no
> point in introducing another symbolic indirection. We could add more
> options in case some more reasonable group sortings come up. There is no
> need for a newbie to directly manipulate functions.
> 
> > Thanks.  Now try putting yourself into the shoes of a newbie and try
> > imagining what can he/she make out of this doc string.  "Function
> > taking and returning an alist"? really?
> 
> The snippet which I just sent is a proposal. Up to now there has been a
> bit of back and forth of how the grouping feature is best implemented.
> Under these circumstances it does not make sense to send a fully
> polished patch each time. But by now the discussion seems to have
> somehow concluded, or at least I interpret that there is some agreement
> between the participants of the discussion which was mostly Juri,
> Stefan, Dmitry and myself.

Then please consider my humble request to make this user-friendlier by
offering simple Lisp values, not just functions.  You and me can grasp
'identity or 'ignore with no trouble, but I'm not talking about you or
me, or anyone else of the respected group mentioned above.  This
feature is not just for us.