Re: emacs mode line suggestions

[Ian Eure <ian@digg.com>]

On Nov 16, 2008, at 10:20 AM, Richard Riley wrote:

> Ian Eure <ian@digg.com> writes:
>>
>> My objection is to the idea that you don't want star buffers in the
>> list. These are also used for interaction with external processes:
>> *ssh: host*, *SQL: foo*, *Twit-recent*, *compilation*, *shell*,
>> *Python*. It seems ill advised to exclude those from the list.
>
> The kind of user that might want to see them is clued in enough to  
> use a
> prefix or customise their setup accordingly.
>
That's not the point. A behavior is being suggested which has a  
serious usability negative. Your argument cuts both ways; anyone who  
might use the existing mechanism surely is clued in enough to know how  
to use it, so why bother changing it, either?

Consider:

1. Edit stuff.
2. Create a *shell* buffer, do work in the shell.
3. Switch back to editing.
4. Try to go back to the shell - but wait, it's gone! What happened?

It's equally confusing. If you want to improve things, great, but  
replacing one crappy behavior with a different crappy behavior is a  
waste.


> I must say I agree with Xah and the "well thats the way its always  
> been"
> kind of reply is not constructive in the slightest.
>
Did you actually read my reply? Because I criticized the proposal on  
it's merits, and never said anything remotely like that.

  - Ian.