Re: last-sexp-toggle-display

[Luc Teirlinck <teirllm@dms.auburn.edu>]

Richard Stallman wrote:

   What would people think of putting last-sexp-toggle-display in Lisp modes
   on M-RET instead of on RET?

I believe that you are referring to local keymaps set up by
`eval-last-sexp-1', which can be produced in any mode whatsoever and
not just in Lisp modes.  These local keymaps are extremely confusing.
Some command like C-u C-x C-e produce them, whereas others such as 
C-u M-: produce identical output without the local keymap.  All
without any apparent rhyme or reason and without any way to
distinguish the two outputs other than to move one's mouse over them.
The `mouse-face' and `help-echo' text properties are only useful if
the user is using the mouse.  Maybe one should use a more "permanent"
face than `mouse-face' for regions with a local keymap.  Or maybe one
should just be a lot more reluctant to use local keymaps, especially
in ordinary buffers meant to be edited.

The proposed change would be an obvious improvement to a very bad
situation.  The current binding of RET in those local keymaps is both
extremely confusing and a real nuisance.  In Lisp interaction mode one
regularly wants to edit return values.  Also, one often wants to put a
newline in front of C-u C-x C-e output.  Clearly, basic editing
commands like RET should not be rebound using local keymaps, except in
read-only buffers.

Sincerely,

Luc.