Emoji support in Emacs: My first impressions

Emoji support in Emacs: My first impressions

[Rudolf Adamkovič]

I have compiled Emacs from the "master" branch and discovered the new Emoji commands. What a wonderful addition to Emacs!

Two comments form a first-time user of the feature:

(1) The "emoji-insert" command (C-x 8 i) inserts emojis but so do other emoji commands (in C-x 8). I think we could improve the name to better say what the command does. For instance, we could call the command "emoji-browse", as it allows the user to browse emojis by category. That said, all the other commands, such as "emoji-list", "emoji-recent", or "emoji-search" have great names and do what a new user, such as myself, would expect.

(2) I noticed Emacs lists "emoji-insert" twice in "C-x 8", once under "i" (insert) and once under "e" (for emoji, I suppose). As a first-time user, I found that confusing. Which one do I use? Which one do I put into my notes? Do we need two key bindings for browsing emojis by category? I think one would do.

Other than these two issues, I must say that the new functionality impressed me. Clear naming, no unnecessary configuration, solid performance, and more. Great, great work!

Rudy
-- 
"Logic is a science of the necessary laws of thought, without which no employment of the understanding and the reason takes place." -- Immanuel Kant, 1785

Rudolf Adamkovič <salutis@me.com>
Studenohorská 25
84103 Bratislava
Slovakia

[he/him]

Re: Emoji support in Emacs: My first impressions

[Lars Ingebrigtsen]

Rudolf Adamkovič <salutis@me.com> writes:

> (1) The "emoji-insert" command (C-x 8 i) inserts emojis but so do
> other emoji commands (in C-x 8). I think we could improve the name to
> better say what the command does. For instance, we could call the
> command "emoji-browse", as it allows the user to browse emojis by
> category. That said, all the other commands, such as "emoji-list",
> "emoji-recent", or "emoji-search" have great names and do what a new
> user, such as myself, would expect.

Yes, the command was named when it was the only emoji command, so it got
a pretty generic name.  But I'm not sure `emoji-browse' is an
improvement -- all these commands let you browse the emojis...  I'm open
to other ideas.

> (2) I noticed Emacs lists "emoji-insert" twice in "C-x 8", once under
> "i" (insert) and once under "e" (for emoji, I suppose). As a
> first-time user, I found that confusing. Which one do I use? Which one
> do I put into my notes? Do we need two key bindings for browsing
> emojis by category? I think one would do.

It's on `C-x 8 e e' because that's easier to type, and on `C-x 8 e i'
because that's mnemonic for "insert".  It's pretty common to put
commands on several keystrokes if that's convenient, but I can see how
it'd be confusing in this instance.

> Other than these two issues, I must say that the new functionality
> impressed me. Clear naming, no unnecessary configuration, solid
> performance, and more. Great, great work!

Thanks.  :-)

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
   bloggy blog: http://lars.ingebrigtsen.no

Re: Emoji support in Emacs: My first impressions

[Rudolf Adamkovič]

Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi@gnus.org> writes:

> Yes, the command was named when it was the only emoji command, so it got
> a pretty generic name.  But I'm not sure `emoji-browse' is an
> improvement -- all these commands let you browse the emojis...  I'm open
> to other ideas.

How about "emoji-categories" (or "emoji-groups") instead of "emoji-insert"?

> It's on `C-x 8 e e' because that's easier to type, and on `C-x 8 e i'
> because that's mnemonic for "insert".  It's pretty common to put
> commands on several keystrokes if that's convenient, but I can see how
> it'd be confusing in this instance.

Interesting. Is it common to include two identical commands so close to each other, e.g. in the same key map, or on the same "key path" (so to speak), such as "C-x 8 e"? I ask because with "which-key", it instantly looked like a bug to my eyes, for some reason. Then, I wonder if browsing by categories should map to the most convenient "e e" option. I would expect people to use "recent" and "list" much more often. (I asked my kids, and they say they would use "emoji-search" mainly.)

Rudy
-- 
"Programming reliably --- must be an activity of an undeniably mathematical nature […] You see, mathematics is about thinking, and doing mathematics is always trying to think as well as possible." -- Edsger W. Dijkstra (1981)

Rudolf Adamkovič <salutis@me.com>
Studenohorská 25
84103 Bratislava
Slovakia

[he/him]

Re: Emoji support in Emacs: My first impressions

[Lars Ingebrigtsen]

Rudolf Adamkovič <salutis@me.com> writes:

> How about "emoji-categories" (or "emoji-groups") instead of "emoji-insert"?

But `emoji-list' also lists based on categories.  😀

> Interesting. Is it common to include two identical commands so close
> to each other, e.g. in the same key map, or on the same "key path" (so
> to speak), such as "C-x 8 e"?

It's not uncommon (I seem to remember, but I can't think of any in
specific), especially in keymaps that have very few bindings (and
commands with several possible mnemonics).

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
   bloggy blog: http://lars.ingebrigtsen.no