From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Path: news.gmane.org!not-for-mail From: adamsonj@email.unc.edu (Joel J. Adamson) Newsgroups: gmane.emacs.help Subject: Re: How to type when using Emacs? Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:40:59 -0400 Message-ID: <87od5534tw.fsf@edna.homeunix.org> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: lo.gmane.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Trace: ger.gmane.org 1215719232 17585 80.91.229.12 (10 Jul 2008 19:47:12 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet@ger.gmane.org NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:47:12 +0000 (UTC) Cc: help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org To: SomeDeveloper Original-X-From: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+geh-help-gnu-emacs=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Thu Jul 10 21:47:56 2008 Return-path: Envelope-to: geh-help-gnu-emacs@m.gmane.org Original-Received: from lists.gnu.org ([199.232.76.165]) by lo.gmane.org with esmtp (Exim 4.50) id 1KH27F-0004t7-AM for geh-help-gnu-emacs@m.gmane.org; Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:47:45 +0200 Original-Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:60584 helo=lists.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1KH26N-0005ee-Lw for geh-help-gnu-emacs@m.gmane.org; Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:46:51 -0400 Original-Received: from mailman by lists.gnu.org with tmda-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1KH269-0005eV-Oc for help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:46:37 -0400 Original-Received: from exim by lists.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1KH267-0005eJ-Mr for help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:46:36 -0400 Original-Received: from [199.232.76.173] (port=50999 helo=monty-python.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1KH267-0005eG-Fj for help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:46:35 -0400 Original-Received: from smtpsrv1.isis.unc.edu ([152.2.1.140]:62242 helo=smtp.unc.edu) by monty-python.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS-1.0:DHE_RSA_AES_256_CBC_SHA1:32) (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from ) id 1KH266-0007mY-UZ for help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:46:35 -0400 Original-Received: from edna (cpe-071-065-251-182.nc.res.rr.com [71.65.251.182]) (authenticated bits=0) by smtp.unc.edu (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id m6AJiuMK025929; Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:44:59 -0400 (EDT) In-Reply-To: (somedeveloper@gmail.com's message of "Wed, 9 Jul 2008 08:22:57 -0700 (PDT)") User-Agent: Gnus/5.13 (Gnus v5.13) Emacs/23.0.60 (gnu/linux) X-detected-kernel: by monty-python.gnu.org: Solaris 9 X-BeenThere: help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Original-Sender: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+geh-help-gnu-emacs=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Errors-To: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+geh-help-gnu-emacs=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Xref: news.gmane.org gmane.emacs.help:55388 Archived-At: SomeDeveloper writes: > Hello, Okay, before I read everyone else's responses, as I am academically curious after seeing the bad typing habits of some fellow heavy keyboard users... > Just getting started with Emacs. Would like to get advice on how to > train finger movement when learning/using Emacs. > > Should I try to continue to follow standard, English typing rules... > where you park your fingers on the home-row, and then press a key only > with the finger reserved for it? Absolutely --- do not hunt and peck, do not use two fingers on the same hand at the same time, except in emergencies. Hold your wrists up from the table when you type and take frequent breaks. > Or, should I feel free to jump arbitrarily or do whatever is > necessary/convenient to become effective longer-term? Hmmm??? How are you going to develop your own typing strategy from scratch? Just curious on this one. > > Saw an article or two on the Net ( >http://steve.yegge.googlepages.com/effective-emacs ) where the authors >are recommending swapping CAPS and CTRL keys. Not sure if this by >itself would be enough, or if I would need to also break standard >typing rules? Well, no, because in "standard typing" --- on a typewriter --- there is no control key, only the shift key. Caps lock was located the left of "A" on some typewriter keyboards (some had a big shift key); however you may find caps lock unnecessary after a while. I have stopped using it. I wrote a function that capitalizes the previous word, and I use Emacs' Abbrev-mode for certain capitalization. I learned to type on an IBM Selectric, and have always used the home keys method. I have never NEVER had a repetitive strain injury or any difficulty reaching keys. Emacs came quite naturally to me. I actually found keyboard use in other programs quite difficult since I was used to the more fluid finger movement that Emacs encourages with its modifier keys. > For example: If I had to type > C-x t C-u 8 0 > > using the standard typing rules, I would use > ( ) > > Right pinky (C) > Left ring finger (x) > Left pinky (C) > Right index finger (u) > Right middle finger (8) > Right pinky (0) > > How would you type the above? Similarly, an example recommendation of > a complicated, Meta key combination would also help. I would type it exactly as above. I've seen people do "C-x C-f" with one hand and it looks like it would kill their wrists after a while. I certainly do it faster than any of them. Joel ;; backward-upcase ,---- | (defun backward-upcase (&optional arg) | "Capitalize the previous word; with optional arg, capitalize | the previous arg words" | (interactive "P") | (let ((words (if arg arg 1))) | (upcase-word (- 0 words)))) `---- -- Joel J. Adamson (303) 880-3109 Public key: http://pgp.mit.edu http://www.unc.edu/~adamsonj http://trashbird1240.blogspot.com