Re: C-x C-v considered harmful

[Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>]

>     Fully half the reason I use `find-alternate-file' is to _kill_ the current
>     buffer (mistaken file visit or not). I use `C-x C-f' when I want to keep the
>     current buffer, and `C-x C-v' when I want to kill it. I wouldn't have thought I
>     was alone in that, but I'm beginning to get the impression that I might be.
>
> Of course, getting rid of the current buffer is why one uses it.  The
> question is whether it is sufficienty easier than C-x C-k RET and M-p
> to justify giving it a key binding.

I'd like to add one more use case of C-x C-v.  I use ffap that allows
C-x C-v to grab an absolute file name from the current buffer to
the minibuffer.  For example, one scenario is the following:

  M-x shell RET

  dpkg -L debian-package RET

This command outputs a list of absolute file names in the *shell* buffer.

  C-p C-p C-p ... C-x C-v RET

After moving point to the necessary absolute file name, C-x C-v
puts the file name to the minibuffer and RET just visits it.
I don't need to preserve the *shell* buffer after that.

However, maybe I would tolerate an yes-no confirmation in the *shell*
buffer since I more often use M-! for the same purposes.

Of course, this raises a question whether an information's worth in the
*shell* buffer is higher than in the *Shell Command Output* buffer
and shouldn't killing the *Shell Command Output* buffer ask a confirmation
as well?

Then what about the Async shell command that runs a command in the background?
Should C-x C-v ask a confirmation in the *Async Shell Command* buffer?
Currently it simply kills the child process without a question.

BTW, I am experiencing a higher risk of losing information with M-!
more than with C-x C-v.  M-! is difficult to type with one hand
because the `1' key is located directly above the Shift key,
so a combination with the Meta key often produces the wrong key M-1
(with Shift unpressed).  Typing a shell command in a Dired buffer
without paying attention to the screen results in a complete mess
(since most Dired keybndings are just one letter) that needs to be
analyzed afterwards to determine the damage (looking for files marked,
copied, moved, deleted, etc.)

-- 
Juri Linkov
http://www.jurta.org/emacs/