bug#2473: usability issues on emacs's describe-mode

[Lennart Borgman <lennart.borgman@gmail.com>]

On Sat, Feb 28, 2009 at 11:54 AM, Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> wrote:
>> From: Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca>
>> Cc: 2473@emacsbugs.donarmstrong.com,  Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>,  xah@xahlee.org
>> Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 23:34:21 -0500
>>
>> >     I see a 3rd way: make the buffer present an expandable list of modes,
>> >     starting with just 2 items: the current major modes and "minor modes",
>> >     e.g. similar to what we do in Speedbar, or maybe in Outline Mode
>> >     (under "Hide Sublevels").  In ASCII art:
>>
>> >       + Major Mode: RMAIL Mode
>> >       + Minor Modes
>>
>> > Using hiding is a good idea -- thanks.
>>
>> > I think that partcular way would be inconvenient.  Specifically, it
>> > would be a hassle to initially hide the major mode documentation.
>> > That is what users most often want to see; making them type a command
>> > to expose it would be a gratuitous hassle.
>>
>> > So I suggest putting the partly-hidden minor mode list first,
>> > followed by the totally visible major mode documentation.
>
> For the record: I don't mind whether the major mode is first or last,
> nor whether it is Initially shown expanded or collapsed.
>
>> I don't think the difference with what we have now is worth
>> the trouble.
>
> The difference is twofold, IMO:
>
>  . it presents a UI that's familiar to most users
>  . it makes it easy to show initially a very short text without
>    hampering user's ability to get to the information she needs most

And it is very easy to implement ...

> If that's not worth the trouble, then what is?
>
> (In case it wasn't clear, I wasn't suggesting that we make this change
> before Emacs 23.1 is released.)
>
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