Re: Keybinding nit

[Kevin Rodgers <ihs_4664@yahoo.com>]

Miles Bader wrote:
> Kevin Rodgers <ihs_4664@yahoo.com> writes:
>>> Well at least historically, I suppose one reason is because such
>>> combinations (control + shift) don't work on ttys.
>> But that's not what Peter wrote; he's using the same `C-x' prefix
>> in all cases, just varying the case of the final key:
> 
> Hmmm, good point... :-)
> 
> In that case I'd just offer a weaker reason:  It's annoying to type key
> sequences where the two components use _different_ modifier keys.
> 
> Indeed, even MOD + NO-MOD sequences can be a problem, as it's quite easy
> to mis-time releasing the modifier key when typing quickly (I very often
> mistype "C-x b" as "C-x C-b"); MOD + DIFFERENT-MOD would be even worse.

That all makes perfect sense, but in actual practice I find that there
are commands I use frequently use that aren't bound to keys, and that
the most mnemonic, available keys are C-<foo> Shift-<bar> sequences.

Here are some real examples I've had in my .emacs for years:

(global-set-key "\C-hA" 'apropos)
(global-set-key "\C-xB" 'bury-buffer)
(global-set-key "\C-xI" 'insert-buffer)

And before Emacs 22 (which binds `C-x C-k r' to 
apply-macro-to-region-lines),
I had:

(global-set-key "\C-xE" 'apply-macro-to-region-lines))

I guess you would find those far too annoying to use, but for me they
are just fine.

> [It might be tempting to answer "Well, just don't type those sequences
> quickly!" but I find such admonitions simply don't work well in practice
> -- people will slow down eventually because they'll get annoyed at all
> the times they mistype, but then they'll be annoyed too, and I think
> inherently annoying key-sequences should be avoided. :-]

I learned to touch type in 9th or 10th grade, but I guess I don't type
as quickly as you!

-- 
Kevin