From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Path: news.gmane.org!not-for-mail From: "Robert J. Chassell" Newsgroups: gmane.emacs.devel Subject: Re: customize-set-(value|variable) [was: apropos commands for commands, user options, all functions, all variables] Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:33:59 +0000 (UTC) Message-ID: References: Reply-To: bob@rattlesnake.com NNTP-Posting-Host: lo.gmane.org X-Trace: ger.gmane.org 1194870863 11075 80.91.229.12 (12 Nov 2007 12:34:23 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet@ger.gmane.org NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:34:23 +0000 (UTC) To: emacs-devel@gnu.org Original-X-From: emacs-devel-bounces+ged-emacs-devel=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Mon Nov 12 13:34:26 2007 Return-path: Envelope-to: ged-emacs-devel@m.gmane.org Original-Received: from lists.gnu.org ([199.232.76.165]) by lo.gmane.org with esmtp (Exim 4.50) id 1IrYUa-00068n-HY for ged-emacs-devel@m.gmane.org; Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:34:16 +0100 Original-Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=lists.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1IrYUO-0003Wk-EC for ged-emacs-devel@m.gmane.org; Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:34:04 -0500 Original-Received: from mailman by lists.gnu.org with tmda-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1IrYUL-0003We-5z for emacs-devel@gnu.org; Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:34:01 -0500 Original-Received: from exim by lists.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1IrYUK-0003WO-6x for emacs-devel@gnu.org; Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:34:00 -0500 Original-Received: from [199.232.76.173] (helo=monty-python.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1IrYUK-0003WL-24 for emacs-devel@gnu.org; Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:34:00 -0500 Original-Received: from cpe-69-204-164-144.nycap.res.rr.com ([69.204.164.144] helo=rattlesnake.com) by monty-python.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from ) id 1IrYUJ-0005Vf-N0 for emacs-devel@gnu.org; Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:33:59 -0500 Original-Received: by rattlesnake.com via sendmail from stdin id (Debian Smail3.2.0.115) Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:33:59 +0000 (UTC) In-reply-to: (message from Richard Stallman on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:59:37 -0500) X-detected-kernel: by monty-python.gnu.org: Linux 2.6 (newer, 1) X-BeenThere: emacs-devel@gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: "Emacs development discussions." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Original-Sender: emacs-devel-bounces+ged-emacs-devel=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Errors-To: emacs-devel-bounces+ged-emacs-devel=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Xref: news.gmane.org gmane.emacs.devel:83049 Archived-At: 1. Rename `customize-set-value' to `set-option', and `customize-set-variable' to `set-option-default' ... We don't currently suggest to users that they use those commands, so making them easier to use does not seem like an important goal. As a rule, no one ever should use the customize commands unless they are a novice or unless they do not understand a feature like fonts. They are to help, not to replace `setq'. The reason is that the customize commands provide even less an increment of knowledge than `setq' because they are so readily interactive and do not require additional knowledge. In a .emacs file, you must read the documentation on a variable although that often tells little. I fear that I still do not understand fonts because my interactions with them has been through customize ... -- Robert J. Chassell GnuPG Key ID: 004B4AC8 bob@rattlesnake.com bob@gnu.org http://www.rattlesnake.com http://www.teak.cc