Re: Casting as wide a net as possible

[raman <raman@google.com>]

Adrian.B.Robert@gmail.com writes:


And a couple more:

1. All content is structure aware --- so the same set of navigation /
cut/copy commands work across a wide variety of content. Lacking this,
other environments force users to select based on what they see on the
screen with a mouse -- and though that might give instant gratification,
it breaks down when the unit of information you want doesn't fit on the
screen.

2. That all content is in a single consistent environment makes sharing
content across various purposes easy -- write  some code, copy a piece
that is causing problems into a chat/mail buffer, get a response --
easily paste it back (except when some WebApp at the other end ruins it
with non-breaking invisible spaces -- but I digress).

>
>>>>>>> Drew Adams <drew.adams@oracle.com> writes:
>>
>>> My only point is that Lisp features really do make Emacs what it is. To
>>> point out what Emacs is necessarily means pointing out some of those
>>> features (IMO).
>>
>> I agree. The things that make Emacs great:
>>
>>   1. Highly consistent syntax.
>>   2. Self-documenting.
>>   3. Integrated debugger.
>>   4. Ability to re-evaluate functions in a running environment.
>>      (i.e., everything that made Lisp Machines great)
>>   5. Natural syntax for scoping resources (`with-temp-buffer ...')
>>   6. Large and well documented API
>>   7. Stable and mature concepts evolved over decades
>>   8. Huge, HUGE community of cargo-cultable examples, for those just learning
>
> These are all good, but, aside from #2 and #3, relatively deep and
> sophisticated.  The simpler aspects that keep driving me back to use Emacs
> even as good IDEs and other tools proliferate, and the reasons I encourage
> others to try it:
>
>     1. Do things that often *can't be done* in other editors:
>        - *everything* from the keyboard
>        - fast, low-overhead keyboard navigation (faster than any IDE)
>        - split windows for multiple spots in file or multiple files
>        - clean, complete l10n handling
>        - regex search/replace
>        - keyboard macros
>
>     2. Do things *more easily* than other editors
>        - discovery: M-x command completion and shortcut hinting (part
>            of self-documenting, means can learn to use keyboard easily)
>        - swiss-army knife: learn once, edit many types of content
>            (rather than dealing with a new tool for every job)
>        - works same on any desktop box
>        - works same on remote *nix machines as in a local desktop
>            (rather than suffering with vi etc.)
>        - emacsclient (big when working with command-line shells in a
>            desktop environment)
>
>     3. Better *customization* than other editors
>        - menu options plus straightforward simple customization
>        - full programmability for complex cases
>        - *easily* migrate customization from environment to environment
>
>
> Overall, due to excellent design philosophy and a highly extensible
> foundation, Emacs delivers an unparalleled environment for focusing on what
> you want to do, rather than spending time fiddling and fighting with your
> tools.
>
>

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