Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by ParetoOptimal 906 days ago
Warning: This turned into a pretty long response somehow

Doesn't cua mode kind of break the keybindings of emacs?

For instance I use:

- C-c C-c

- C-c C-e

Maybe those get moved to some other prefix?

Also I get the argument that C-v in emacs for paste would be nice, but doesn't that make it harder for you to discover yank-pop aka C-y M-y?

The problem to me it seems with using cua-mode medium or long term is not thinking in the system and patterns of emacs.

I assume if one doesn't want to learn different copy paste commands, they also probably don't want to read emacs high quality info manuals which impart deep understanding well.

EDIT: I found a good discussion on this.

Question:

> CUA mode is very close to the workflow I am used to outside Emacs, so I am tempted to activate it.

> But I have learned that Emacs may have useful gems hidden in its ways, and CUA mode seems something that was attached later on.

Parts of response:

> In short, what you “lose” is the added complexity to the key use. Following is more detailed explanation.

> Emacs C-x is prefix key for general commands, and C-c is prefix key of current major mode's commands.

> CUA mode uses C-x for cut and C-c for copy. In order to avoid conflict, cua uses some tricks. Specifically, when there's text selection (that is, region active), then these keys acts as cut and copy.

> But, sometimes emacs commands work differently depending on whether there's a text selection. For example, comment-dwim will act on a text selection if there's one, else just current line. (when you have transient-mark-mode on.) This is a very nice feature introduced since emacs 23 (in year 2009). It means, for many commands, you don't have to first make a selection.

full response: https://emacs.stackexchange.com/a/26878

I suppose it all hinges upon your response to reading this:

> CUA mode is very close to the workflow I am used to outside Emacs,

My response: Workflow outside of emacs?! How can we fix that? Outside of emacs I'm in danger of hearing "you have no power here!".

Typical response: Why can't emacs be more like other programs so I can more easily use it from time to time?