Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 05:42:43 -0500
Message-Id: <199903231042.FAA17614@mescaline.gnu.org>
From: Eli Zaretskii <eliz AT gnu DOT org>
To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
In-reply-to: <fycflpbqrpbz.f8zkbx1.pminews@nntp.generation.net>
	(sl AT psycode DOT com)
Subject: Re: EMACS is superb
References:  <fycflpbqrpbz DOT f8zkbx1 DOT pminews AT nntp DOT generation DOT net>
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   From: sl AT psycode DOT com (sl)

	   How does it make sense that in order to record a macro you have to
   type in approx 3 "shortcut keys" and in order to use the macro you have to
   type 2 "shortcut keys"

I could ask you why the macro feature is at all relevant to this.  I'm
using Emacs for 15 years, and exclusively for about 6 years, and I
don't think I used keyboard macros more than 5 times in all that time.

Extensive use of keyboard macros usually means that you are not using
the right tool for the job.  Macros are only good for highly
repetitive tasks for which there is no command in Emacs (if there is a
command, you can repeat it any number of times by just invoking it
with a numeric argument, right?).  Most of such tasks are not for
Emacs, they are for Sed or similar batch-oriented tools.  Using Emacs
to do 10000 mundane text editings is like using a sledgehammer to kill
a flea.

   .. there's nothing short/easy about them.. I highly
   dislike how EMACS uses ctrl-this or that for EVERY key.. it's UGLY

You can always use the menu bar if you don't like the shortcuts.
Personally, I'd wonder why would a serious programmer ever
want to use the menubar, but they are there if you need them.