One of the features I particularly like about emacs is its use of modes. A
mode is the way that the editor defines the functionality of a buffer and
the associated set of key bindings that go along with it.
A very simple example is the differences in use of RETURN, line length and
tab positions between a programming language mode and an email mode. I.e.
when writing code one wants certain keywords to be separated by a certain
number of spaces on subsequent lines, and not really care how long the line
length is.
So for example, if I am using emacs in pop11-mode, and write an IF
statement, when I press RETURN it will automatically place my cursor on the
next line at the correct place to start typing (regardless of nesting),
without the need to use TABs or the space bar, eg
if foo > 1 then RETURN
X
(X = cursor position)
Blissful :-)
However when writing email, the line length is critical, and spaces on
subsequent lines are not. It is trivial to temporarily swap modes so that
one can write some code within an email message (I have all my favourite
modes bound into my key map, so I can change them in seconds).
Some questions come to mind: Why are there no modes in ved? (I am unaware of
any drawbacks of having them), and How do I emulate my emacs modes within
ved as it stands at the moment? I would particularly like the pop11-mode, I
get really fed up having to do it manually.
Tim
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Tim Read, Email: tmr@cs.bham.ac.uk, The Attention and Affect Project
Room LG23, School of Computer Science, The University of Birmingham,
B15 2TT, England, Phone: +44-(0)21-414-4766, Fax: +44-(0)21-414-4281
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