4 ms·

"Will switching to emacs help me write better software? Solve harder problems?" It will HELP you write better software, yes. Solve harder problems? It will hel

by Rayne 16y ago

"Will switching to emacs help me write better software? Solve harder problems?" It will HELP you write better software, yes. Solve harder problems? It will help you solve harder problems FASTER maybe.

jrockway 16y ago
Indeed. Typing in the actual program text is both the least important task and the most important task. The program text is not what solves your problem, but without the program text, you don't have something you can actually run. Spending less time dealing with the program text is a great way to be able to spend more time thinking or tinkering. A good text editor facilitates this. (And of course, Emacs is more than an editor.)
- cemerick 16y ago
  Brian (the post's author) cited a year before he was proficient in emacs. I spent two months with it myself once, with nothing but frustration to show for it, so I can believe him on that front. That's a huge opportunity cost, when I know I can get the job done efficiently using far more pleasant tools that I already know. Those that want to promote emacs need to come up with real, tangible benefits that I'll be able to realize that will reliably offset that cost and then some. Rainbow parens aren't going to cut it. (That's an honest challenge, FWIW, despite the seasoning of snark. ;-))
  - jrockway 16y ago
    Nobody wants to promote Emacs. The users are just so happy that they feel the need to share the experience. Example: I have an expensive keyboard imported from Japan. When I tell people about it (and let them try it), they order one immediately or they come up with some reason why they don't like it and then want to have an argument? But I don't care! I'm not in the business of selling keyboards, I'm just a happy user. Buy one, don't buy one, it's all the same with me. Emacs is the same way. Everything I've needed in Emacs I've written myself. Other like-minded people have written other things I like. More users would mean more extensions, but it doesn't really matter, there are already enough. So if you want to use Notepad, knock yourself out. It's your life.

by Rayne 16y ago

jrockway 16y ago

Indeed. Typing in the actual program text is both the least important task and the most important task. The program text is not what solves your problem, but without the program text, you don't have something you can actually run. Spending less time dealing with the program text is a great way to be able to spend more time thinking or tinkering. A good text editor facilitates this. (And of course, Emacs is more than an editor.)

cemerick 16y ago
Brian (the post's author) cited a year before he was proficient in emacs. I spent two months with it myself once, with nothing but frustration to show for it, so I can believe him on that front. That's a huge opportunity cost, when I know I can get the job done efficiently using far more pleasant tools that I already know. Those that want to promote emacs need to come up with real, tangible benefits that I'll be able to realize that will reliably offset that cost and then some. Rainbow parens aren't going to cut it. (That's an honest challenge, FWIW, despite the seasoning of snark. ;-))
- jrockway 16y ago
  Nobody wants to promote Emacs. The users are just so happy that they feel the need to share the experience. Example: I have an expensive keyboard imported from Japan. When I tell people about it (and let them try it), they order one immediately or they come up with some reason why they don't like it and then want to have an argument? But I don't care! I'm not in the business of selling keyboards, I'm just a happy user. Buy one, don't buy one, it's all the same with me. Emacs is the same way. Everything I've needed in Emacs I've written myself. Other like-minded people have written other things I like. More users would mean more extensions, but it doesn't really matter, there are already enough. So if you want to use Notepad, knock yourself out. It's your life.