4 ms·

I maintain that if you're not remapping key you shouldn't be using Emacs -- not just to avoid RSI but also because the whole point of a customisable editor is t

I maintain that if you're not remapping key you shouldn't be using Emacs -- not just to avoid RSI but also because the whole point of a customisable editor is to well... customise it to suit you better. Pro tips: - Don't press multiple keys with one hand. If you're pressing Ctrl-A, press the A with your left hand and control with your right hand. - Remap common functions onto function keys. They're easy to press and will give your hands a break. - Look into a Maltron/Kinesis keyboard. I have a Maltron and it pwns hard any other keyboard I've ever used.

kleiba 15y ago
I don't subscribe to your second "pro tip". I find the function keys especially hard to reach, because I have to move my whole hand on an ordinary keyboard, or press that stupid "fn" key on my netbook. But also I'd be interested to hear which functions you put there?! I'm sure you put different functions on the keys depending on the mode, but I couldn't even say which functions I use most often - besides self-insert (haha) probably the navigation commands (C-f, C-b, M-f, M-b C-v, M-v etc.), but I'm sure you mean more specific functions. I do remap mode-specific functions every now and then, so I agree that it can be a good thing. But I usually bind them to C-c something or similar stuff, which I find easy enough to type.
- noelwelsh 15y ago
  I thought people would disagree w/ the use of function keys. Sure they cost a few keystrokes to hit but I don't find the cost that significant; usually I hit something I've mapped to a fn key when my train of thought has come to an end or been interrupted. My global binding are below. M-F9 (compile) is the only one I regularly rebind for different modes. (define-key global-map [f1] 'vc-dir) (define-key global-map [f2] 'undo) (define-key global-map [f3] 'find-file) (define-key global-map [(meta f3)] 'switch-to-buffer) (define-key global-map [f4] 'set-mark-command) (define-key global-map [f5] 'kill-ring-save) (define-key global-map [(meta f5)] 'kill-region) (define-key global-map [f6] 'yank) (define-key global-map [(meta f6)] 'yank-pop) (define-key global-map [f7] 'save-buffer) (define-key global-map [(meta f7)] 'kill-buffer) (define-key global-map [f8] 'start-kbd-macro) (define-key global-map [(meta f8)] 'end-kbd-macro) (define-key global-map [f9] 'execute-extended-command) (define-key global-map [(meta f9)] 'compile) (define-key global-map [f10] 'eval-expression) (define-key global-map [f11] 'shell) (define-key global-map [f12] 'planner-create-task-from-buffer) (define-key global-map [(meta f12)] 'remember)

kleiba 15y ago

I don't subscribe to your second "pro tip". I find the function keys especially hard to reach, because I have to move my whole hand on an ordinary keyboard, or press that stupid "fn" key on my netbook. But also I'd be interested to hear which functions you put there?! I'm sure you put different functions on the keys depending on the mode, but I couldn't even say which functions I use most often - besides self-insert (haha) probably the navigation commands (C-f, C-b, M-f, M-b C-v, M-v etc.), but I'm sure you mean more specific functions. I do remap mode-specific functions every now and then, so I agree that it can be a good thing. But I usually bind them to C-c something or similar stuff, which I find easy enough to type.

noelwelsh 15y ago
I thought people would disagree w/ the use of function keys. Sure they cost a few keystrokes to hit but I don't find the cost that significant; usually I hit something I've mapped to a fn key when my train of thought has come to an end or been interrupted. My global binding are below. M-F9 (compile) is the only one I regularly rebind for different modes. (define-key global-map [f1] 'vc-dir) (define-key global-map [f2] 'undo) (define-key global-map [f3] 'find-file) (define-key global-map [(meta f3)] 'switch-to-buffer) (define-key global-map [f4] 'set-mark-command) (define-key global-map [f5] 'kill-ring-save) (define-key global-map [(meta f5)] 'kill-region) (define-key global-map [f6] 'yank) (define-key global-map [(meta f6)] 'yank-pop) (define-key global-map [f7] 'save-buffer) (define-key global-map [(meta f7)] 'kill-buffer) (define-key global-map [f8] 'start-kbd-macro) (define-key global-map [(meta f8)] 'end-kbd-macro) (define-key global-map [f9] 'execute-extended-command) (define-key global-map [(meta f9)] 'compile) (define-key global-map [f10] 'eval-expression) (define-key global-map [f11] 'shell) (define-key global-map [f12] 'planner-create-task-from-buffer) (define-key global-map [(meta f12)] 'remember)