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What is the case where you need to type lots of spaces? Usually tab is a better fit for this (not the tab character, but the tab button on the keyboard).
by sneak 3y ago
What is the case where you need to type lots of spaces? Usually tab is a better fit for this (not the tab character, but the tab button on the keyboard).
- JohnFen 3y agoTypically, formatting plain text documents that aren't source code. I also want to use the tab key to make a tab character, though. I suppose that I could reprogram the tab key so that holding it down repeats spaces, but that's straying too far afield for my tastes. I can see how this scheme would be excellent for some, but for me, I'm pretty sure that I'd be happier making the fn key something else.
- adrian_b 3y agoFor that, I prefer to configure the editor to convert tabs into spaces, so I still use the tab key, as this is faster.
- JohnFen 3y agoI don't always use the same editor, and some of the editors I use can't be configured like that. But I'm curious -- what do you do when you want tabs?
- sneak 3y agoI never want tabs in my files, as tabs render inconsistently across viewing apps. Tab characters are like nondeterministic spaces, so why would I use them? Some things require tabs, like Makefiles. My editor (vim) is smart enough to know this when editing a Makefile and do the right thing.