4 ms·

On Linux I just type (in sequence): compose - - and it makes an em dash, it takes a quarter of a second longer to produce this. I don't know why the compose

by fao_ 1y ago

On Linux I just type (in sequence): compose - - and it makes an em dash, it takes a quarter of a second longer to produce this. I don't know why the compose key isn't used more often.

whilenot-dev 1y ago
The compose key feels mandatory for anyone who wants to type their native langauge on an US-english layout. The combination[0] is "Compose--." though: – [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compose_key#Common_compose_combinations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compose_key#Common_compose_com...
- teddyh 1y ago
  “Compose--.” produces an en dash, not an em dash. An em dash is produced by “Compose---”. Source: grep -e DASH /usr/share/X11/locale/*/Compose
  - mock-possum 1y ago
    As it should be. I wish this convention were present across more software, “-“ “- -“ and “- - -“ should be the UI norm for entering proper dashes in text input controls.
    - WhyNotHugo 1y ago
      Most software handles this fine if you configure your compositor to use a compose key.
  - fao_ 1y ago
    Whoops, yep that's the one
crabmusket 1y ago
[As an English typer] Where is this compose key on my keyboard? (This is a vaguely Socratic answer to the question of why the compose key is not more often used.)
- layer8 1y ago
  In Vim it's Ctrl+K. ;)
- WhyNotHugo 1y ago
  It’s not mapped to any key by default. A common choice is the right alt key. I wrote a short guide about it last year: https://whynothugo.nl/journal/2024/07/12/typing-non-english-characters/ https://whynothugo.nl/journal/2024/07/12/typing-non-english-...
  - capitainenemo 1y ago
    My personal preference is the capslock key. I'm not using it for anything anyway
- fao_ 1y ago
  As per the wiki article someone else listed — the compose key was available on keyboards back in the 1980s (notably it was invented only 5 years after the Space Cadet keyboard was invented!). Some DOS applications did have support for it. The reason it wasn't included is baffling, and it's especially baffling to me that other operating systems never adopted it, simply because compose a ' is VASTLY more user friendly to type than: alt-+ 1F600 which I have met some windows users who memorize that combo for things like the copyright symbol (which is simply:) compose o c

by fao_ 1y ago

On Linux I just type (in sequence): compose - - and it makes an em dash, it takes a quarter of a second longer to produce this. I don't know why the compose key isn't used more often.

whilenot-dev 1y ago

The compose key feels mandatory for anyone who wants to type their native langauge on an US-english layout. The combination[0] is "Compose--." though: – [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compose_key#Common_compose_combinations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compose_key#Common_compose_com...

teddyh 1y ago
“Compose--.” produces an en dash, not an em dash. An em dash is produced by “Compose---”. Source: grep -e DASH /usr/share/X11/locale/*/Compose
- mock-possum 1y ago
  As it should be. I wish this convention were present across more software, “-“ “- -“ and “- - -“ should be the UI norm for entering proper dashes in text input controls.
  - WhyNotHugo 1y ago
    Most software handles this fine if you configure your compositor to use a compose key.
- fao_ 1y ago
  Whoops, yep that's the one

crabmusket 1y ago

[As an English typer] Where is this compose key on my keyboard? (This is a vaguely Socratic answer to the question of why the compose key is not more often used.)

layer8 1y ago
In Vim it's Ctrl+K. ;)
WhyNotHugo 1y ago
It’s not mapped to any key by default. A common choice is the right alt key. I wrote a short guide about it last year: https://whynothugo.nl/journal/2024/07/12/typing-non-english-characters/ https://whynothugo.nl/journal/2024/07/12/typing-non-english-...
- capitainenemo 1y ago
  My personal preference is the capslock key. I'm not using it for anything anyway
fao_ 1y ago
As per the wiki article someone else listed — the compose key was available on keyboards back in the 1980s (notably it was invented only 5 years after the Space Cadet keyboard was invented!). Some DOS applications did have support for it. The reason it wasn't included is baffling, and it's especially baffling to me that other operating systems never adopted it, simply because compose a ' is VASTLY more user friendly to type than: alt-+ 1F600 which I have met some windows users who memorize that combo for things like the copyright symbol (which is simply:) compose o c