🚀 go-pugleaf

Eystein Dugstad writes

> What features does Emacs have that Edit doesn't? Should
> I check it out or is it better to stick with Edit.

GNU Emacs (the One True Emacs (TM)) has a *full* Lisp
interpreter inside, along with many predefined editing
functions.  It also has command-keys up the wazoo, and
that can be it's biggest problem and it's greatest
feature.

For example, I have a Lisp function, automatically loaded
at startup time, called make-numbered-shell, invoked
through the sequence '/C-x 4 s'.  That's a cryptic
example, admittedly, but when you've been working with
Emacs for a while and have a *long* init file, with many
functions, you begin to run out of unused command keys.

If you aren't feeling cramped with the basic capabilities
of Edit, and learning gobs of command keys doesn't excite
you, stick with Edit.  If having total control of the
universe (or at least your edit file) sounds like your
idea of a good editor, get Emacs.

There are rumors around the Emacs isn't user friendly -
nothing is farther from the truth.  '/C-h i' gets you
the Info panel, and you can get a short tutorial - or
learn the whole thing in one day if that's what you want.
'/C-h a' lets you type in part of a function name, and
seek for all functions containing that function. '/C-h
h' gets you basic help-for-help.

[Ya know what I wish?  That Edit had dynamically loaded
modules allowed to handle key sequences and a set of text
processing methods so that I could do the same things in
Edit and Obj-C that I can do in Emacs and Lisp. :-) ]

Scott Byer                                   NeXTMail: byer@adobe.com
Adobe Systems Incorporated               These are *my* opinions, and  
1585 Charleston Road, P.O. Box 7900        do not necessarily reflect
Mountain View, CA 94039-7900             the opinions of my employer.
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