Re: How to get rid of *GNU Emacs* buffer on start-up?

[Kevin Rodgers]

Xah Lee wrote:
> On Sep 19, 7:35 pm, Kevin Rodgers <kevin.d.rodg...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > XahLeewrote:
> > > In summary: the problem with find-file is that it promps user to enter
> > > a file name upfront. The problem with switch-to-buffer is that it
> > > doesn't promp to save when user closes it. In both, the functions are
> > > simply not designed for creating a new temp buffer.
> >
> > Wow, if you had put 1% of the effort into coding that you put into this
> > thread, you could have come up with something like this:
> >
> > (defun switch-to-new-buffer ()
> >    "Switch to a new *scratch* buffer."
> >    (interactive)
> >    (switch-to-buffer (generate-new-buffer "*scratch*"))
> >    (setq switch-to-new-buffer t))
            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sorry, I meant buffer-offer-save.

> > If it's such a huge problem for 99% of users, you could propose to the
> > maintainers that it be added to files.el
>
> Thanks. But the issue is not about how to code a better switch-to-new-
> buffer. The issue is about criticism of *scratch* buffer, and a
> suggestion that emacs should remove it.
>
> Please see:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking

Here's my attempt at critical thinking:

1. You said that find-file and switch-to-buffer each have problems, so I
wrote a new command that has neither problem.  That is called a
solution.

2. You said that neither function is designed for creating a new
temporary buffer.  That is true of find-file, which can create a new
buffer, but a buffer whose contents are to be persisted i.e. not
temporary.  I think switch-to-buffer _is_ designed for creating a new
temporary buffer, just a buffer that has a user-specified name.

3. You contradict yourself to some degree by complaining that temporary
buffers can be killed without prompting the user about whether and under
what name to save them.  I think it would be clearer if you said "empty"
buffer instead of "temporary".

> If you didn't read the original article, please see:
>
> http://xahlee.org/emacs/modernization_scratch_buffer.html

I prefer progress to modernization.

--
Kevin Rodgers
Denver, Colorado, USA