Re: transient

[Arthur Miller]

Drew Adams <address@hidden> writes:

>> >>> I like it very much because it helps see the rationale behind
>> >>> keybinding. After a while you get to learn the bindings for the
>> >>> commands you use the most and you can easily explore
>> >>> new commands.
>> 
>> ... which-key let's me explore existing bindings with
>> no effort.  Type C-x r and wait a second and see all
>> the rectangle and register commands. It was great for
>> learning the M-s and M-g keymaps when they were added.
>> which-key has been very helpful for learning bindings...
>
> FWIW -
>
> Icicles key completion is similar, but there are
> notable differences:
>
> 1. You can use it on-demand (as well as just
>    automatically) - complete only when you want
>    to, and without a delay.
>
> 2. Because of that you can also use it at top
>    level, not just after hitting a prefix key.
>    Use it to see what key bindings are available
>    in the current context (e.g. active modes).
>
> 3. Completion candidates have 2 parts: key and
>    command name: `KEY  =  COMMAND'.  You can
>    match either or both.  Prefix keys have `...'
>    instead of `COMMAND: `PREFIX-KEY  =  ...'.
>
> 4. Choosing a candidate with a COMMAND invokes
>    it.  Choosing a prefix-key candidate changes
>    the set of candidates to its completions.
>    E.g., choosing `C-h  =  ...' shows candidates
>    such as `f  =  describe-function'.
>
> 5. You can filter the current matches, by typing
>    input that matches key or command names, or
>    both.  You can filter multiple times (multiple
>    patterns).  Remove your current pattern from
>    the minibuffer and type another one to see a
>    different set of matches at the same level
>    (same prefix key or top level).
>
> 6. When completing a prefix key, the first
>    candidate shown is `..', which you can choose
>    to go back up a level (completions above that
>    prefix key).  Then you can go down another
>    prefix key - explore the entire key-sequence
>    forest.
>
> 7. That forest includes menus, as prefix-key
>    candidates (`menu-bar  = ...').  So you can
>    explore menus in the same way. [*]
>
> 8. You can sort candidates in these ways:
>
>     * local bindings first, then non-local, each
>       group in alphabetic order by key name
>     * prefix keys first, then non-prefix, again,
>       in key-name alphabetic order
>     * alphabetic order by command name
>
>    You can cycle among those sort orders anytime,
>    using `C-,'.
>
> 9. Local bindings are highlighted differently
>    from non-local - two faces.  Menus get two
>    other faces (local, non-local).
>
> 10. You can show full help (`C-h f' help) for
>     any candidate, anytime, without ending
>     completion.  (Use `C-M-RET' on it.)
>
> 11. Being able to match minibuffer input against
>    key and command names means that, unlike the
>    approach of `which-key' and similar, when
>    completing a prefix key you don't just hit
>    keys that complete the key sequence, to
>    invoke its command.  A workaround for that is
>    to hit `M-q' and then hit a key, to insert
>    its name in the minibuffer and then choose it.
>    E.g., `M-q C-M-f' inserts the text `C-M-f' in
>    the minibuffer.
> _____
>
> [*] Exploring menu-bar menus this way is one
>     step (menu level) at a time, the same as
>     exploring other key sequences.  A better way
>     to explore menu-bar menus is to use library
>     La Carte.  Then you can match menu items or
>     submenus directly, at any level.  I.e., you
>     can type a single pattern that dives down
>     into the menu hierarchy - like file-name
>     completion.  (But you can also navigate
>     stepwise.)
I haven't used Icicles yet, but seen this list, maybe I
should give it a try and see if I can use it instead of which-key. Can
Icicles be used without any additional learning and as easy as
which-key? Which-key is kind-of "just works", one installs it and it does
what it does without additional effort on user side. Is "automatic"
feature of Icicles in same manner?

Regression, but I have to say, I am impressed Drew. With how much you
have written. I went yesterday through your changelog for Dired+. Just
reading the changelog and thinking though the extra features you have
there took quite some time I have to say. What spontaneously to look
usefull is marking/toggeling/untoggling files per region only. That
seems like a usefull feature. Maybe you should try to get that part into
standard Dired?