Re: POLL: make C-x o transient

[Gregory Heytings]

> > > It is to bind C-= to the existing "repeat" command,
> >
> > FWIW, I agree that `repeat` deserves a single-key bindings.
> > But I don't think `C-=` can be it, and I don't have a counter-offer.
>
> 1. Why is it important to save one keystroke, just to initiate 
> repetition?
>
> What's important is to be able to repeat using a simple, single 
> keystroke.  But to initiate repetition it's not important to use a 
> single keystroke (IMO).

As I already said twice, it is important because otherwise you cannot 
change the prefix argument between two repetitions, which is a very useful 
(it not necessary) feature for a repeat command.  Suppose you have repeat 
bound on C-=.  Say you have ten frames, you want to switch to another one, 
you type C-x 5 o C-= C-= C-= C-= C-= C-=, and you realize that you pressed 
'=' once too much: you just have to type C-- C-=, without even releasing 
the control modifier, and you're in the frame you wanted.

Another reason (mentioned by Sean Whitton) is that repeating with the last 
key of a keystroke leads to commands being called when what you want to do 
is to type the character.  With what you suggest, say you have two windows 
side-by-side, you want to shrink the current window a bit, you type C-u 
C-x {, and you now want to type '{': you have to remind that you need to 
quit the transient keymap with C-g before typing '{'.

> 2. That said, for _specific commands_, which are already bound to keys, 
> I think it's very helpful for some such commands to themselves be 
> repeatable.

That requires a lot more changes: it is necessary to adapt each individual 
command, including user-defined commands, to make it repeatable.