:: [DNG] Proposed editor change
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Author: Hendrik Boom
Date:  
To: dng
Old-Topics: Re: [DNG] Proposed defaults changes
Subject: [DNG] Proposed editor change
On Wed, Jul 15, 2015 at 11:29:26AM -0400, Rob Owens wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Franco Lanza" <nextime@???>
> > On Wed, Jul 15, 2015 at 09:35:03AM -0400, Rob Owens wrote:
> >> Which is Devuan intended to be?
> >>
> >> 1) Debian without systemd
> >> 2) A Debian-like distro
> >>
> >
> > Nor 1 or 2.
> > Devuan is intended to be a debian that respect:
> > 1- freedom of choice
> > 2- UNIX philosophy
> > 3- KISS philosophy
> >
> > Of course first of all those 3 points make systemd unacceptable. But
> > saying that devuan is just "debian withous systemd" is riductive.
> >
> > traditionally UNIX has vi, this is why i'm suggesting it. No packages
> > needs to be changed at all for this eventual switch, and anyway,
> > as devuan respect the users, this choice isn't an imposition from "the
> > hight", but it's a question to the whole ml userbase to listen pro/cons.
>
> In that case, my next question would be "Do we want to cater to those who
> are new to Linux/Unix?" If yes, then nano is a good choice. If no, then
> vi is a good choice.


It not just Unix newbies that have trouble with vi. It's anyone used
to a editor different from vi.

>
> I don't like using nano, and always install vim, followed by
> 'update-alternatives'. But I remember as a new user being frustrated
> that I couldn't follow a simple how-to because I didn't know how to use
> vi. When I discovered nano, it was a huge relief.


I don't like using nano either, and always install emacs. But I
imagine that to new user, emacs might also be extremely frustrating.
Having nano as default before I've had a chance to install anything
else is a huge relief.

>
> I don't mind defaulting to nano for the sake of new users, even if nano
> isn't what I want to use. I know how to change the defaults. A new
> user does not.


Exactly. Let's not force any editor with a steep learning curve
on the beginner. Is there another editor as easy to *start* using as nano?

And let's not try to impose a one-sided settlement on the vi vs emacs
cotroversy.

-- hendrik

>
> -Rob
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