Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread Lawrence D'Oliveiro
In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Roy Smith wrote:

 Likewise for the source control (CVS, SVN, P4, etc) integrations [in
 emacs].

Discovered that by accident today. Had a conflicted update in Subversion,
fixed it up, saved the file, switched to a terminal window, typed svn
status, and lo and behold, the conflict had vanished (along with the .mine
and .rnn files).

I assume it was Emacs doing that, and not a side-effect of the svn status
command. :)
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread Richard Riley
Roy Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

 Clay Hobbs [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 The first real text editor I used was Vim, which I actually started
 using about a year ago.  I've looked at Emacs and it just looks
 confusing.

 I've been using emacs for so many years (um let's see, it's got to be close 
 to 25 years now; first saw it on Columbia's TOPS-20 systems in the early 
 80's) that my fingers know what they're doing without my even thinking 
 about it.  In fact, I used to work with another emacs nut.  Every so often, 
 one of use would watch the other do something and ask, What was that?.  
 Inevitably, neither of us could evoke the keystrokes we had just typed.  We 
 would just re-do it, and watch our fingers to see what we typed.  It didn't 
 even have to be on a keyboard; we could air-type it, and that was good 
 enough.

 In any case, the basic logic behind emacs is pretty simple.  C-F is forward 
 one character.  C-B is back one character.  C-N is Next line.  C-P is 
 Previous line.

It's worth pointing out to people making loony signs here that the
arrow keys work too 
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread Duncan Booth
Roy Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Clay Hobbs [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 The first real text editor I used was Vim, which I actually started
 using about a year ago.  I've looked at Emacs and it just looks
 confusing.
 
 I've been using emacs for so many years (um let's see, it's got to be
 close to 25 years now; first saw it on Columbia's TOPS-20 systems in
 the early 80's) that my fingers know what they're doing without my
 even thinking about it.  In fact, I used to work with another emacs
 nut.  Every so often, one of use would watch the other do something
 and ask, What was that?.  Inevitably, neither of us could evoke the
 keystrokes we had just typed.  We would just re-do it, and watch our
 fingers to see what we typed.  It didn't even have to be on a
 keyboard; we could air-type it, and that was good enough.
 
I also started using Emacs about 25 years ago, but then when I moved to 
using DOS machines which at the time weren't capable of running Emacs I 
suffered withdrawal symptoms until I found Epsilon (http://lugaru.com) 
which started life as an Emacs style editor on DOS.

I still use Epsilon today, even when I'm using Linux: it isn't free 
software in any sense of the word, but I find that a lot of the things I 
use it for it actually does better than Emacs. If you are willing to 
consider paying for an editor then download the evaluation copy of Epsilon 
and give it a go.

-- 
Duncan Booth http://kupuguy.blogspot.com
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread Nick Craig-Wood
Josh [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  If you were a beginning programmer and willing to make an investment in 
  steep learning curve for best returns down the road, which would you pick?

IMHO I'd want these features

  * Keyboard macros
  * Regular expression search and replace
  * Integration with version control
  * Infinite undo
  * Syntax colouring (not essential)
  * Bracket matching (useful but not essential)
  * Integration with compiler with error throwback (essential for C code work)
  * Automatic indenting (a great time saver)

I know that emacs (my choice) and vim have all these features, don't
know about Eclipse.

In fact if I had to pick one feature that a programmer's editor must
have it would be keyboard macros.

-- 
Nick Craig-Wood [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- http://www.craig-wood.com/nick
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread Roy Smith
In article [EMAIL PROTECTED],
 Richard Riley [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Roy Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
 
  Clay Hobbs [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  The first real text editor I used was Vim, which I actually started
  using about a year ago.  I've looked at Emacs and it just looks
  confusing.
 
  I've been using emacs for so many years (um let's see, it's got to be close 
  to 25 years now; first saw it on Columbia's TOPS-20 systems in the early 
  80's) that my fingers know what they're doing without my even thinking 
  about it.  In fact, I used to work with another emacs nut.  Every so often, 
  one of use would watch the other do something and ask, What was that?.  
  Inevitably, neither of us could evoke the keystrokes we had just typed.  We 
  would just re-do it, and watch our fingers to see what we typed.  It didn't 
  even have to be on a keyboard; we could air-type it, and that was good 
  enough.
 
  In any case, the basic logic behind emacs is pretty simple.  C-F is forward 
  one character.  C-B is back one character.  C-N is Next line.  C-P is 
  Previous line.
 
 It's worth pointing out to people making loony signs here that the
 arrow keys work too 

Yeah, I guess.  I use the arrows keys to mindlessly scroll around in a 
file, especially when I just want to show some code to somebody.  It serves 
two purposes.  First, I can lean way back from the keyboard and reach out 
with one hand (giving the other person better visibility).  Second, it 
makes it easier for a non-emacs person to jump in and drive for a while 
(they saw me use the arrow keys and do the same, no explanations needed).

For any serious editing, however, it's strictly the keys on the main part 
of the keyboard.  It's just so much faster when your hands never have to 
leave their home position.  To use the arrow keys, I need to pick my hand 
up and move it over to the arrow key cluster.  Slow, slow, slow.
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread Roy Smith
In article [EMAIL PROTECTED],
 Nick Craig-Wood [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

   * Syntax colouring (not essential)

I never used to use syntax coloring, until somebody turned me on to it a 
couple of years ago.  I was griping on a company mailing list that some 
previous code monkey had commented out a big swath (more than a screenfull) 
of C++ code by sticking a /* at the beginning and a */ at the end.  I 
had just wasted a bunch of time trying to debug a problem, not noticing 
that the code I was looking at was commented out.  Somebody pointed out 
that if I turned on syntax coloring, it would be obvious.  I've been hooked 
ever since.
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread Richard Riley
Roy Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

 In article [EMAIL PROTECTED],
  Richard Riley [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Roy Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
 
  Clay Hobbs [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  The first real text editor I used was Vim, which I actually started
  using about a year ago.  I've looked at Emacs and it just looks
  confusing.
 
  I've been using emacs for so many years (um let's see, it's got to be 
  close 
  to 25 years now; first saw it on Columbia's TOPS-20 systems in the early 
  80's) that my fingers know what they're doing without my even thinking 
  about it.  In fact, I used to work with another emacs nut.  Every so 
  often, 
  one of use would watch the other do something and ask, What was that?.  
  Inevitably, neither of us could evoke the keystrokes we had just typed.  
  We 
  would just re-do it, and watch our fingers to see what we typed.  It 
  didn't 
  even have to be on a keyboard; we could air-type it, and that was good 
  enough.
 
  In any case, the basic logic behind emacs is pretty simple.  C-F is 
  forward 
  one character.  C-B is back one character.  C-N is Next line.  C-P is 
  Previous line.
 
 It's worth pointing out to people making loony signs here that the
 arrow keys work too 

 Yeah, I guess.  I use the arrows keys to mindlessly scroll around in a 
 file, especially when I just want to show some code to somebody.  It serves 
 two purposes.  First, I can lean way back from the keyboard and reach out 
 with one hand (giving the other person better visibility).  Second, it 
 makes it easier for a non-emacs person to jump in and drive for a while 
 (they saw me use the arrow keys and do the same, no explanations needed).

 For any serious editing, however, it's strictly the keys on the main part 
 of the keyboard.  It's just so much faster when your hands never have to 
 leave their home position.  To use the arrow keys, I need to pick my hand 
 up and move it over to the arrow key cluster.  Slow, slow, slow.

Have to disagree. I could never use C-f etc. If I want to navigate the
cursor its generally to browse and the 10th of a second it takes to rest
hand on the cursor pad is immaterial in the time compared to sit  back
and read the code.

I find the reference to using control keys to naviaget code character
and line at time leads to more people abandoning emacs than you would
believe. All it needs is a cursor keys or, for hardcore types, the
following key sequences.

Still. all to their own.


-- 
 important and urgent problems of the technology of today are no longer the 
satisfactions of the primary needs or of archetypal wishes, but the reparation 
of the evils and damages by the technology of yesterday.  ~Dennis Gabor, 
Innovations:  Scientific, Technological and Social, 1970
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread Slaunger
On 29 Nov., 21:44, Josh [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 If you were a beginning programmer and willing to make an investment in
 steep learning curve for best returns down the road, which would you pick?

 I know this topic has been smashed around a bit already, but 'learning
 curve' always seems to be an arguement. If you feel that one is easier
 or harder than the others to learn feel free to tell, but let's not make
 that the deciding factor. Which one will be most empowering down the
 road as a development tool?

 Thanks in advance,

 JR

Many have written that they have no experience with using Eclipse.

Well, I have a little, and I just want to add my experience.

I am a novice Python programmer and I use Eclipse with the PyDev and
SubClipse
extensions which gives me a Python environment and integration with
Subversion,
which is the version control system I use. My OS is Windows XP and
Server 2003.

Other people are working on the same project using either eclipse on a
linux box
or another editor of choice.

Eclipse works very well for me. The facilities I like are:
* A handy object browser which lets be jump into the part of the code
I am interested in
 (I work with several, quite large modules).
* Autocompletion: When I write . it gives me a suggestion of the
methods/attributes available
  and the doc string (if available) is shown as a tool tip. It can
autogenerate a generic signature
  for a method call with the attribute names prefilled. Very handy as
I quite often forget the order
  of arguments.
* Unit tests: It is quite convenient to write and run unit tests in
the environment (unittest run targets)
* Refactoring: Intelligent rename for instance is handy for renaming
methods and attributes across modules
* Debugger: I debugger environment which works well for me with
watchlists, step-into, step over.
* Chroma-coded
* Auto-indentation
* Macros for block commenting, indenting and unindenting.
* Nice integrated diff toll which integrates well with subversion.
* And tons of other things which I have not explored yet. Like a
coverage run target for instance.
* Some Syntax checking

I am personally satisfied with the startup time and overall
responsiveness of Eclipse, but users of Emacs/Vim
may have other bars for responsiveness than me.

Sometimes I experience some problems with cascading inexplicable
errors ocurring in the IDE when running unit test suites.
This is annoying and they do not occur when I run the tests stand-
alone outside on the command line.

This IDE works well for me. I do not have an opinion about how it
works in comparison with Emacs and Vim,
just wanted to give my opinion on Eclipse and Python as this had not
been discussed so much.

On the prestige level it is certainly not considered as cool to use
Eclipse as Emacs/Vim where I am working.
I often hear the opinion that you are not a proper coder/hacker is you
do not master any of these classic editors.

I also think it depends much upon your coding style. Personally I
spend much more time thinking on how to implement
this-and-that, than actually coding. That may reflect that I am still
a novice Python Programmer.

-- Slaunger
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread Peter Anderson
What I have done is skipped the whole Vim/Emacs obscure editor thing and 
opted for PyScripter (see 
http://mmm-experts.com/Products.aspx?ProductID=4 ). It might not be as 
complete/complex as these other editors but it is easy to use and just 
lets me get on with the task of cutting code.


As a fall-back I also use EditPlus (see 
http://www.editplus.com/index.html ). Its only for Windows and its 
shareware so you need to pay for it. Its clip library makes it a VERY 
GOOD text editor. It's a real shame there are NO text editors with such 
a comprehensive and easy to modify clip library function (I would be 
really pleased to be proven wrong on this last point :-) ).


However, the best advice I think that can be given about editors is keep 
trying them until you find the one YOU like. We all like different 
things, especially when it comes to editors.


Regards,
Peter
--
*Peter Anderson*
There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to 
conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the 
introduction of a new order of things—Niccolo Machiavelli, /The Prince/, 
ch. 6

--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread Stef Mientki

Peter Anderson wrote:
What I have done is skipped the whole Vim/Emacs obscure editor thing 
and opted for PyScripter (see 
http://mmm-experts.com/Products.aspx?ProductID=4 ). It might not be as 
complete/complex as these other editors but it is easy to use and just 
lets me get on with the task of cutting code.
if it works it's a fair good editor, but if it doesn't (I have to 
restart the editor about each hour) ...


As a fall-back I also use EditPlus (see 
http://www.editplus.com/index.html ). Its only for Windows

but PyScripter is also only for windows ;-)
and its shareware so you need to pay for it. Its clip library makes it 
a VERY GOOD text editor. It's a real shame there are NO text editors 
with such a comprehensive and easy to modify clip library function (I 
would be really pleased to be proven wrong on this last point :-) ).

What so great about it ?
I use a template manager, written in pure python, works under any OS 
(where Python is installed) and can be used with any text editor and is 
open source and completely free. I think it has at least the same 
capabilities as the Komodo clip library.

Somewhere in the middle of the following page are a few notes:
 http://mientki.ruhosting.nl/data_www/pylab_works/pw_code_editor.html
and you can find the sources here:
 http://code.google.com/p/pylab-works/downloads/list



However, the best advice I think that can be given about editors is 
keep trying them until you find the one YOU like. We all like 
different things, especially when it comes to editors.



+1

cheers,
Stef


--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread Ben Finney
Peter Anderson [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

 What I have done is skipped the whole Vim/Emacs obscure editor thing
 and opted for PyScripter

PyScripter is not obscure, compared to Emacs and Vim?

I think I need a new ironometer.

-- 
 \  “I went to a garage sale. ‘How much for the garage?’ ‘It's not |
  `\for sale.’” —Steven Wright |
_o__)  |
Ben Finney
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread Craig Allen
I would never tell someone what editor to use in the same way I
wouldn't tell someone what religion to believe in.  Which is to say, I
would tell my kids or other trusting soul... I used emacs for years, I
was eventually convinced to start using nedit, which is quite nice.
For an IDE, which I need for GUI debugging more than all the other
sometimes-nice bells and whistles, I use WingIDE and have found it
pretty cool but not free.  In terms of using it, it's much like any
IDE these days and I think learning one is a good platform for
learning how IDEs tend to work in general, at least until something
genuinely different comes along in that space.

I would say a beginner willing to face a learning curve should make
sure they know how to edit their project outside of the IDE,
understand something about how the IDE makes their project, and so on.
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread [EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Nov 29, 3:44 pm, Josh [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 If you were a beginning programmer and willing to make an investment in
 steep learning curve for best returns down the road, which would you pick?

 I know this topic has been smashed around a bit already, but 'learning
 curve' always seems to be an arguement. If you feel that one is easier
 or harder than the others to learn feel free to tell, but let's not make
 that the deciding factor. Which one will be most empowering down the
 road as a development tool?

I'd strongly recommend not using an IDE but going with federated
tools; this makes it easier to pick the editor, code navigation tool,
build system, etc that you like best, and makes it easier to swap out
one piece at a time if you don't like it.  So of the choices
mentioned, I'd go with emacs or vim if I were you.

Personally I also find high value in picking an editor that can be run
on a command-line terminal connection (e.g. when you're ssh'd into a
remote server), but that may be less important depending on what sort
of development you are doing.
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread Mario Testinori
On Mon, 1 Dec 2008 15:57:17 -0800 (PST), [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

On Nov 29, 3:44 pm, Josh [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 If you were a beginning programmer and willing to make an investment in
 steep learning curve for best returns down the road, which would you pick?

 I know this topic has been smashed around a bit already, but 'learning
 curve' always seems to be an arguement. If you feel that one is easier
 or harder than the others to learn feel free to tell, but let's not make
 that the deciding factor. Which one will be most empowering down the
 road as a development tool?

I'd strongly recommend not using an IDE but going with federated
tools; this makes it easier to pick the editor, code navigation tool,
build system, etc that you like best, and makes it easier to swap out
one piece at a time if you don't like it.  So of the choices
mentioned, I'd go with emacs or vim if I were you.

I'd say this has another advantage, that someone already mentioned -
better learning the process that goes behind the gui of an ide.
After all, an ide is just a frontend to something ...


Personally I also find high value in picking an editor that can be run
on a command-line terminal connection (e.g. when you're ssh'd into a
remote server), but that may be less important depending on what sort
of development you are doing.

True, the value of this could vary from critical to not important at
all.

-- Mario
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-12-01 Thread Peter Anderson

Stef asked:

/
// As a fall-back I also use EditPlus (see 
// http://www.editplus.com/index.html ). Its only for Windows

/but PyScripter is also only for windows ;-)
/ and its shareware so you need to pay for it. Its clip library makes it 
// a VERY GOOD text editor. It's a real shame there are NO text editors 
// with such a comprehensive and easy to modify clip library function (I 
// would be really pleased to be proven wrong on this last point :-) ).

/What so great about it ?

I think you would really need to try it.  As I said yesterday,
I find the clip library really very useful; its simple to use
and easy to create/extend.

Here is a short piece of clip library from a HTML clip lib:

#T=Bold
b^!/b
#T=Italic
i^!/i
#T=Underline text
span class=underline^!/span
#T=Superscript (end note)
sup^!/sup
#T=Code fragment
code^!/code
#T=Highligt text - yellow
span class=highlight^!/span
#T=Centre text
div align=center
^!
/div

Only the text on the line after the T# appears in the clip lib side panel.
Double click on the text label and EditPlus inserts the clip text into the
document being edited.  The ^! is where the cursor sits after the clip
insertion.  Clips can be inserted around existing text.

Very neat; if you use Windows its really worth a try.

Regards,
Peter

--
*Peter Anderson*
There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to 
conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the 
introduction of a new order of things—Niccolo Machiavelli, /The Prince/, 
ch. 6

--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-30 Thread Francesco Bochicchio
On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:44:14 -0800, Josh wrote:

 If you were a beginning programmer and willing to make an investment in 
 steep learning curve for best returns down the road, which would you pick?
 
Honestly, I would invest my time and energy in someting more significant
than editor skills.

In twenty+ years of programming I have used all three environments and
many others, and I never found them critically important for my job. Sure
a good editor and/or IDE can make your life easier. And a bad one can make
you suffer - but then you just switch ... But at the end of the day they
are just tools, and IMO not the most important ones in the toolchain that
you have to use to do your job.

Ciao
---
FB

--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-30 Thread Ant
On Nov 29, 8:44 pm, Josh [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 If you were a beginning programmer and willing to make an investment in
 steep learning curve for best returns down the road, which would you pick?

Personally I'd choose Vim for the following reasons:

1) Vim is ubiquitous on Linux/Unix servers. If you learn Vim you will
be able to edit files on a server without doing the FTP to local
machine/edit locally/upload back by ftp dance I see so many
developers and even sys admins doing...
2) Vim is a proper editor. Eclipse is an IDE. They are really
incomparable. I personally hate working in Eclipse, but the IDE
features make it the obvious choice for Java development. I prefer Vim
for Python development. I also have Vim set up as an external editor
in Eclipse, so any repetitive or difficult editing in Eclipse is done
in Vim.
3) Vim makes it simple to cut log files down to size. The g command is
a godsend for this. :g/DEBUG/d will for example remove all debug lines
from the file. :g!/My message/d will delete all lines other than lines
containing My message, and :g/./norm dt- will delete everything up
until the first '-' (normal mode, delete 'till '-'). Combine these and
you'll have the info you want, formatted in the way you want it very
quickly.
4) Vim can be scripted in Python, and has a host of useful plugins.
5) Vim has close interaction with the command line (though no built-in
console like emacs). Finished editing a file? type :!svn commit -m
Done fixing this % and the current file (%) is committed into
subversion. :%!sort will filter the current buffer through an external
sort program, and change the buffer to the result.

Now emacs will also satisfy points 2-5 (not sure how easy 3 is, but
I'm certain it's comparable). In fact emacs will initially have a
lower learning curve, since it its not modal, and so wihout learning
any keystrokes, you can use it just like a basic editor and gradually
learn the commands.

(1) for me is a compelling reason to use vim all other things being
equal. Also, if you touch type, or aspire to, then Vim makes more
sense than emacs, since almost everything can be done from the main
keys, rather than emacs CTL-ALT-SHIFT x u type key contortions...

Certainly don't bother with Eclipse unless your starting as a Java
programmer (and even then learn vim as well) - it is very good at
inserting boilerplate code for you, but as an editor offers little
more than Windows Notepad...

I personally use Gvim for a great deal of my work, from those taskd

--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-30 Thread Jeremiah Dodds
There is, as other people have pointed out, no correct answer to this
question, other that use a few different editors, and settle on what you
like.

I personally use emacs. In fact, I use emacs for a lot more than just
editing code.

The reason I found myself really liking emacs was because I'm the type of
person who likes to be able to really customize whatever I'm using to my
tastes - emacs is _meant_ to be customized, and although the learning curve
is steep (especially if you have no previous exposure to lisps), it is
possible to be tearing emacs apart to fit your tastes within a few weeks to
a month of using it.

If you're the same type of person, you'll probably enjoy emacs.

I do advocate learning a powerful text editor, because the reward for
spending a lot of time learning one is very great. The only editors I'm
aware of that stand out from the crowd as being more powerful than the mass
of other editors are emacs and vim - but then again, I don't have much
experience with newer editors (for instance, Eclipse is a lot more
extensible than I previously thought that it was).

A word of warning is in order though - if you _do_ decide to spend the time
learning a powerful text editor off the bat in your journey as a programmer,
prepare to be _extremely_ frustrated for a while. It may be more prudent to
stick with editors that have an interface that you're used to (but support
syntax highlighting, auto-indentation, etc) than to jump into the unknown. A
little bit of programming experience can make understanding editors like vim
and emacs a lot easier than otherwise.
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-30 Thread Clay Hobbs

On Sat, 2008-11-29 at 12:44 -0800, Josh wrote:
 If you were a beginning programmer and willing to make an investment in 
 steep learning curve for best returns down the road, which would you pick?
 
 I know this topic has been smashed around a bit already, but 'learning 
 curve' always seems to be an arguement. If you feel that one is easier 
 or harder than the others to learn feel free to tell, but let's not make 
 that the deciding factor. Which one will be most empowering down the 
 road as a development tool?
 
 Thanks in advance,
 
 JR
 

The first real text editor I used was Vim, which I actually started
using about a year ago.  I've looked at Emacs and it just looks
confusing.  It has key commands with key modifiers to do simple tasks
(such as moving the cursor to the left).  I used Eclipse for a while,
but for programming in Python it really has no advantage over Vim, so
back I went.  Vim doesn't really have a steep learning curve, of course
I used vimtutor to help me learn it.  Anyway, play around with all
three, and see which you like best.

--Ratfink

--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-30 Thread Roy Smith
Clay Hobbs [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 The first real text editor I used was Vim, which I actually started
 using about a year ago.  I've looked at Emacs and it just looks
 confusing.

I've been using emacs for so many years (um let's see, it's got to be close 
to 25 years now; first saw it on Columbia's TOPS-20 systems in the early 
80's) that my fingers know what they're doing without my even thinking 
about it.  In fact, I used to work with another emacs nut.  Every so often, 
one of use would watch the other do something and ask, What was that?.  
Inevitably, neither of us could evoke the keystrokes we had just typed.  We 
would just re-do it, and watch our fingers to see what we typed.  It didn't 
even have to be on a keyboard; we could air-type it, and that was good 
enough.

In any case, the basic logic behind emacs is pretty simple.  C-F is forward 
one character.  C-B is back one character.  C-N is Next line.  C-P is 
Previous line.

The original concept was that changing the control modifier to meta, or 
shift-meta, or control-x, etc, would do the same basic thing but to 
increasingly larger units of text (forward one word, forward one sentence, 
forward one paragraph, and do on).

So, you had a bunch of basic operations (cursor movements, deleting, 
transposing, and so on), and a bunch of orthogonal prefixes to change the 
scope of what they were operating one.

But, the massive, fundamental, difference between emacs and the whole vi 
family, is that emacs is mode-less.  In vi and its descendants, you hop 
back and forth between command mode and insert mode.  That drives me 
nuts.  With emacs, what's on the screen is what's in the file.

The other big thing that made emacs superior to vi was the scriptability, 
and all the add-on packages that gave rise to.  I just can't imagine 
working on C/C++ code without M-X Compile.  Likewise for the source control 
(CVS, SVN, P4, etc) integrations.  As time has gone by, however, the choice 
of lisp as the scripting language has really shown its age.  Not many 
people know lisp these days.  I used to be OK with lisp, but these days I 
remember just enough to do some minor hacking on my .emacs file.  I'd have 
to say that, today, lisp as the scripting language has become a significant 
barrier to entry for new emacs users.  I can see why vim has become 
popular. (even if it is still saddled by the modal editing model).
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-30 Thread Paul Rudin
Clay Hobbs [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:


 It has key commands with key modifiers to do simple tasks (such as
 moving the cursor to the left).

Err - you move the cursor to the left by pressing the left arrow key (as
you do with virtually every other editor), unless you've made some
strange key bind customisations.

--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-29 Thread Joe Riopel
On Sat, Nov 29, 2008 at 3:44 PM, Josh [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Thanks in advance,

There is no right, or wrong, answer to this question. Try one for a
few weeks, force yourself to use it as exclusively as possible for all
your text editing needs. After that, repeat that process with the
other editor. You will have just scratched the surface with both
editors, but you should be able to make a decision as to which editor
is better for you.

Don't forget, you can change your mind down the road.
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-29 Thread Mario Testinori
On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:44:14 -0800, Josh [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

If you were a beginning programmer and willing to make an investment in 
steep learning curve for best returns down the road, which would you pick?

I know this topic has been smashed around a bit already, but 'learning 
curve' always seems to be an arguement. If you feel that one is easier 
or harder than the others to learn feel free to tell, but let's not make 
that the deciding factor. Which one will be most empowering down the 
road as a development tool?

Thanks in advance,

JR

First, you must understand that this is an extremelly dangerous
question to ask on a public newsgroup (expecially regarding the first
and the third in the series). Wars have began over this. Many people
were harmed in those wars. Many a land have been conquered and many a
land lost. Many cows were killed. Many chickens were eaten in those
wars.
So, in regards for the chickens, decide carefully whether you want to
continue on this journey.

Well, that aside, it's a perfectly reasonable question. Myself, I
never used eclipse so I can't give any opinion on it, but I have used
vim and 'macs extensivly.
In the end, I somehow settled onto vim, not because I think it's
better, or ... anything else, but because at some time a coleague of
mine gave me a few scripts of his which I found extremely useful in my
day to day work, and ... 
Both are usually noted as leaving a steep learning curve - my advice
would be to take this with some reserve. Yes, both have different
interfaces from pretty much everything on today's windows's common
user interface or linux's, but apart from that, it's pretty much the
same as always; you've got save, open, you write in files, ... maybe
vim's several modes can confuse you at first, but you'll see its not a
big deal after all.
Somebody suggested when you try learning either of those you stay in
them as much as possible - I would reconsider that. Been using vim for
15 years now, but I still go back to other editors when situation
demands. For quick and dirty edit notepad2 will serve fine, or kedit
on L.
By forcing on working in one of these all the time, not having
yourself accustomed to them, you will find yourself in a need to do
something, and not knowing how, in the end you will give up on them.
Stay with your current preference for as long as you like, while you
slowly discover ways to do those things in these as well. As time
passes - maybe, maybe not - you'll discover it's much easier to do it
in these.
And last advice, ... I started using vim a long time ago, not because
it was this or that, but because there wasn't much of a choise.
Remember quite clearly using EDT for DOS for some time but it had its
drawbacks. In nowadays you've got plenty of choices, notepad++,
notepad2, programmers notepad, thisEdit, thatEdit ... all sorts of
edits. If you don't (after some time) find yourself liking it, well,
don't use it. You won't be much productive (the hip word in these
discussions) by using something you find alien. Stay with your
favourite.
I sometimes think half the people use these because the other half
talked them into it, and gave them the impression that it was cool
while they were perfectly happy with their current choise (under
windows for example, programmers notepad is a very nice editor, imho).

Just my 2 cents.
--
Mario
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-29 Thread Stef Mientki

Mario Testinori wrote:

On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:44:14 -0800, Josh [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

  
If you were a beginning programmer and willing to make an investment in 
steep learning curve for best returns down the road, which would you pick?


I know this topic has been smashed around a bit already, but 'learning 
curve' always seems to be an arguement. If you feel that one is easier 
or harder than the others to learn feel free to tell, but let's not make 
that the deciding factor. Which one will be most empowering down the 
road as a development tool?


Thanks in advance,

JR



First, you must understand that this is an extremelly dangerous
question to ask on a public newsgroup (expecially regarding the first
and the third in the series). Wars have began over this. Many people
were harmed in those wars. Many a land have been conquered and many a
land lost. Many cows were killed. Many chickens were eaten in those
wars.
  

Don't we have something like a poll to solve this peacefully ?
cheers,
Stef
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-29 Thread Albert Hopkins
On Sun, 2008-11-30 at 02:18 +0100, Stef Mientki wrote:

  First, you must understand that this is an extremelly dangerous
  question to ask on a public newsgroup (expecially regarding the first
  and the third in the series). Wars have began over this. Many people
  were harmed in those wars. Many a land have been conquered and many a
  land lost. Many cows were killed. Many chickens were eaten in those
  wars.

 Don't we have something like a poll to solve this peacefully ?
 cheers,
 Stef

Polls are just popularity/fan contests.  Even Ricky Martin could win one
of those.

--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-29 Thread Mario Testinori
On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:27:54 -0500, Albert Hopkins
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

On Sun, 2008-11-30 at 02:18 +0100, Stef Mientki wrote:

  First, you must understand that this is an extremelly dangerous
  question to ask on a public newsgroup (expecially regarding the first
  and the third in the series). Wars have began over this. Many people
  were harmed in those wars. Many a land have been conquered and many a
  land lost. Many cows were killed. Many chickens were eaten in those
  wars.

 Don't we have something like a poll to solve this peacefully ?
 cheers,
 Stef

Polls are just popularity/fan contests.  Even Ricky Martin could win one
of those.

LOL

-- Mario
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-29 Thread Ben Finney
Stef Mientki [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

 Mario Testinori wrote:
  First, you must understand that this is an extremelly dangerous
  question to ask on a public newsgroup (expecially regarding the
  first and the third in the series). Wars have began over this.
  Many people were harmed in those wars. Many a land have been
  conquered and many a land lost. Many cows were killed. Many
  chickens were eaten in those wars.

 Don't we have something like a poll to solve this peacefully ?

Speaking for myself, that certainly wouldn't stop the chickens from
being eaten.

-- 
 \  “People always ask me, ‘Where were you when Kennedy was shot?’ |
  `\Well, I don't have an alibi.” —Emo Philips |
_o__)  |
Ben Finney
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-29 Thread J.T. Hurley
 If you were a beginning programmer and willing to make an investment in
 steep learning curve for best returns down the road, which would you pick?

I'd actually recommend starting with IDLE. It's pretty python-centric,
and should give you a good idea if you want an IDE or an editor. If
the former, you'll probably be pretty happy with Eclipse. If the
latter, decide which irritates you less: two purposes for every key or
we heard you liked operating systems, so we put an operating system
on your operating system so you can program while you program.

When it comes to editors, I like nano. Tiny, fast, good at one thing,
and I already know all the keys. :)

J.T.
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-29 Thread [EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Nov 29, 12:44 pm, Josh [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 If you were a beginning programmer and willing to make an investment in
 steep learning curve for best returns down the road, which would you pick?

 I know this topic has been smashed around a bit already, but 'learning
 curve' always seems to be an arguement. If you feel that one is easier
 or harder than the others to learn feel free to tell, but let's not make
 that the deciding factor. Which one will be most empowering down the
 road as a development tool?

 Thanks in advance,

 JR

I have experience with Vim and Emacs, none with Eclipse. I used Emacs
exclusively until summer 2007 at which point I switched to Vim and
never looked back. To be perfectly honest, the switch was precipitated
by peer pressure, basically one of my friends said, Emacs, you mean
people still use that? I thought everyone switched to Vi, or rather
Vim, a long time ago. Nevertheless, I am happy that I made the
change.

At any rate, if you are willing to learn Lisp and pour over the Emacs
manuals from time to time, then Emacs may be for you. If you like
programming in Lisp then you may find it appealing and fun to write
Emacs extensions and utilities for your own needs. If the Lisp way
rubs your fur in the wrong direction, then Emacs may not be for you.

Vim has a different approach. The learning curve is substantial at the
beginning (softened by the Vim book), but at the end of the day I am
able to move around and manipulate code with less effort, mostly due,
I think, to having multiple modes: insert, visual, normal.

If you really are learning programming, then pick up a copy of SICP,
download Emacs, and veg out for a year and a half ducks for cover.

David
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-29 Thread Joe Riopel
On Sat, Nov 29, 2008 at 3:44 PM, Josh [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Thanks in advance,

There is no right, or wrong, answer to this question. Try one for a
few weeks, force yourself to use it as exclusively as possible for all
your text editing needs. After that, repeat that process with the
other editor. You will have just scratched the surface with both
editors, but you should be able to make a decision as to which editor
is better for you.

Don't forget, you can change your mind down the road.
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list


Re: Emacs vs. Eclipse vs. Vim

2008-11-29 Thread Arnaud Delobelle
Josh [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

 If you were a beginning programmer and willing to make an investment
 in steep learning curve for best returns down the road, which would
 you pick?

 I know this topic has been smashed around a bit already, but 'learning
 curve' always seems to be an arguement. If you feel that one is easier
 or harder than the others to learn feel free to tell, but let's not
 make that the deciding factor. Which one will be most empowering down
 the road as a development tool?

Vim and Emacs are both general purpose text editors, whereas Eclipse is
an IDE.

One thing that's good about Vim and Emacs is that most of the skills you
acquire while using it to write programs you will be able to use if you
want to:

  * write emails
  * post on Usenet
  * write to-do lists
  * write a letter to your grandma
  * in the case of Emacs, almost everything else :)

I don't know Eclipse at all (I tried installing it a while ago but it
was very unresponsive on my machine) so maybe you can do these things in
it as well, who knows?

It's good to know the basics of Vim as I think it will be installed on
most Unices (correct me if I'm wrong, my experience is limited).

I think the best is probably to try out a few editors/IDEs and then
you'll see how each goes about doing stuff.  It'll make you better at
knowing what to expect from an editor.

-- 
Arnaud
--
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list