[net.emacs] line numbers in editors

tk@bonnie.UUCP (Tom Kirk) (10/11/85)

I need some arguments for why line numbers in editors (emacs in
particular) are unnecessary, if not undesirable. I'm initiating someone
here to Gnu Emacs; he thinks that it has a major deficiency in not
providing the opportunity to associate numbers with the lines of the
buffer. His normal editor is the emacs written by Warren Montgomery
(nothing bad to say about this one), which does have this feature if
you want it.  He has it firmly fixed in his mind that he can't live
without them.  I find them to be rather obtrusive, taking up valuable
space on the screen; there always seems to be a better way to orient
yourself within the buffer.

Any convincing arguments/support for why they should stay out of Gnu 
Emacs, or is it a hopeless issue of personal taste?

--------------------
tom kirk
ihnp4!{bonnie|moss}!tk
AT&T-BL (201)386-6044

rusty@sdcarl.UUCP (rusty c. wright) (10/14/85)

i also happen to find the unavailability of line numbers in gnu emacs
dissapointing.  perhaps it's because the only editor that i've used
prior to gnu emacs was ed and vi which both have line numbers.  i
would make the cursory argument that unless it is fairly difficult and
adds a significant amount of extra code to the editor that it would be
a nice thing to have.  in issues of taste i prefer systems that allow
you to do it your way rather than force you to do it their way.  that's
what's so nice about emacs; for the most part that's true of it.
-- 
	rusty c. wright
	{ucbvax,ihnp4,akgua,hplabs,sdcsvax}!sdcarl!rusty

ron@cylixd.UUCP (Ronald Boyd) (10/15/85)

Line numbers have a single great advantage -- two people can
discuss a module and each can know exactly what context the other is
referencing.  Beyond that line numbers are a personal quirk. I like
line numbers. I have worked with editors that permit line numbers
and with editors that forbid them. 

Personally, I can see no advantage to not have line numbers
displayed on the screen if the editor supports horizontal scrolling
of the window. Otherwise, not having a line number showing allows
you to get about 8 more characters of text on each line.
-- 
--------------------------------------------
Ronald Boyd	(ihnp4!akgub!cylixd!ron)

The above opinions do not represent anyone's but my own.

mckeeman@wanginst.UUCP (William McKeeman) (10/16/85)

I find the following mlisp function, bound to a keypad
key in my vt100.ml, gives me all I want for line
numbers without messing up my screen.

It -- depending on whether I have just pressed my "gold key" --
	(1) gives the line number of the cursor
	(2) goes to a line number

  (vt100-line-number
    (if (= vt100-gold-key-pressed 0)
      (message (concat "line number = " (line-number)))
      (goto-line (get-tty-string "go to line number: "))
    )
    (setq vt100-gold-key-pressed 0)
  )

-- 
W. M. McKeeman            mckeeman@WangInst
Wang Institute            decvax!wanginst!mckeeman
Tyngsboro MA 01879

wombat@ccvaxa.UUCP (10/18/85)

Emacs is a screen-based editor, not a line editor. Line numbering doesn't
belong inside gnumacs. If you want it, write yourself an elisp package. Such
a package for gosmacs was posted to the net a while back. You could track
down a copy and convert it. It shouldn't be hard to find the gosmacs goto.ml
package to go with it.

"When you are about to die, a wombat is better than no company at all."
				Roger Zelazny, *Doorways in the Sand*

						Wombat
					ihnp4!uiucdcs!ccvaxa!wombat