Re: [Feature Discuss] Nested buffer

[Óscar Fuentes]

Eli Zaretskii <address@hidden> writes:

>> Something like this would be very convenient.
>> 
>> In my case, often I have to work on some feature that touches certain
>> areas of several source files and, at the same time, create and edit
>> several test cases, each on one file. Having everything on the same
>> buffer will save lots of buffer switching, while at the same time
>> providing a compact "work area" that eases reading and editing.
>
> Any reason why several windows side by side couldn't serve the same
> purpose?  (You can disable the mode line if that gets in the way.)

That is what I do when the number of affected areas is small, but...

1. The screen has limited space.

2. Arranging the windows takes time and is fragile (commands like
`compile' and derivatives changes the layout, temporally or permanently;
you are forced to use another frame for magit, gnus...).

3. Editing a single buffer is more natural and convenient. Things like
"replace this with that" would be automatically narrowed to the contents
of the virtual buffer.

I see the OP's proposal as a method for achieving narrowing at the file
level (Emacs already has buffer-level narrowing): pick some files, put
them (or parts of them) on the same buffer, and proceed as if you were
working on a mini-project written on a single file.

My first impression about his proposal was kind of "meh", but the more I
think about it, the more interesting it looks.