Re: Suggested experimental test

[Yuri Khan]

On Thu, 25 Mar 2021 at 20:20, Dmitry Gutov <dgutov@yandex.ru> wrote:

> But C-c doesn't have a dedicated keymap, so solving this seems like the
> first step. What could we do?
>
>    (kbd (format "%s C-l" ctl-c-key-sequence) 'some-command)
>
> Or maybe create a bogus ctrl-c keymap and then make sure to refer to its
> binding with something like
>
>    (kbd "[C-c] C-l" 'some-command)
>
> ...I'm not sure, ideas welcome.

How about this:

* Introduce a virtual key, let’s call it <mode-specific>. Let’s
specifically *not* name it <key-formerly-known-as-C-c>.
* Have all modes use that as the prefix key for mode-specific
commands, instead of C-c.
* In the default configuration, translate C-c to <mode-specific>.

Proof of concept:

    $ emacs -Q

    (define-key help-mode-map (kbd "<mode-specific> <mode-specific>")
                #'help-follow-symbol)
    (define-key help-mode-map (kbd "<mode-specific> C-b") #'help-go-back)
    (define-key help-mode-map (kbd "<mode-specific> C-f") #'help-go-forward)
    (define-key key-translation-map (kbd "<menu>") (kbd "<mode-specific>"))
    ;; C-x C-e all of the above

    (define-key help-mode-map (kbd "C-c C-c") nil)
    (define-key help-mode-map (kbd "C-c C-b") nil)
    (define-key help-mode-map (kbd "C-c C-f") nil)
    (define-key help-mode-map (kbd "C-c") nil)
    ;; should be unneeded after all modes convert

    (global-set-key (kbd "C-c") #'copy-region-as-kill)
    (global-set-key (kbd "C-v") #'cua-paste)

    <f1> m C-x o
    ;; I’m now in a *Help* buffer listing currently enabled modes

    <f1> b
    ;; I’m now in a *Help* buffer listing bindings

    <menu> C-b
    ;; I’m back to modes

    <menu> C-f
    ;; I’m back to bindings

    S-<down> S-<down> S-<down> C-c
    C-x o C-v
    ;; I have a copy of a few lines from *Help* in my *scratch*

> Something backward-compatible would be
> ideal.

Hm, I don’t know. The above is definitely not backward-compatible. It
assumes a full conversion in Emacs and full cooperation from
third-party mode authors.