[Proposal] Spacemacs key bindings for regular users

[tuhdo]

So, first we have evil-mode for Vim users; then we have holy-mode for Emacs users. Next, I propose a key binding layout for users of common editors out there, using ErgoEmacs keyboard layout: https://ergoemacs.github.io/gradual-adoption.html.

Let's call this mortal-mode, the mode in between evil and holy.

[trishume]

Interesting idea, might also base the keybinds off of Sublime Text.
That thought also reminds me that #101 could be realized in holy-mode as well as mortal-mode since they won't use evil.

[syl20bnr]

Since we have key bindings organized in layers with the leader, we have indeed the freedom to throw any layout in an evil state. We can call it sublime state or cua state or ergoemacs state. And then the xxxxxx-mode would basically do what holy mode does.
At this point we have to think about the generalization of holy-mode.

BUT I want to keep things simple so no fancy (cond (xxxxxxx-mode) (holy-mode) or anything like this outside the holy-mode and xxxxxxxx-mode, never ever. We will find compromises instead, like we did for Helm buffers.

[syl20bnr]

BTW, nice idea @tuhdo :-)

[boykov]

I tried to use my own config, based on ErgoEmacs, with Spacemacs. I removed all unnecessary stuff from the base spacemacs layer and left the solarized extension and few packages only, see spacemacs-bootstrap layer (I use it instead of my own distribution layer now). So, it turned to minimal Spacemacs config, which supports spacemacs core features.

[Immortalin]

Any progress on this or plans for official integration?

[boykov]

I note that instead of hypothetical mortal-mode one can use bootstrap-mode (in addition to his own emacs config with ErgoEmacs or something else). And I have mentioned how to easily create such minimalistic bootstrap-mode (Upd. Spacemacs has spacemacs-bootstrap layer now). I consider it as bootstrapping and organizing Spacemacs features that I can adopt to my own config.

[Foucl]

@boykov as far as I can see, your fork does no longer contain a spacecore branch and the eab-draft branch looks like a regular emacs-/holy-mode configuration (to my very untrained eye). Would you mind briefly pointing in the direction how such an integration (of ergoemacs and spacemacs) would work? Should this be realized as a layer and adding ergoemacs as a package? Or should one rather somehow extract the ergoemacs keybindings and use those?

(I'm returning to emacs after being disappointed by Atom & Co)

[boykov]

@Foucl I've fixed the link in my comment. There is no spacecore branch now, I use spacemacs-bootstrap layer instead of it.

The main idea of my integration of ErgoEmacs and Spacemacs is to use bootstrapping and organizing Spacemacs features only. As you know Spacemacs is "community driven" distribution with two main options for keybindings: emacs and vim. As far as there is no ErgoEmacs community (or another one with non-standard keybindings) yet, I use my personal emacs config as spacemacs private layer.

[d12frosted]

Related: #5429.

[PhilipDaniels]

I have been working on my own set of keybindings to bring Emacs more in line with Windows defaults. The attempt is here https://github.com/PhilipDaniels/windows-defaults, it is structured as a Spacemacs layer. Feedback welcome.

[codygman]

@PhillP thank you. I'm going to try this out and maybe I can recommend it to a co-worker who adds a lot of jira issues by manually copy pasting from Excel to instead use jira mode which is based on org.

Lack of Windows like keybindings is the only thing that was stopping me :)

[MarcusE1W]

@PhilipDaniels
Works great for me. Is there a plan to make this an official layer ?
Mortal-mode sounds super cool

[PhilipDaniels]

@MarcusE1W There is no plan to integrate it into Spacemacs, at least, nobody has ever asked me. I actually stopped using Emacs/Spacemacs for all but vanilla editing about 6 months ago because I felt I was spending too much time configuring it and learning lisp compared to getting on with more productive things. The killer was when I built a new machine about 7 months later, installed Spacemacs, and found lots of packages I was using in my layers gave errors :-(

So I am not actively updating this package; if someone else wants to try and integrate it they are of course free to base their work on this. With Emacs 26 coming out, now might be a good time.

[MarcusE1W]

@PhilipDaniels

Hmm, sorry to hear that Spacemacs was frustrating for you.
I only use your layer a few days but so far am quite happy with it.
No errors neither on Emacs 26.1

Currently I can't help with the layer as I have no idea about elisp, but maybe that improves.

Sometimes I change editors as well, so maybe on another day you give Spacemacs another try 😉 .
Thanks for your effort with this layer.

[Renzix]

Would be cool to see simple keybinds based on something like micro. I also like the idea of naming it mortal mode however we would just need people to do the work

[github-actions]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Please let us know if this issue is still valid!

[shaund]

It would be nice to have this implemented in Spacemacs by default.

[github-actions]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Please let us know if this issue is still valid!

[syl20bnr]

Let's keep this open, we could do something nice here by implementing a new evil state like we did with holy-mode.

[pyrareae]

+1! As someone who has been using spacemacs off and on for a little while now, I think having something like an ergoemacs layer would be great! Having "normal" bindings would be nice especially for new users transitioning from other editors like VSC, Sublime, etc.

[github-actions]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Please let us know if this issue is still valid!