Re: New start up splash screen annoyance...

[David Kastrup]

Leo <address@hidden> writes:

> On 2007-09-18 06:39 +0100, David Kastrup wrote:
>> There is, as far as I can see, not a _single_ person apart from you on
>> this list who considers it a good idea to start Emacs with a splash
>> screen when one asks it to edit a file.
>
> Really? I am surprised how freedom has been compromised in the realm
> of Emacs.

Huh?  Everybody is free to edit or customize or change Emacs according
to his liking and distribute the result.  There is no compromise of
freedom involved here.

Instead, we are trying to find a consensus for a common Emacs in order
to make it easier for users to pick one Emacs and stay with it.
Whether or not we manage to find consensus does not impact freedom: it
just would be a good thing since it makes us stronger when we are
united, and when the users see themselves able to appreciate our
goals.

> I don't like the splash screen and I have never seen any text editor
> that gets in the way of getting things done.

Well, vi's habit of starting in edit mode rather than insertion mode
could be called that...

> Don't make Emacs a political machine.

Emacs is part of the GNU project, and the GNU project has political
goals.  Emacs has always been a political statement as well as an
editor, and there is no reason to change that.  I certainly concur
with Richard that the GNU project's message is important, and that
Emacs is appropriate for conveying this message.

Where I am in strong disagreement with him is what kind of technical
measures might not rather harm than promote our goals by alienating
the users.

-- 
David Kastrup