Re: Flexible Killing

[Stefan Monnier]

> Well, I'm a bit of a beginner too, but came up with this:

> (defun flexikill ()
>   (interactive)
>   (let ((m nil))
>     (if (not (setq m (mark 1)))
>         (kill-line)
>       (let ((p (point)))
>         (if (= p m)
>             (kill-line)
>           (kill-region (region-beginning)
>                        (region-end)))))))

Whenever you use `setq', make sure you really need it
=>

 (defun flexikill ()
   (interactive)
   (let ((m (mark 1)))
     (if (not m)
         (kill-line)
       (let ((p (point)))
         (if (= p m)
             (kill-line)
           (kill-region (region-beginning)
                        (region-end)))))))

no need to let-bind if you only use the value once:
=>

 (defun flexikill ()
   (interactive)
   (let ((m (mark 1)))
     (if (not m)
         (kill-line)
       (if (= (point) m)
           (kill-line)
         (kill-region (region-beginning)
                      (region-end))))))

merge tests to avoid duplicated identical calls
=>

 (defun flexikill ()
   (interactive)
   (let ((m (mark 1)))
     (if (or (not m) (= (point) m))
         (kill-line)
       (kill-region (region-beginning)
                    (region-end)))))

rather than 1, use a less-arbitrary value
=>

 (defun flexikill ()
   (interactive)
   (let ((m (mark 'force)))
     (if (or (not m) (= (point) m))
         (kill-line)
       (kill-region (region-beginning)
                    (region-end)))))

and if you ever use mark-even-if-inactive, then you will prefer

 (defun flexikill ()
   (interactive)
   (if (or (not mark-active) (eq (point) (mark 'force)))
       (kill-line)
     (kill-region (region-beginning)
                  (region-end))))


-- Stefan