Re: [Bug-zile] New branch `zi': Lua Zile without the Lisp Interpreter

[Gary V. Vaughan]

Hi Reuben,

On 10 Aug 2011, at 05:20, Reuben Thomas <address@hidden> wrote:
> On 9 August 2011 23:15, Gary V. Vaughan <address@hidden> wrote:
>>  2. the read syntax for keystrings is horrid because lua unrolls one level 
>> of \ escaping, Suggestions?;
> 
> Get rid of backslashes and use upper-case for modifiers, lower-case
> for letter keys?

That would be an improvement, But we'd then need some way to escape upper-
case character in macro strings, so that this is still unambiguous:

    "M-2C-xb*2-C-M-RET*RET" ~= change_buffer "*2-C-M-RET*"

The other possibilities that come to mind are as follows... (perverse examples
to stress escaping included)

Use a different escape character than \:

    "!M-2!C-xb*!!M-2!!C-xb!!RET*!RET"

Using an alternative character for modifier keys and named keys:

    "@2^xb*@@2^^xb$$RET*$RET"

Using a table and META & CTRL functions instead of a string:

    {META'2', CTRL'x', 'b', "*META'2' CTRL'x' 'b' RET*", RET}

Making meta equal escape, and quoting named keys:

    "<ESC>2^xb*\\<ESC>2\\^xb\\<RET>*<RET>"

Using spaces as per the read-syntax of Emacs' kbd function:

    "M-2 C-x b * M - 2 C - x b R E T * RET"

So far, I think the last is the clearest syntax I've considered...

Cheers,
-- 
Gary V. Vaughan (gary AT gnu DOT org)