Re: [RFC PATCH 3/3] FAQ: sync newuser-install

["Daniel Shahaf" <d.s@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Lawrence Velázquez wrote on Sat, 27 Aug 2022 03:52 +00:00:
> On Fri, Aug 26, 2022, at 11:18 PM, Felipe Contreras wrote:
>> On Fri, Aug 26, 2022 at 7:31 PM Bart Schaefer <schaefer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>> On Fri, Aug 26, 2022 at 5:23 PM Mikael Magnusson <mikachu@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > Besides that, the whole thing is way too
>>> > disruptive just for you to save 2 lines in your .zshrc.
>>>
>>> Pretty much exactly that.  The argument FOR doing something has to be
>>> persuasive, rebutting specific counterpoints is only part of that.  I
>>> haven't seen anyone yet supporting your position without modification.
>>
>> I'm not sure what you mean. The argument in favor is right there: it
>> potentially reduces the number of options required in the
>> configuration.
>
> We know what your argument is.  Some of us just are not persuaded
> by it.
>
>
>> But if you are an 18yo kid who just installed zsh, a configuration of
>> 3 lines vs. a configuration of 1 line makes a difference of 67%.
>> That's quite a lot.
>
> It's not a lot.  It's still two lines.  Using an impressive-looking
> percentage doesn't change this.

I think of it less as two more lines in the dotfile and more as five
more minutes figuring things out on first use ("What's this XDG thing
that page says I should set HISTFILE to?") and 15 more seconds typing
the values in every time one installs zsh without access to their dotfiles.

Put differently: Do people who enable history usually care what file it's saved in?

No?  They why is that information a non-optional argument of the API?

Cheers,

Daniel

>> A better experience for new users is just better. The
>> `zsh-newuser-install` script is a step in the right direction, but in
>> my view it shouldn't be necessary. Running zsh with no configuration
>> should do a decent job for most people by default.
>>
>> The ideal minimal configuration that does a good enough job for most
>> people should be *zero* lines. Even if we never get there, any line
>> saved is a step in the right direction.
>
> If we were starting from a blank slate, I'm sure more of us would
> be on board.  As it is, there are tradeoffs regarding compatibility
> and interactions with existing functionality.  You seem to not care
> about that and want "a better experience for new users" at all cost,
> but we don't have to agree.