They need more emptiness. Or rather, they want it. Aside from this preference, which I don’t share, I can see one practical reason: If you frequently switch between wildly different keyboard layouts, no letters are better than wrong ones.
Sometimes people have weird reasons. I can’t stand backlit keyboards with proximity sensors. They turn the backlight on when using the keyboard, and off when not. To “save battery”, even when permanently plugged in. (I won’t name brands.) Okay. But I only look at my keyboard when I’m not using it. And then I want it to look nice.
I have a faint recollection of a forum rule against storking. Maybe that’s why.
In addition to pushing paragraphs up and down, you also have a Select Sentence with Storks Spaces command. So, a keyboard macro to push sentences up and down is not far away.
Shift + arrow keys typically. If it’s a large blob I’ll just the mouse (trackball is my preference). I also make extensive use of CMD + Left/Right Arrow in lieu of Home/End keys.
To select the whole line, CMD+Left Arrow moves the pointer, then SHIFT + Down Arrow selects.
Okay, that actually has its roots in word processors and not programming IDE’s. Look up WordStar sometime. For its earlist editions it was used on computers that did not have dedicated arrow keys or many multi-function keys, only the SHIFT and CONTROL modifier keys and so the methods your talking about became the only way to move around. Later on programmers found they liked the simplicity of mouse in the right hoof and the left side of the keyboard under the left hoof, even when they ended up with both hooves-in-mouth.
I don’t know, but if you say so What I do know is that it doesn’t work if you use keys that you often need when typing quickly.
But it inspired me to try something based on that idea. I’m currently testing a simple keyboard-based navigation system using the “4” key (and “3” is right next to it). Keys I rarely use. “4” is surprisingly easy to reach with the left index finger without looking. For me, anyway. We’ll see
4 alone → 4
4 + j → One character to the left
4 + k → One character to the right
4 + u → One line up
4 + Space → One line down
4 + h → Start of line
4 + ;/ö → End of line
4 + Backspace → Forward delete
4 + Enter → Enter
4 + z → ESC
If 3 is pressed in addition to 4:
4 + 3 + j → Selects text to the left of the cursor
4 + 3 + k → Selects text to the right of the cursor
This does seem strange, but there’s a reason for it.
This “system” also works in “lists”; once you’ve reached an item, you ‘start/open’ it by pressing Enter. Sometimes I forget to let go of “4,” and then it wouldn’t work… So 4 + Enter is also Enter … never mind
Depending on who you ask, it’s either an ancient torture device or the only true way of editing text. I’d say it’s ballet. Looks beautiful, I can admire it for it’s elegance, but at the same time don’t expect me to do it.
The Vim vs EMACs text editor holy wars are legion. Mostly a struggle of the mid 1980’s through the early aughties though, and completely absent from the Windows world. It’s *NIX thing, you wouldn’t understand.
The storied history of these two digital sibinlings, and their sibling rivalry is an interesting diversion at this point. Those of us that were active in computers in that era remember it less fondly.
Or rather, they want it. Aside from this preference, which I don’t share, I can see one practical reason: If you frequently switch between wildly different keyboard layouts, no letters are better than wrong ones.
What I do know is that it doesn’t work if you use keys that you often need when typing quickly.
