From xemacs-m  Thu Sep  4 15:50:31 1997
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From: Bill Dubuque <wgd@martigny.ai.mit.edu>
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Date: Thu, 4 Sep 1997 16:50:20 -0400
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Subject: line-number-mode is archaic [was: Enhanced design for XEmacs redisplay]

Kyle Jones <kyle_jones@wonderworks.com> wrote:
| 
| Hrvoje Niksic writes:
|  > Tibor Polgar <tibor@alteon.com> writes:
|  > 
|  > > Do you have line-number-mode t?
|  > 
|  > Really -- I have tried the test, and turning line-number-mode off made 
|  > XEmacs much faster with large buffer.  Unfortunately, line numbers are 
|  > too an important feature to just turn off everywhere.
| 
| I disagree.  The folks who just have to have line numbers need to
| spend less time putting flowers on Algernon's grave in the backyard,
| and learn how to use what-line and goto-line.  Somehow I manage to
| find my way to my home/job/supermarket without having yardage markers
| every step of the way!

Any software that makes the user manipulate line numbers leaves
something to be desired.  Numbering and referencing code should
be the job of software -- not the user. Line-number-mode should
never be needed with appropriately designed software. Come out
of the BC era (Before real Computers).

-Bill Dubuque

