From: Phillip Gawlowski <cmdjackryan@...>
Date: 2011-04-13T18:08:08+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby for beginners (was: Re: Hello)

On Wed, Apr 13, 2011 at 5:23 AM, Stu <stu@rubyprogrammer.net> wrote:
> For what it's worth I have been using interactive_editor gem in irb for a
> bit now. It allows me to open nvi or vim within irb and also supports other
> cli editors( emacs, pico/nano, and even ed for those still <3 the original
> unix line editor)

CLI editors are great -- for advanced users.

But the vast majority of people are used to WIMP interfaces, and
that's who should be targeted. vim and EMACS are nice editors, but
they overwhelm non-technically-trained people far too soon.

(How do you generate a random string? Sit down a new student in front
of a vim session.)

-- 
Phillip Gawlowski

Though the folk I have met,
(Ah, how soon!) they forget
When I've moved on to some other place,
There may be one or two,
When I've played and passed through,
Who'll remember my song or my face.