GNU bug report logs - #13531
24.2.92; Normally closed Emacs leaves autosave files

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Michael Heerdegen <michael_heerdegen <at> web.de>
To: bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: 24.2.92; Normally closed Emacs leaves autosave files
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:13:09 +0100

Hi,

I mean this behavior:

0.  Start emacs -Q
1.  Find any file that is writable for you
2.  Make some change
3.  You've changed your mind.  You type C-x C-c.
    Type n to negate the "Save file ..." question
    Type "yes" to answer the "Modified buffers exist; exit anyway?"
    question

As a result, Emacs exits, but it leaves an autosave file.  IMHO this
shouldn't be the case, because the user decidedly wanted to discard his
changes.  Autosave files should only survive a session if Emacs crashed.

With the current behavior, we only confuse users because they will think
that the autosave files come from a crash, and will want to check if
they have to recover anything.


Thanks,

Michael.


In GNU Emacs 24.2.92.2 (x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu, GTK+ Version 2.24.10)
 of 2013-01-21 on drachen
Bzr revision: schwab <at> linux-m68k.org-20130120225947-57ekte112o7cw53w
Windowing system distributor `The X.Org Foundation', version 11.0.10707000
System Description:	Debian GNU/Linux 7.0 (wheezy)

Configured using:
 `configure '--prefix=/usr/local/built/''

Message #8 received at 13531 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>
To: Michael Heerdegen <michael_heerdegen <at> web.de>
Cc: 13531 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#13531: 24.2.92; Normally closed Emacs leaves autosave files
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2019 00:37:12 -0700

Michael Heerdegen <michael_heerdegen <at> web.de> writes:

> I mean this behavior:
>
> 0.  Start emacs -Q
> 1.  Find any file that is writable for you
> 2.  Make some change
> 3.  You've changed your mind.  You type C-x C-c.
>     Type n to negate the "Save file ..." question
>     Type "yes" to answer the "Modified buffers exist; exit anyway?"
>     question
>
> As a result, Emacs exits, but it leaves an autosave file.  IMHO this
> shouldn't be the case, because the user decidedly wanted to discard his
> changes.  Autosave files should only survive a session if Emacs crashed.
>
> With the current behavior, we only confuse users because they will think
> that the autosave files come from a crash, and will want to check if
> they have to recover anything.

It is perhaps somewhat confusing to auto-save files in this way
(especially after the user has answered "no" to the "save file..."
question), but I think on the whole that this behaviour is safer than
just discarding the contents.  Because we all answer stuff wrong once in
a while, and not saving something you wanted to save after all is a
bigger catastrophe than auto-saving a bit too much.

So I don't think not auto-saving will be too popular, and I'm closing
this bug report.

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
   bloggy blog: http://lars.ingebrigtsen.no

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