Subject: RE: bug#25665: 26.0.50; [PATCH] Indicate prefix arg in minibuffer prompt for shell-command

From: Drew Adams <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2017 10:08:40 -0800 (PST)

> I am not sure about this.
> The meaning of the prefix argument must be explained in the docstring.
> That and the manual are the source of documentation, not the prompt.
> 
> Having a short prompt is also good because there are more space
> in the line for the command; a short prompt is also better while tipying
> a long command: sometimes you want to change something at the beginning:
> < ; `beginning-of-buffer'
> Now you need to `C-f' several times to jump out of the prompt.  The more
> verbose prompt, the more `C-f' you need.
> 
> Just my opinion.  Let's see what other people think.

+1

The minibuffer should simply echo that the prefix arg has been
used, and just what its numeric value is.  It should not try
to explain what the possible values are and what they mean.