What does an orange small dot on the left-hand margin represent? How did I put it there? How to get rid of it?

Hej Hej, That is a marker that you have a Bookmark on this line. The variable `bookmark-set-fringe-mark` determines if a marker should be shown or not. Extra: `bookmark-fringe-mark` is the place were the bitmap is stored. This can be changed to change the symbol. Cheers!

That "margin" on the left and on the right is called `fringe` in Emacs terminology, btw.

There's another thing called a margin BTW. ; -)

When you see something funny after upgrading Emacs, it is wise to check the NEWS file for anything suspicious.

True, but is that information in that context helpful? It seems like that dot is at the fringe. I mentioned `fringe`, because correct terminology makes it easier to do a web search or find info in the manual.

Sad you're being downvoted for pointing this out rather than spoonfeeding them an answer.

Cant do much about this subreddit's aversion of reading documentation (especially the official ones). Edit: This is probably the fifth time this question is being asked.

I knew org was very versatile, but I would never have guessed they allow you to attach gdb /s

> True, but is that information in that context helpful? Yes, the information that what Emacs calls the margin is not the same as what Emacs calls the fringe is very useful if you need to search for information about either one.

I think your comment would be better appreciated if it were less cryptic and included evidence that you were actually being helpful like this https://github.com/emacs-mirror/emacs/blob/master/etc/NEWS.28 > *** New user option 'bookmark-set-fringe-mark'. If non-nil, setting a bookmark will set a fringe mark on the current line, and jumping to a bookmark will also set this mark. because your comment does not actually make clear what "anything suspicious" might be. I mean, I followed your advice but am not actually sure whether this is the relevant point or not.

if questions keep getting asked over and over, \*perhaps\* the documentation is insufficient? not necessarily in its content, but perhaps the organization of its content? imo emacs docs are great if you're already familiar with emacs and just need to reference something real quick. if you're trying to \*learn\* they're honestly pretty bad.

I'm sorry for expecting the readers to search "how to access emacs NEWS" or somesuch. Oh but if they had this particular skill, this post would be nonexistent in the first place. >because your comment does not actually make clear what "anything suspicious" might be. It differs from case to case.

Yeah, "differs from case to case" is why "RTFM" is not actually a helpful response, and you need to point people to the manual *and* to where the particular answer is. That way, they *both* get an answer *and* learn about how to get other answers later. Instead of an unhelpful lecture without even a link to the thing they are supposed to be reading.

I am sorry for expecting people to be able to put two and two together and search for the new user option in this mysterious file called NEWS. There was enough information in this thread already, what one needs is to do is put in the effort but I am a fool for thinking my answer was sufficient for the point I needed to make.

IMO, its again a problem of not reading what's on the screen properly. For a long time, I did not make use of the info manuals properly because I did not read the info help manual. If I had done what Emacs told me, to press h to learn how to use info, I would have made better use of the Emacs manuals.

It helped me. Emacs is complicated and has what are now very non-standard names for things so a bit of extra information in this subreddit, even if it isn't strictly on-topic, is very helpful. IRL we could shoot the shit and let tangents go wherever. The best we can do on reddit is accept that some comment subtrees will be barely related to their parent.

I didn't call you a fool, I pointed out that you would be more helpful if you actually tried to help rather than express your frustration by telling people they should be able to do it themselves. "You can do it yourself": not helpful, just a greybeard complaining. "You can do it yourself, and here is how": helpful, shows the asker how to do it, and others too. Fake apologies are also not helpful, but just a form of gatekeeping and creating an environment where jaded mocking is favored over actual help.

I never said you called me a fool, I am calling myself a fool. If this is not an expression in your language, then I can't do much about it unfortunately. I am not frustrated, it would be silly to be so over a Reddit post. I am merely pointing the documentation that comes with Emacs which makes one mostly self-sufficient. As for the rest comment, I do not have anything to say except repeat my last comment. And I don't think I ever apologised.

You can fight how people are. Or you can accept how people are and make the software tools to work with reality.

You can also choose to ignore those people. Gatekeeping is fine in some regards.