RE: [External] : Re: [PATCH] New tab-bar-detach-tab command

[Drew Adams]

> I tried 'clone-frame', but it neither clones nor
> duplicates the frame - it creates a completely
> new window configuration on the new frame.

It does clone the frame.  Depends what one means by
"the frame".

A window config in a frame isn't part of the state
(or definition) of the frame itself.  But sure,
it's debatable what should be expected from a
`clone-frame' command.

I proposed this command for Emacs in bug #34715 a
couple years ago.  It was subsequently discussed in
the emacs-devel thread about bug #34716, in which
you participated, (so you shouldn't be surprised at
what it does).

https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=34715

https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2019-03/msg00089.html

Both kinds of "cloning" a frame could be useful:
(1) the `clone-frame' kind, which creates a frame
with the same frame parameters, and (2) what you
suggest, which does that AND reproduces the window
config of the "cloned" frame in its "clone".

I added #1 (`clone-frame') to my code a few years
ago.  I use it often, and I bind it to `C-x 5 2'.

When I want only `make-frame-command' (which has
the vanilla Emacs binding `C-x 5 2'), I just use
a prefix arg with `C-x 5 2' - that's what my
`clone-frame' does.  But I pretty much never want
just the `make-frame-command' behavior.

I suggested that vanilla Emacs give `C-x 5 2' to
`clone-frame', but that didn't happen.  Instead,
yet another default key binding was added/wasted.

I don't know the signature of the `clone-frame'
that was added to Emacs, but perhaps it could use
a prefix arg to provide what you're proposing:
clone the frame (same frame parameters) AND clone
the window config of the frame in the new frame.