shortest way to texting in Lollipop For me, it used to be a lock screen widget where I swiped right and could start texting my contacts. I thinks this is now gone for some reason. So what's the fastest way to get to texting from lock screen in this new stupid lollipop version?
Using absolutely stock, as-installed-by-default stuff, the fastest way would be:


Swipe to unlock
Tap home button
Tap Messenger or Hangouts (which you have put as an icon on your home screen)
Tap new message.


Possible ways to reduce the number of steps: 


Third-party SMS apps which provide homescreen widgets that take you straight into composing
Third-party lock screen replacements
Alternative ROMs with different lock screen arrangements (e.g. some Cyanogenmod versions let you define different apps to be launched depending on the direction of your unlock swipe)