[ruby-core:39930] Re: Discussion results (here documents with indents)

On Tue, Oct 4, 2011 at 2:47 AM, Jim Freeze <[e-mail]> wrote:
> I'm not convinced yet this belongs in Ruby.
> The only argument I have heard for this is because 'left shifting' a block
> of text 'looks bad'.

You say that like it's not important. I fundamentally disagree with
your dismissive tone. That's the only argument there needs to be. I
would argue that *readability* is the most significant feature that
sets Ruby apart. Ruby can keep all it's other excellent features, but
if it's syntax were like Javascript I would have never bothered a
second glance at it. Don't underestimate 'looks'.

> However, the solution looks even worse.

Why such hyperbole? Clearly that is not true. You really think something like:

    module MyApp
      module Commands
        class Show
          def error_message(err)
            <<-HERE
    Error: #{err.class}
    #{err.message}
            HERE
          end
        end
      end
    end

Is better than:

    module MyApp
      module Commands
        class Show
          def error_message(err)
            %L|Error: #{err.class}
              |#{err.message}
          end
        end
      end
    end

> If a programmer doesn't like the left shift, put the text in a file of it's
> own or put it in DATA.

More overhead, even less readability. And what of interpolation?