From: Jamis Buck <jgb3@...>
Date: 2004-10-12T02:52:01+09:00
Subject: Re: quality of error messages

Markus wrote:
>>>>    That said, it really doesn't hurt as bad as you'd think it would,
>>>>since the main thing people differ on is where to put the closing token
>>>>(e.g., does the "end" or "}" go at the indentation of the enclosed block
>>>>or the inclosing block) and that issue vanishes if you don't have closing
>>>>tokens.  
> 
> 
>>>I don't find it readable at all.
> 
> 
>>I completely, 100%, in every way, concur with Austin. I detest any 
>>attempt to enforce an arbitrary indentation style upon me. 

>      Some people actually like it, and their reasons are fairly
> explicable, just as the reasons for liking (say) perl or smalltalk or
> lisp or ruby or forth or...well, you get the point.  There's no harm
> that I can see in trying to understand someone else's perspective, even
> if you don't share it. 

I understand that people like that approach. I don't begrudge them that. 
But they use Python because they like that approach, and I don't use 
Python because I don't like that approach. Like Austin, I do not find 
that it adds readability to the code--I actually feel that it detracts 
from the readability.

But that's my opinion. I'm not out to change Python, and I don't think 
Python users are, as you said, "brain damaged mutants." I also do not 
think anyone is forcing them to use Python. They use Python because it 
fits their preferred coding style.

It does not fit mine.

I simply get touchy when people start suggesting that perhaps Ruby ought 
to adopt such a style. My apologies if I ruffled any feathers.

- Jamis

-- 
Jamis Buck
jgb3@email.byu.edu
http://www.jamisbuck.org/jamis