From: Chris Dew <cmsdew@...>
Date: 2007-05-18T16:25:03+09:00
Subject: Why not adopt "Python Style" indentation for Ruby?

As far as I can see, the 'end' keyword is 'repeating yourself' when
used with properly indented code.

class Foo

  def bar(value)
    if value < 7
      puts "hello"
    else
      puts "world"
    end
  end

  def foobar
    puts "foobar"
  end

end

could be

class Foo

  def bar(value)
    if value < 7
      puts "hello"
    else
      puts "world"

  def foobar
    puts "foobar"

with no reduction in meaning, yet 25% fewer lines of code.


What are the reasons why this isn't used/implemented/liked?  It would
be a small change to the interpreter.  Enabling meaningful indentation
would only make 'end' optional, not invalid; backwards compatibility
wouldn't be a problem.

(I use both Ruby and Python.  I think indentation is one of the few
*language* features where Python leads Ruby.)

If this post generates a positive response, I'll make a patch for Ruby
1.9.