From: Phillip Gawlowski <cmdjackryan@...>
Date: 2010-10-15T01:15:41+09:00
Subject: Re: Why does a lot of code not include parenthesis?

On Thu, Oct 14, 2010 at 5:37 PM, Chad Perrin <code@apotheon.net> wrote:
> It takes a little judgment to
> write readable code, regardless of the language, and in cases where
> parentheses are optional, I find that obsessive adherence to "always use
> parentheses" or "never use parentheses" rules are not conducive to
> producing the most readable code.

In my opinion, parentheses should be used the way they are used in
maths: To make an ambiguous statement obvious.

For example: 2-x^2 can be interpreted in two ways: either (2-x) gets
squared, or only the x gets squared, and the product of this
subtracted from 2. Parentheses make the intention obvious: (2-x)^2.

It's a simple guide, but it has a lot of repercussions, especially
once you take into account precedence of operators (which can allow
you to remove or "force" you to add parens).

-- 
Phillip Gawlowski

Though the folk I have met,
(Ah, how soon!) they forget
When I've moved on to some other place,
There may be one or two,
When I've played and passed through,
Who'll remember my song or my face.