Name: Anonymous 2011-11-05 21:16
Why does /prog/ dislike Python's use of whitespace? I have never had any problems with Python concerning whitespace, but numerous with C/C++.
Problems with C-style whitespace/bracing:
1) Code can be misleading, because while one reads indentation, it's not significant to the grammar. For instance:
2) There are over 9000 different ways of aligning bracing. Somehow, the most popular involves wasting a whole line for the opening brace'{'. Interestingly, such code always seems to neglect blank lines everywhere, leading to abominations like:
Why is the line of the if grouped together with the declarations of the variables!? What is wrong with the more readable and structured?:
One can't say it's because the blank is a waste, because they often use nearly blank lines with solely '{' all the time!
Of course, Python saves even another line by eliminating the need for a closing brace '{'.
tldr: Why is Python's use of whitespace bad?
Problems with C-style whitespace/bracing:
1) Code can be misleading, because while one reads indentation, it's not significant to the grammar. For instance:
if(true)
a();
b(); // This isn't actually in the body of the if.2) There are over 9000 different ways of aligning bracing. Somehow, the most popular involves wasting a whole line for the opening brace'{'. Interestingly, such code always seems to neglect blank lines everywhere, leading to abominations like:
int a, b;
char c;
if(true)
{
// do something
}Why is the line of the if grouped together with the declarations of the variables!? What is wrong with the more readable and structured?:
int a, b;
char c;
if(true) {
// do something
}One can't say it's because the blank is a waste, because they often use nearly blank lines with solely '{' all the time!
Of course, Python saves even another line by eliminating the need for a closing brace '{'.
tldr: Why is Python's use of whitespace bad?