6 ms·
I mean, maybe it's not a big deal. But what value does it add? What if we had a 50 character string of random digits be the terminating identifier for a block?
by mruts 8y ago
I mean, maybe it's not a big deal. But what value does it add? What if we had a 50 character string of random digits be the terminating identifier for a block? What about 100 characters? What about 200? Syntax shouldn't create visual noise, it should be as lightweight as possible.
Maybe someone can justify why a 3 character word (end) doesn't really matter. But can someone give an argument on how it adds value versus one character (a bracket), or zero characters (visible at least), a tab?
- xiaodai 8y agoit's easier to read.
- mruts 8y agoIf every sentence ended in an "end" instead of a period, would you posit that that would be easier to read as well? The crux of the issue is the signal to noise ratio. The more noise there is (syntax), the more difficult it is to pick up the signal (the semantics).
- xiaodai 8y agoSentence is not code! According to your logic, when do you see {} in prose? begin some code some more code end It's easier to read.
- yellowapple 8y agoBecause 'end' has a specific meaning in English, and that meaning translates well to ending a block. If you decide you want a programming language geared toward Spanish speakers, 'end' would indeed be gibberish (unless they also speak English), but 'fin' would not be. You can certainly argue that '}' is language-agnostic and therefore a better choice, and I wouldn't disagree with you. But 'end' is by no means an arbitrary choice for a character sequence that ends a block.