We have languages where the source code is a literal serialization of the abstract syntax tree. This property is homoiconicity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hom

We have languages where the source code is a literal serialization of the abstract syntax tree. This property is homoiconicity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homoiconicity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homoiconicity), and is a key factor in the success of s-expressions used in Lisps. It comes with all sorts of benefits--like having a macro system which rewrites not the text, but the source of one's code. However, destroying formatting information in the source can do more harm than good. Often we use alignment to enhance readability, or to call out similarity or symmetry between parts of the code. I think you're better off just using a set of well-known formatting rules (like those built in to your editors) than trying to eliminate formatting altogether.