Re: Language Choice and Coding style

[phoward@sunsrv13.clr.com (Phil Howard)]

On 3 Jul 1996 08:27:05 -0400 Robert Dewar (dewar@cs.nyu.edu) wrote:

| More importantly, (b) if programmers can't even agree to use a common
| standard for trivial formatting issues, you have on your hands the kind
| of personality that just does not like conformity and consistency. We
| have certainly seen that personality displayed by a few people here. If
| you have someone like that, then, much more seriously than not indenting
| right, they are likely to fight against conformity to much more important
| requirements for consistent standards at the design level.
|
| People who insist on coding in their own style should stick to one person
| projects in my opinion. Consistency and conformity at *all* levels of
| a program, ranging from the simplest formatting issues to fundamental
| design structure, is an absolute requirement in multi-person projects.

Certainly programmers don't agree on what the common standard _should_ be.
We see that here if we dare describe our preferences.

I have found that certain styles are very hard to read and other styles
are very easy.  You can bet I avoid the styles that are hard to read.
Following up on what you said, I'd suggest a programmer who finds the
standard style where they work to be hard to read to polish their resume.

But I've also found programmers who find my style hard to read, and who
use a style I find hard to read.  It's not just a matter of degree; it can
be totally opposite.

I'd be curious, however, if the diversity of styles among programmers is
generally reflected in similar proportion in the diversity of style in
different programming environments with a chosen style.

BTW, just how many different styles are there?
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Phil Howard KA9WGN             +---------------------------------------------+
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