Re: Clause "with and use"

[18k11tm001@sneakemail.com (Russ)]

Preben Randhol <randhol+valid_for_reply_from_news@pvv.org> wrote in message news:<slrnbqmn3k.pk.randhol+valid_for_reply_from_news@kiuk0156.chembio.ntnu.no>...
> 
> Well I usually write it like this:
> 
> with Gdk.Types.Keysyms;          use Gdk.Types.Keysyms;
> with Gtk.Accel_Group;            use Gtk.Accel_Group;
> with Gtk;                        use Gtk;
> with Glib;                       use Glib;
> with Gdk.Types;                  use Gdk.Types;
> with Gtkada.Handlers;            use Gtkada.Handlers;
> with Gtk.Enums;                  use Gtk.Enums;
> with Program_Intl;               use Program_Intl;
> with Window.Callbacks;
> with Program_Callbacks;
> with Settings.Gui;
> with Welcome;
> with Examine;
> with Result;
> with Listing;
> with Listing.Setup;
> with Setup;
> with Gac.Help;
> 
> and I sort it so that all the with use pairs comes first.
> 
> I find that nice and readable.

It just occurrred to me that perhaps your definition of "readable"
differs from mine. You claim, for example, that

   with Gdk.Types.Keysyms;          use Gdk.Types.Keysyms;

is "more readable" than simply

   use Gdk.Types.Keysyms;

I will agree that the former requires more reading. Is that what you
mean by "more readable"?

Well, my definition of "more readable" is not "requires more reading."
This may be controversial, but my definition of "more readable" is
"easier to read."

The latter form above is clearly easier to read because it requires
only *half* the amount of reading. And not only does it cut the
reading in half, it eliminates the need to cross check to be sure that
the two identical names are indeed indentical.

How any reasonable person could possibly assert with a straight face
that twice the reading is "more readable" is beyond me. Let me propose
a thought experiment. Make an extra copy of this post, then read both
copies and verify, character by character, that the two are identical.
Then tell me if that made it "more readable."

"When you're arguing with a fool, make sure he isn't doing the same
thing." --Anon