shouting versus dotting

[Andrei Alexandrescu]

Christopher Wright wrote:
> Andrei Alexandrescu wrote:
>> The problem I see with "!" as a template instantiation is not 
>> technical. I write a fair amount of templated code and over years the 
>> "!" did not grow on me at all. I was time and again consoled by Walter 
>> than one day that will happen, but it never did. I also realized that 
>> Walter didn't see a problem with it because he writes only little 
>> template code.
>>
>> I didn't have much beef with other oddities unique to D. For example, 
>> I found no problem accommodating binary "~" and I was wondering what 
>> makes "!" different. I was just looking at a page full of templates 
>> and it looked like crap.
>>
>> One morning I woke up with the sudden realization of what the problem 
>> was: the shouting.
> 
> Not only that, but typing it is annoying. First you need to put the 
> right pinky on the shift key, which is a long reach; then you need to 
> put the left pinky on the 1 key, which is a long reach. Then you need to 
> move your left pinky all the way back to the left shift key, which is a 
> short reach, and move your right ring finger up to the 9 key.
> 
> It's a lot of reaching and back and forth.
> 
> But I don't favor '.' since it's already used.

I don't favor "." any more than the next guy, but I am glad there is 
awareness of how unfit a choice "!" is. If you have any ideas, please 
post them! Ah! I! Exclaimed! Again!

Andrei!