shouting versus dotting

[Christopher Wright]

Andrei Alexandrescu wrote:
> 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!

I agree with Mr. Martin II: colon might be an unambiguous option, and 
for qwerty keyboards, you don't have to switch shift keys. (I use 
dvorak, so it'd be slightly more awkward, but still a fair bit more 
easier than a bang.)

Also, colon's taller than dot, so it's easier to see.