python vs d

[Chris via Digitalmars-d]

On Wednesday, 30 April 2014 at 10:16:12 UTC, Ola Fosheim Grøstad 
wrote:
> On Wednesday, 30 April 2014 at 08:52:48 UTC, Chris wrote:
>> Say you have a Python file with 500 lines of code. Try to copy 
>> and paste something with a different indentation from 
>> somewhere else into an if statement.
>
> Paste in non-formatting-mode and use the editor's ability to 
> block indent? Having an editor that will indent/unindent 
> regions when you hit tab/shift-tab helps.

Yes it helps, but a language's syntax / usability should not 
depend on tools like editors. Also, what if I want to use an 
editor that doesn't support all the fancy formatting stuff?

>> This kind of patronizing bullshit was invented for 
>> non-programmers who might make a mess of the code otherwise.
>
> It is true that Python grew out of a programming language 
> tradition meant for teaching/prototyping.
>
> But the Python syntax it is more useful for an interpreter 
> prompt (REPL) than a syntax with explicit begin/end markers. 
> Most of the non-trivial transformations I do start at the REPL 
> before being pasted into the editor.
>
>> In D you can do this:
>>
>> if (mode == "TEST") {  // Second block added later
>> if (x == 1) {  // First block
>> writeln("Hurray!");
>> }
>> }
>
> I think Go did the right thing by not requiring the redundant 
> parantheses on the if statement and perhaps also by allowing 
> the omission of semicolons where appropriate etc. Room for 
> improved legibility right there.
>
> In Python I would probably use «TEST» rather than 
> «mode=="test"»:
>
> if TEST&& x == 1:

By this you change the substance of the if statement merely for 
test purposes, i.e.

if x == 1: > if TEST && x == 1:

which is not very elegant, and it's error prone (what if you 
overlook the TEST && bit for release?)

In my D example you leave the essential part untouched. On top of 
that, the fact that to if statements are at the same indentation 
level makes it easier to spot that there is something unusual 
going on there.