[OT] Spaces/tabs (Was: simple display (from: GUI library for D))

[Jonathan M Davis]

> On 04/11/2011 08:13 AM, Jonathan M Davis wrote:
> > They mix tabs and spaces. On some lines, they use spaces and on others
> > they use tabs.
> 
> Never seen this, not even once. Messing can only happen when one
> copy-pastes from modules using spaces.

As Steve pointed out, it frequently happens when you have multiple developers 
working on the same code. It may work with one developer who likes using tabs, 
but as soon as you get a mix of developers, you invariably get a mix of spaces 
and tabs unless _everyone_ involved is really careful, and that rarely 
happens. It's just too easy to use spaces without realizing that someone else 
used tabs or even that you yourself are using spaces, depending on your 
editor's settings.

Using only spaces and no tabs avoids the entire issue and is one of the major 
reasons (if not _the_ major reason) why it is incredibly common for coding 
standards to require spaces and prohibit tabs. Obviously, you _can_ use tabs 
if you're careful - especially if you're the only programmer involved - but 
it's just simpler to disallow tabs when you're dealing with a group of 
developers.

- Jonathan M Davis