Formatting code should be unnecessary

Re:Formatting code should be unnecessary by tacitusarc on Monday September 08, 2025 @10:47AM (#45169001)

Did you read the example pietnas gave? The changed formatting ruined the communicative intent of his code. Formatters do that a lot, and it makes the code unambiguously worse.

I don’t really care about whether the back is plywood or whatever. I don’t know how to write plywood code. I do care about creating clear, readable code that communicates my intent. Sometimes formatters help with that. Often they hinder, as they reflect the arbitrary aesthetic preferences of their creators.

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Re:Formatting code should be unnecessary by iainmerrick on Tuesday September 09, 2025 @11:27AM (#45183304)

I don't see "pietnas" anywhere; do you mean the "important_numbers" example from maratc?

If so, I think a trailing comma is the correct fix, as described here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45168308

In this case I think the trailing comma is an improvement, so the formatter is steering you towards a better overall solution. However, even if you dislike the trailing comma, it's more important for the formatting to be consistent and robust, so I still think it's better to work within the limitations of the formatter.

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Re:Formatting code should be unnecessary by tacitusarc on Tuesday September 09, 2025 @05:14PM (#45189275)

I honestly have no idea where I read pietnas. The comment you identified was the one I was referring to.

I care about consistency, but not foolishly so. I suppose an important question is: under what circumstances is consistency undesirable?

I believe that consistency is not an end goal, but a means to achieve clear communication. When being consistent results in less clarity, it should be abandoned in favor of more effective communication.

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