Re:CoffeeScript: less typing, bad readability
by klibertp on Monday September 17, 2012 @06:21PM
(#4535220)
Readability is measurable, that's true, but the second part of your sentence makes me wonder if you really understand what readability is.
Do not confuse readability with familiarity. Also, don't forget that readability is a function of both syntax and semantics.
Also, I really don't know what connection there could be between aesthetic preference and quality of code produced. Are you aware of some study that show that kind of connection? With conclusion which says that if I like line noise then I am a great programmer, and if I like whitespace I am bad? If not then your 'tl;dr' is just stupid, sorry.
Re:CoffeeScript: less typing, bad readability
by lucian303 on Monday September 17, 2012 @09:55PM
(#4535889)
This isn't about aesthetics, it's about grammar. Just as in written human languages, computer languages have grammar that make things easier to read and understand. How well that grammar is done depends on the language. My point is that if aesthetics is one of the reasons you choose a language, you really don't understand software development or the simple idea of "use the right tool for the right job."
Re:CoffeeScript: less typing, bad readability
by orangecat on Monday September 17, 2012 @11:18PM
(#4536119)
My point is that if aesthetics is one of the reasons you choose a language, you really don't understand software development
Some would disagree: http://paulgraham.com/pypar.html
Couldn't agree with you more. Readability is measurable and considering that a lot of programmers come from C-type languages, I really don't see why people try to modify an existing formula (as badly implemented as that formula is in JS).
tl;dr: Let's face it, if you're using Coffeescript or similar because there are too many braces or parenthesis, perhaps you should quit development right now and take a class on basic algebra, quit that and save the world your horrific code. Seriously.