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Re:80 chars per line is great by ratsbane on Monday March 25, 2013 @10:30AM (#5437120)
80 characters seems like such an arbitrary restriction. Once upon a time we were limited to 80 characters but we were also limited to monochrome ASCII text. Just as syntax highlighting improves readability, I think the occasional use of longer lines where appropriate improves readability - the shape of the code gives your eye additional clues about where you are in a section of code, allows you to have more lines on the screen at once, find what you're looking for faster, and isolates details that aren't crucial in getting the big picture. E.g. - inline lambdas or anonymous functions, strings, etc.

When I work on a codebase with formatting standards I try to follow them. This is 2013, though, and when I work on my own stuff I format it to get the most readability on my Macbook or 32" 1080p desktop screen, not a VT100 from 1987.

Re:80 chars per line is great by jimktrains2 on Monday March 25, 2013 @10:32AM (#5437132)
> When I work on a codebase with formatting standards I try to follow them. This is 2013, though, and when I work on my own stuff I format it to get the most readability on my Macbook or 32" 1080p desktop screen, not a VT100 from 1987.

And then someone working on your code on an eeePC will have a great time!

Re:80 chars per line is great by cabirum on Monday March 25, 2013 @10:36AM (#5437154)
The options are: use smaller font size, enable word-wrap, buy a higher-resolution display (or two), use your IDE to auto-format code according to your preferences. I don't really see anybody using eeeePC for serious coding in 2013.
Re:80 chars per line is great by jimktrains2 on Monday March 25, 2013 @11:13AM (#5437386)
> use smaller font size

Makes the code harder to read

> enable word-wrap

Makes the code harder to read

> buy a higher-resolution display

Increases cost and I can't take an external on the subway/train.

> use your IDE to auto-format code according to your preferences

So, make it 80 to 120 chars per line myself

> I don't really see anybody using eeeePC for serious coding in 2013.

Because the year means sooooo much. Who are you to choose when and how I code.

Re:80 chars per line is great by cabirum on Monday March 25, 2013 @11:20AM (#5437434)
> Who are you to choose when and how I code

I'm asking the same question when 80 chars limit is enforced on me.

Re:80 chars per line is great by jimktrains2 on Monday March 25, 2013 @12:06PM (#5437751)
80 to 120 char has other advantages over just screen size. It's easier to read as well. Working on a team is giving and taking of everyone's capabilities. I've had to work on teams that use odd tabbing, but I do it because that's what others use.
Re:80 chars per line is great by ratsbane on Monday March 25, 2013 @10:35AM (#5437151)
If you're doing a lot of development on an eeePC then line length may not be your biggest obstacle.
Re:80 chars per line is great by jimktrains2 on Monday March 25, 2013 @11:14AM (#5437387)
Who are you to choose when and how I code. eeePCs work well in commuting situations.
Re:80 chars per line is great by tomsthumb on Monday March 25, 2013 @11:41AM (#5437583)
Visual Studio 2010 ain't quite zippy on a netbook. They are fantastic, but they do have notable limits.
Re:80 chars per line is great by jimktrains2 on Monday March 25, 2013 @12:05PM (#5437738)
Sure, but I dev in vim, linux, and the associated compiler/interpreter. A netbook is quite a handy for that type of dev.