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Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness

From Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au>
Subject Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness
Date 2012-10-19 11:39 +1100
References <k5ovel$3t8$1@reader1.panix.com> <153569467.1651735.1350568758155.JavaMail.root@sequans.com>
Newsgroups comp.lang.python
Message-ID <mailman.2485.1350607199.27098.python-list@python.org> (permalink)

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Jean-Michel Pichavant <jeanmichel@sequans.com> writes:

> The 79 char limit purpose is to allow someone to read the code on a 80
> char terminal (and allow old printers to print the code).

There is a very good reason for a strict line width limit regardless of
terminal size: scanning long lines is cognitively more difficult than
scanning shorter lines.

This doesn't mean we should keep reducing the length of our lines, of
course; obviously there needs to be enough room on a line to be
expressive. But it does mean that lines which are too long are not kind
to the reader.

Another good reason: Even if you have a large terminal, you will often
need to compare distinct sections of code. Knowing that code won't
exceed 80 columns means that you can lay several windows of code
side-by-side, for a three-way merge, for example.

-- 
 \      “Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a |
  `\        finite world is either a madman or an economist.” —Kenneth |
_o__)                                                         Boulding |
Ben Finney

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Thread

A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Zero Piraeus <schesis@gmail.com> - 2012-10-18 02:06 -0400
  Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-10-18 06:31 +0000
    Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Hans Mulder <hansmu@xs4all.nl> - 2012-10-18 11:07 +0200
      Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness wxjmfauth@gmail.com - 2012-10-18 02:33 -0700
        Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Tim Chase <python.list@tim.thechases.com> - 2012-10-18 06:05 -0500
      Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-10-18 21:01 +1100
      RE: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness "Prasad, Ramit" <ramit.prasad@jpmorgan.com> - 2012-10-18 18:42 +0000
      Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2012-10-19 11:33 +1100
        Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2012-10-18 20:35 -0700
          Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-10-19 04:08 +0000
    Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Zero Piraeus <schesis@gmail.com> - 2012-10-18 06:31 -0400
  Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2012-10-17 23:55 -0700
  Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2012-10-17 23:56 -0700
  Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2012-10-18 13:16 +0000
    Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2012-10-19 11:39 +1100
  Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Den <patentsvnc@gmail.com> - 2012-10-18 08:55 -0700
    Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Neil Cerutti <neilc@norwich.edu> - 2012-10-18 16:13 +0000
      Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-10-19 03:21 +1100
      RE: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness "Prasad, Ramit" <ramit.prasad@jpmorgan.com> - 2012-10-18 18:51 +0000
    RE: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness "Prasad, Ramit" <ramit.prasad@jpmorgan.com> - 2012-10-18 18:50 +0000
    Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Zero Piraeus <schesis@gmail.com> - 2012-10-18 17:36 -0400
      Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-10-19 01:50 +0000
  Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Den <patentsvnc@gmail.com> - 2012-10-18 08:55 -0700
    Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2012-10-18 17:44 +0000
      Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Gene Heskett <gheskett@wdtv.com> - 2012-10-18 18:53 -0400
  Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Krzysztof Voss <shobbo@gmail.com> - 2012-10-19 15:16 -0700
  Re: A desperate lunge for on-topic-ness Krzysztof Voss <shobbo@gmail.com> - 2012-10-19 15:16 -0700

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