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Groups > comp.lang.c > #7471

Re: Typography of programs

From pacman@kosh.dhis.org (Alan Curry)
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: Typography of programs
Date 2011-07-02 20:52 +0000
Organization Aioe.org NNTP Server
Message-ID <iuo0eh$jb2$1@speranza.aioe.org> (permalink)
References <iugem2$np3$1@speranza.aioe.org>

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In article <iugem2$np3$1@speranza.aioe.org>,
jacob navia  <jacob@jspamsink.org> wrote:
>
>Actually, when C was conceived there weren't any bit mapped graphics
>or any such hardware that we now consider common place.
>
>The typography of C remained the same, as all other computer languages,
>obsessed with the character sets from 32 to 127 ASCII codes. Then, we
>write != instead of the inequality sign, = instead of the assignment
>arrow, "&&" instead of /\,  "||" instead of \/.

When those symbols were conceived, there weren't any computers. There
wasn't any limit to the number of different squiggles that could be put
down on paper because people were doing it with pens (and, I assume,
periodically venturing out to kill a squid for the ink and a bird for
the feather). Now we have keyboards, which allow us to write much
faster.

>
>Programs would be clearer if we would use today's hardware to show
>the usual signs, instead of constructs adapted to the teletype
>typewriter of the seventies.

Programs would be clearer if we would get rid of some excess punctuation
characters (ASCII has 33 of them, that's too many already). Like the
backslash. What the hell is a backslash anyway? It's not even a real
punctuation mark. Bob Bemer made it up in the middle of the 20th century
and it's been confusing and annoying people ever since.

In summary:

Have you ever considered that maybe the biggest symbol set isn't
automatically the best?

-- 
Alan Curry

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Thread

Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-30 02:06 +0200
  Re: Typography of programs Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-29 19:57 -0500
    Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-30 07:19 +0200
      Re: Typography of programs Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-30 01:08 -0500
        Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-30 08:16 +0200
          Re: Typography of programs Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-30 01:56 -0500
            Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-30 09:06 +0200
              Re: Typography of programs Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-30 02:25 -0500
                Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-30 10:21 +0200
  Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-29 21:43 -0700
    Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-30 07:21 +0200
      Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-29 22:49 -0700
  Re: Typography of programs Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-30 16:59 +1200
    Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-30 07:23 +0200
      Re: Typography of programs Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-30 17:25 +1200
        Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-29 22:52 -0700
          Re: Typography of programs Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-30 17:53 +1200
            Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-29 22:58 -0700
              Re: Typography of programs Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-30 21:11 +1200
                Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-30 11:17 +0200
                Re: Typography of programs Angel <angel+news@spamcop.net> - 2011-06-30 12:19 +0000
                Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-30 17:30 +0200
                Re: Typography of programs Angel <angel+news@spamcop.net> - 2011-06-30 15:40 +0000
                Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-30 12:02 -0700
                Re: Typography of programs Ralf Damaschke <rwspam@gmx.de> - 2011-06-30 20:13 +0000
                Re: Typography of programs "Herbert Rosenau" <os2guy@pc-rosenau.de> - 2011-07-02 22:21 +0000
                Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-07-03 01:22 +0200
                Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-30 11:43 -0700
      Re: Typography of programs Angel <angel+news@spamcop.net> - 2011-06-30 08:20 +0000
      Re: Typography of programs Nobody <nobody@nowhere.com> - 2011-06-30 17:13 +0100
      Re: Typography of programs "Herbert Rosenau" <os2guy@pc-rosenau.de> - 2011-07-01 08:52 +0000
        Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-07-01 10:58 +0200
          Re: Typography of programs Angel <angel+news@spamcop.net> - 2011-07-01 09:27 +0000
            Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-07-01 12:04 +0200
              Re: Typography of programs Angel <angel+news@spamcop.net> - 2011-07-01 12:42 +0000
        Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-07-01 02:05 -0700
    Re: Typography of programs "Wolfgang.Draxinger" <Wolfgang.Draxinger@physik.uni-muenchen.de> - 2011-07-01 18:10 +0200
      Re: Typography of programs Ben Pfaff <blp@cs.stanford.edu> - 2011-07-01 09:21 -0700
        Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-07-01 14:36 -0700
          Re: Typography of programs Joe Wright <joewwright@comcast.net> - 2011-07-01 19:29 -0400
            Re: Typography of programs Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> - 2011-07-02 11:22 -0700
          Re: Typography of programs cri@tiac.net (Richard Harter) - 2011-07-01 23:59 +0000
  Re: Typography of programs Ike Naar <ike@iceland.freeshell.org> - 2011-06-30 07:48 +0000
    Re: Typography of programs "Joachim Schmitz" <nospam.jojo@schmitz-digital.de> - 2011-06-30 10:03 +0200
    Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-30 10:32 +0200
    Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-30 01:34 -0700
      Re: Typography of programs Chris H <chris@phaedsys.org> - 2011-06-30 11:06 +0100
        Re: Typography of programs Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> - 2011-06-30 16:05 -0700
      Re: Typography of programs Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-06-30 14:52 +0000
        Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-30 11:39 -0700
          Re: Typography of programs Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-06-30 20:55 +0000
            Re: Typography of programs "Herbert Rosenau" <os2guy@pc-rosenau.de> - 2011-07-02 22:21 +0000
  Re: Typography of programs Ben Pfaff <blp@cs.stanford.edu> - 2011-06-30 09:11 -0700
    Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-30 21:50 +0200
      Re: Typography of programs Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-07-01 08:26 +1200
        Re: Typography of programs "Herbert Rosenau" <os2guy@pc-rosenau.de> - 2011-07-02 22:21 +0000
      Re: Typography of programs Ben Pfaff <blp@cs.stanford.edu> - 2011-06-30 13:38 -0700
  Re: Typography of programs gordonb.9z4n8@burditt.org (Gordon Burditt) - 2011-07-01 23:16 -0500
    Re: Typography of programs Ben Pfaff <blp@cs.stanford.edu> - 2011-07-01 21:46 -0700
    Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-07-01 21:52 -0700
      Re: Typography of programs gordonb.e78ud@burditt.org (Gordon Burditt) - 2011-07-02 02:14 -0500
        Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-07-02 00:38 -0700
          Re: Typography of programs Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-07-02 15:00 -0700
          Re: Typography of programs Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-07-04 00:20 +0000
            Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-07-03 18:28 -0700
              Re: Typography of programs Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-07-04 04:42 +0000
                Re: Typography of programs Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2011-07-04 01:01 -0500
                Re: Typography of programs Dr Nick <3-nospam@temporary-address.org.uk> - 2011-07-04 08:15 +0100
                Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-07-04 00:40 -0700
                Re: Typography of programs gordonb.3nbmk@burditt.org (Gordon Burditt) - 2011-07-04 07:42 -0500
                Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-07-04 07:15 -0700
                Re: Typography of programs Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-07-05 20:21 +0000
                Re: Typography of programs Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2011-07-04 09:56 -0500
                Re: Typography of programs Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-07-05 20:21 +0000
                Re: Typography of programs Angel <angel+news@spamcop.net> - 2011-07-04 08:04 +0000
                Re: Typography of programs Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2011-07-04 09:22 -0500
                Re: Typography of programs Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-07-05 20:21 +0000
                Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-07-05 22:45 +0200
                Re: Typography of programs Willem <willem@turtle.stack.nl> - 2011-07-05 21:52 +0000
                Re: Typography of programs Squeamizh <squeamz@hotmail.com> - 2011-07-05 20:03 -0700
                Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-07-06 08:46 +0200
                Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-07-06 00:08 -0700
                Re: Typography of programs Willem <willem@turtle.stack.nl> - 2011-07-06 12:12 +0000
                Re: Typography of programs Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2011-07-06 11:10 -0500
                Re: Typography of programs Dr Nick <3-nospam@temporary-address.org.uk> - 2011-07-06 07:42 +0100
    Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-07-02 11:02 +0200
      Re: Typography of programs Dr Nick <3-nospam@temporary-address.org.uk> - 2011-07-02 10:22 +0100
        Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-07-02 13:51 +0200
          Re: Typography of programs Dr Nick <3-nospam@temporary-address.org.uk> - 2011-07-02 15:45 +0100
      Re: Typography of programs gordonb.piror@burditt.org (Gordon Burditt) - 2011-07-02 07:31 -0500
        Re: Typography of programs Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> - 2011-07-03 01:47 -0700
      Re: Typography of programs Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2011-07-03 03:10 -0700
        Re: Typography of programs superpollo <superpollo@tznvy.pbz> - 2011-07-04 15:19 +0200
      Re: Typography of programs "Herbert Rosenau" <os2guy@pc-rosenau.de> - 2011-07-03 19:39 +0000
        Re: Typography of programs "Kleuskes & Moos" <kleuske@xs4all.nl> - 2011-07-03 14:01 -0700
          Re: Typography of programs Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-07-03 14:26 -0700
            Re: Typography of programs "Kleuskes & Moos" <kleuske@xs4all.nl> - 2011-07-04 01:19 -0700
              Re: Typography of programs Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-07-04 14:19 -0700
        Re: Typography of programs Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> - 2011-07-03 20:46 -0700
          Re: Typography of programs Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-07-04 04:42 +0000
          Re: Typography of programs Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2011-07-04 00:43 -0500
            Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-07-03 23:03 -0700
              Re: Typography of programs James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-07-04 06:32 -0400
              Re: Typography of programs Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2011-07-04 09:08 -0500
          Re: Typography of programs Phil Carmody <thefatphil_demunged@yahoo.co.uk> - 2011-07-07 18:01 +0300
  Re: Typography of programs Dr Nick <3-nospam@temporary-address.org.uk> - 2011-07-02 16:28 +0100
  Re: Typography of programs pacman@kosh.dhis.org (Alan Curry) - 2011-07-02 20:52 +0000
    Re: Typography of programs Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2011-07-04 00:50 -0500
  Re: Typography of programs "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-07-03 10:04 +0200
    Re: Typography of programs "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-07-03 10:27 +0200
  Re: Typography of programs Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2011-07-03 03:19 -0700
  Re: Typography of programs "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-07-06 10:14 +0100
    Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-07-06 02:48 -0700
      Re: Typography of programs "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-07-06 11:47 +0100
        Re: Typography of programs jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-07-06 14:46 +0200
          Re: Typography of programs China Blue Dolls <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2011-07-06 07:44 -0700
          Re: Typography of programs Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-07-07 07:50 +1200

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