Re: [MacPerl] Does Style Count? (formally, 'file tests')

[Vicki Brown <vlb@cfcl.com>]

At 01:38 -0800 10/30/98, Jeff at MacTech wrote:
> >For large programs, readibility depends on one's knowledge of
> >programing more than choice of syntax and code formating.
>
> I disagree. Compare the readibility of the above to a reformatted snippet
> of Chris' code from earlier in the thread:
>
>
>foreach(@ARGV){/.*:(.*)$/;$name=$1;$read=-r$_?"YES":"NO";$write=-w_?"YES
>":"NO";$exec=-x_?"YES":"NO";$kind=-d_?"FLDR":"FILE";$size=-s_;$lastmodif
>ied=-M_;write;}

Sorry, but this does not follow.  One can agree with Xah's statement
"readability depends more on one's knowledge tahn on..." without requiring
it to mean that "readability has nothing to do with formatting and syntax".
A well-formatted but poorly written piece of code is still poorly written.
On the flip side, obfuscated code is still obfuscated.

When one understands how the language works, constructs such as ?: become
readable.  We do not need to take the question of whether or not one wishes
to use a particular construct and disguise it as a question of "style".

If you are interested in style, go thou and read pp.546 - 550 of The Camel
Book.

- Vicki
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