From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 MIME-Version: 1.0 In-Reply-To: References: Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:27:11 +0100 Message-ID: <6a3ae47e0908130327y71ef0e6biad76c927f4de45c2@mail.gmail.com> From: Robert Raschke To: Fans of the OS Plan 9 from Bell Labs <9fans@9fans.net> Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=0023545bd08ce82d5e0471036069 Subject: Re: [9fans] Using proportional fonts in Acme for Programming Topicbox-Message-UUID: 45924866-ead5-11e9-9d60-3106f5b1d025 --0023545bd08ce82d5e0471036069 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 10:14 AM, Aaron W. Hsu wrote: > So, I was browsing around the other day looking at Acme resources, and I > discovered an old post from 1995 wherein someone advocated the use of > proportional fonts for programming in Acme. I've been programming using Wily, Acme, and Acme SAC for 15 years now, and this has always been using proportional fonts. Very, very rarely do I need to look at fixed font representation, and I can't remember when the last time actually was? I am so used to this, that I find it difficult to read code in a fixed font, color overloaded, highlighting editor. All the flashiness detracts from the code I'm trying to understand. Sometimes when I have to understand a bit of foreign code, I go through the code and re-indent to fit my view of the world. I use this as an exercise to help me understand what the code does, not because I don't like the style. For code that uses brackets of some persuasion for grouping code, the double-click text selection shows me exactly the grouping. And I don't get mislead by wrong indentation very easily. Proportional fonts can also greatly reduce pointless discussions about coding style. Robby --0023545bd08ce82d5e0471036069 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 10:14 AM, Aaron W. H= su <arcfide@sac= rideo.us> wrote:
So, I was browsing around the other day looking at Acme resources, and I di= scovered an old post from 1995 wherein someone advocated the use of proport= ional fonts for programming in Acme.

=C2=A0I've b= een programming using Wily, Acme, and Acme SAC for 15 years now, and this h= as always been using proportional fonts. Very, very rarely do I need to loo= k at fixed font representation, and I can't remember when the last time= actually was?

I am so used to this, that I find it difficult to read code in a fixed = font, color overloaded, highlighting editor. All the flashiness detracts fr= om the code I'm trying to understand.

Sometimes when I have to u= nderstand a bit of foreign code, I go through the code and re-indent to fit= my view of the world. I use this as an exercise to help me understand what= the code does, not because I don't like the style.

For code that uses brackets of some persuasion for grouping code, the d= ouble-click text selection shows me exactly the grouping. And I don't g= et mislead by wrong indentation very easily.

Proportional fonts can = also greatly reduce pointless discussions about coding style.

Robby

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