In my first days as a UNIX user (mid 70's), operating at 110 baud,
mechanical tabs were much faster than multiple spaces. And with
now-laughably small disks, saving space in files was a consideration, too.
Neither should matter now, but early training can be difficult to overcome.

I find it easier to read code when statements aren't split across
multiple lines (and therefore sometimes across pages). So I'm now inclined
to favor smaller tab-stops.

On Thu, Mar 4, 2021 at 11:53 AM Will Senn <will.senn@gmail.com> wrote:

> OK. So, I've been trying to decide (for the last time, I swear) whether to
> use tabs or spaces in my code... I did a quick pulse-check on the state of
> argument and it appears to be alive and well in 2021. My question for y'all
> is, was there a preference in the very early days or not? I saw an article
> talking about the 20 year feud, but that's not my recollection. In 1994,
> nobody agreed on this, but I'm sure it predates my entree into the field.
> I'm thinking the history of entab and detab are somehow related, but I've
> been wrong on these sorts of thoughts before. What say you?
>
> Will
>