AlienBaby wrote: >> (on limiting line lengths).. > > I didn't see this mentioned; > > I have a hard time keeping python code limited to 80 char line lengths > _because_ indentation is significant,
Are you suggesting that if indentation was not significant, you wouldn't write such long lines? *wink* Whether significant or not, the fact that it is there at all is what matters. > and can end up consuming quite a lot of linespace itself. If you are using 8 space indents, do yourself, and your readers, a favour and change to 4 spaces. If you regularly have more than four or five nested indents, I would seriously advise you to refactor your code into a flatter structure. I've done a quick (and unscientific) survey of my code, and roughly 80% of it is between 1 and 3 indents (inclusive). Only a tiny portion reaches 6 indents. If I've ever gone to 7, and I can't find it with a quick random survey. > Couple that with a liking for > long_memorable_explanatory_names, and an 80 char limit causes (me) > problems. Names can be too long as well as too short. If you are a carpenter, you surely wouldn't bang nails with a metal_manually_operated_hammering_device_with_nail_removing_attachment, you would use a hammer. But even with long names, if you are *regularly* going over 80 characters, you may be doing something wrong. 80 characters is a lot -- most of my lines of code are under 50, including indentation. I haven't seen your code, so I could be way off base here, but I expect you're using deeply hierarchical data structures, and violating the Law of Demeter: paper = paper_boy.give_newspaper() # Pay the paper boy. paper_boy.collect_payment(customer.backpocket.wallet(2.0, tip=300.00)) Don't let the paper boy reach into your wallet and pay himself! -- Steven -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
