Andrew Berg <bahamutzero8...@gmail.com> writes: > On 2/23/2012 4:43 PM, Dave Angel wrote: > > First thing I'd do is to disable tab logic in the editor. When you > > press the tab key, there's no excuse for an editor to actually put a tab > > in the file. It should adjust the column by adding the appropriate > > number of spaces. > Unless, of course, you know, you actually /want/ to use tabs (the > horror!). The decision whether to use tabs or spaces shouldn't be made > for the novice programmer.
Those two positions yo describe are in conflict. Are you referring to novice programmers – who, by any reasonable definition of “novice”, don't have an opinion on the tabs-versus-spaces indentation debate? Or are you talking about people who are experienced enough to have an opinion and expect their editor to allow them the choice? > I recommend using UTF-8 always unless there's some reason not to. Likewise, I recommend using spaces for indentation always, unless there's some reason not to. The reason is the same: spaces for indentation and UTF-8 for encoding will both allow them the best chance of ignoring the issue as irrelevant, by enabling the smoothest collaboration with the vast majority of other programmers who have to work with them. And in both those issues, I think it's ludicrous to expect the novice programmer to care enough about the matter to have an opinion and select a configuration option. The editor authors should choose the best option for them as a default, and let most users sail on, happily ignorant of the flame wars they have avoided. -- \ “In the long run nothing can withstand reason and experience, | `\ and the contradiction which religion offers to both is all too | _o__) palpable.” —Sigmund Freud | Ben Finney -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
