6 ms·
> Why do we still have to name variables OmegaZero when our computers now know how to render 0x03a9+0x2080 properly? Isn't this obvious? What keyboard has 'Ω'
by samfoo 16y ago
> Why do we still have to name variables OmegaZero when our computers now know how to render 0x03a9+0x2080 properly?
Isn't this obvious? What keyboard has 'Ω' or '₀' easily accessible? I'd be pretty upset refactoring or reusing any code that forced me to copy-pasta or type some crazed key combination just to render a character. It might not look perfect, but the lowest common denominator (ASCII char set) for programming works because every keyboard layout on the planet can enter those characters in (mostly) one keystroke.
Am I missing the joke?
- edsrzf 16y agoI couldn't agree more, and I really don't understand the author's argument. He refers to APL, a language that's legendary for its use of wild symbols, as "write only," but then seems to be complaining that newer languages aren't doing the same thing. I think Go actually gets this right: its syntax doesn't require any wacky characters, but it allows identifiers to consist of any Unicode characters classified as letters or numbers. The syntax caters to the lowest common denominator, but if I really want to name my variables in Greek, I can.
- gaius 16y agoI like the Yi editor - if I have \x -> in my source it will render it on screen as λx→ but leave the underlying file in ASCII.