[net.lang.c] Dissent on a C style rule - aesthetic?

wald (10/22/82)

  Taking head in hands I disagree with a C style rule that I see widely
recommended and used. Please hold the axes!

  I prefer having the closing } of a block indented with the block, of
which I consider it logically a part. I.e

	if ( ... ) {
	    ...
	    ...
	    }

	 rather than

	if ( ... ) {
	    ...
	    ...
	}

I think it reads easier, especially if there are lots of levels.  However,
I will probably soon go with the majority cause I can definitely see the
desirability of having all C code look sort of alike (hear that all you
who put NO comments in your code).  
  However, I'd like to know if this is an external aesthetic value being
accepted (imposed?) on me or whether a "task force" or other unwieldy group 
decided it was "for the best".

	bob waldstein
	mhuxt!wald

john (10/22/82)

Actually, I find that the following is an extremely easy style to read
(especially in large programs with lots of levels)

                  if ( ... )
                      {
                      ...
                      ...
                      }

Is there some reason why the other form is a "standard"?

doehring (10/27/82)

I don't agree with having the '{' on a separate line when you have 
lots of blocks, this is mainly because here at Yale, we have FANTASTIC
screen editors on both our DEC-20s and our VAXEN, Z for the former and
WIN on the later ( Win will also run on VMS systems ).  
Both of these editors have a nice little feature called paren balance
which will find the open (,{, or [ which is matched to your present 
cursor postion and move the cursor to that character.  If it matches 
one which is not on the current screen, it will show the matching LINE
on the bottom of the screen and when I see 
	{
it really tells me nothing, while
	if ( ave < total ) {
tells me EXACTLY what I matched.
Also, I like the look of the above code more than having an extra 
line following the control statement, but it is up to the individual
as long as it is READABLE.  

					Martin S. Doehring, '83
					decvax!yale-comix!doehring

P.S.- I also like to have the close brace even with the code it is 
	closing, rather than the control statement, it makes 
	if / else statements easier to understand.
e
Oh, well, I guess the editor escape didn't work.....

perry (11/03/82)

<flame on>

My how  important  we must all feel! After all,  twenty  different  letters
exclaiming how THEIR  if  statement indentation style is superior! Dont you
think we have all seen enough of this topic? Next, we'll have seventy notes
explaining how their way of indexing through an array is the greatest thing
since sliced bread.

I am sorry to be a  flamer  but  enough  is  enough. For  those people just
discovering the difference between & and &&, reach around and give yourself
a very private and quiet pat on the back.

Apologies again. (I'm usually not so crabby)

<flame off>

aps (11/15/82)

Genrado!johnl,
	I also like the format
		if (I_HAD_MONEY)
			{
			...;
			}
	and have used it since I first learned C.

		$.02
	aps.