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Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2007 15:41:38 -0000
Message-ID: <CDA511FF6152D14E922434CE338CE8BB04210158@leedsmet-exch1.leedsmet.ac.uk>
Thread-Topic: [PHP-DEV] [SPAM] Re: [PHP-DEV] Syntactic improvement to array
thread-index: AcdJ/Y3Dx56/ngwCSzyRYoYTLnbR5QAAURtg
To: "Robert Cummings" <robert@interjinn.com>
Cc: "Brian Moon" <brianm@dealnews.com>,
	<internals@lists.php.net>
Subject: RE: [PHP-DEV] [SPAM] Re: [PHP-DEV] Syntactic improvement to array
From: M.Ford@leedsmet.ac.uk ("Ford, Mike")

On 06 February 2007 14:42, Robert Cummings wrote:

> On Tue, 2007-02-06 at 14:08 +0000, Ford, Mike wrote:
> > On 05 February 2007 17:29, Brian Moon wrote:
> > > That is why you have coding standards.  Our doucment states that
> > > this should be written as:=20
> > >=20
> > > $a =3D array(
> > > 	1 =3D> array('pears', 'apples'),
> > > 	2 =3D> array('juice', 'oranges')
> > > );
> > >=20
> > > I believe in either syntax, proper formatting of complex data can
> > > solve the readablity problems.
> >=20
> > Solve, no.  Alleviate, yes.
> >=20
> > Given the above, the layout tells me there's some kind of structure
> > going on, but I still have to actually *read* it to discover
> > that there are arrays involved (and where they start and end).
> >=20
> > With this version:
> >=20
> >   $a =3D [
> >  	 1 =3D> ['pears', 'apples'],
> >  	 2 =3D> ['juice', 'oranges']
> > 	];
> >=20
> > I can take one glance and tell there are nested arrays involved, and
> > what their scopes are -- I'd say my comprehension speed is at least
> > an order of magnitude faster!=20
> >=20
> > *That* makes this syntax a no-brainer for me, personally ;-)
>=20
> Ummm, you still had to read it. One "glance" just so happens to
> involve the brain grokking the content, just like reading.

No, I didn't have to read it.  I had to look at it and see its shape, and I=
 may or may not have grokked it, but I didn't read it.  I still have no ide=
a what's actually *in* the arrays, I just know there are arrays and how the=
y're structured. My brain, virtually instantaneously, goes, "Oh, brackets, =
nested arrays, 2 short arrays nested in an enclosing outer one!".  I don't =
class that as reading, just visual comprehension.

With the long version, my thought process goes more like "Uh, oh, indentati=
on, must be some structure here.  Can't see any obvious syntactic markers, =
just a mush of characters, so better read it. 'array', uh, ok an array, wha=
t's in it? explicit index 1 is, oh, 'array' again, ok, so we've got nested =
arrays, presumably this line is a self-contained inner array? let's see, 'p=
ears', 'apples', and, oh yes, a proper matching close parenthesis; next lin=
e similar, explicit index 2, 'juice', 'oranges' and a close parenthesis, yu=
p and a proper closing parenthesis for the outer array; right, 2 short arra=
ys nested in an outer enclosing one."  See how I've actually had to read an=
d process *every* *single* *word* *and* *character* on the page?  See how m=
uch slower it was?  Now, that's what I call reading.

My brain may be weird and unusual in working this way, but it does so I've =
become accustomed to it!  I know it's off the norm in other areas (I have n=
o problem keeping a dozen or so PINs in my head and reliably producing the =
right one without hesitation, and I generally remember personal ID, bank ac=
count and credit card numbers without even trying) so it wouldn't surprise =
me to find I'm way off the curve here too.  Just permit me my little foible=
s, eh?

Cheers!

Mike

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Ford,  Electronic Information Services Adviser,
Learning Support Services, Learning & Information Services,
JG125, James Graham Building, Leeds Metropolitan University,
Headingley Campus, LEEDS,  LS6 3QS,  United Kingdom
Email: m.ford@leedsmet.ac.uk
Tel: +44 113 283 2600 extn 4730      Fax:  +44 113 283 3211=20


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