# [SPAM] Re: Syntactic improvement to array - Thread: https://externals.io/message/27851 - Original archive: https://news-web.php.net/php.internals/27851 - Started by Ford on 2007-02-06T14:08:13+00:00 - Messages: 5 - Reply by email to internals@lists.php.net - More for agents: search with https://externals.io/search.md?q={query} · JSON API at https://externals.io/api · documentation at https://externals.io/llms.txt --- ## #27851 — Ford — 2007-02-06T14:08:13+00:00 URL: https://externals.io/message/27851#27851 > Ford, Mike wrote: > > […] > array() version actually quite UNreadable and I have > difficulty picking out what the individual arrays are; > conversely, the [] version I take in at a glance. > > That is why you have coding standards. Our doucment states that this > should be written as: > > $a = array( > 1 => array('pears', 'apples'), > 2 => array('juice', 'oranges') > ); > > I believe in either syntax, proper formatting of complex data > can solve > the readablity problems. Solve, no. Alleviate, yes. 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). With this version: $a = [ 1 => ['pears', 'apples'], 2 => ['juice', 'oranges'] ]; 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! *That* makes this syntax a no-brainer for me, personally ;-) 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 To view the terms under which this email is distributed, please go to http://disclaimer.leedsmet.ac.uk/email.htm --- ## #27854 — Robert Cummings — 2007-02-06T14:41:34+00:00 URL: https://externals.io/message/27851#27854 · In reply to: #27851 > > > […] > > Solve, no. Alleviate, yes. > > 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). > > With this version: > > $a = [ > 1 => ['pears', 'apples'], > 2 => ['juice', 'oranges'] > ]; > > 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! > > *That* makes this syntax a no-brainer for me, personally ;-) Ummm, you still had to read it. One "glance" just so happens to involve the brain grokking the content, just like reading. Cheers, Rob. -- .------------------------------------------------------------. | InterJinn Application Framework - http://www.interjinn.com | :------------------------------------------------------------: | An application and templating framework for PHP. Boasting | | a powerful, scalable system for accessing system services | | such as forms, properties, sessions, and caches. InterJinn | | also provides an extremely flexible architecture for | | creating re-usable components quickly and easily. | `------------------------------------------------------------' --- ## #27855 — Alain Williams — 2007-02-06T14:46:53+00:00 URL: https://externals.io/message/27851#27855 · In reply to: #27854 > > > […] > > Ummm, you still had to read it. One "glance" just so happens to involve > the brain grokking the content, just like reading. I must agree that the [] is easier/quicker to read than array(), but is it really worth it ... too many syntaxes for the same thing ? Anyway: it makes php look like perl -- and that would never do :-) -- Alain Williams Linux Consultant - Mail systems, Web sites, Networking, Programmer, IT Lecturer. +44 (0) 787 668 0256 http://www.phcomp.co.uk/ Parliament Hill Computers Ltd. Registration Information: http://www.phcomp.co.uk/contact.php #include Anyway: it makes php look like perl -- and that would never do :-) Can we please stop that FUD? (even if it is meant as a joke) ... if at all then you might say it looks like Javascript, Python or Ruby. Perl uses an ugly mix of () and [] to emulate multi-dimensional arrays rather unlike the syntax proposed here. Thanks, - Chris --- ## #27857 — Alain Williams — 2007-02-06T15:19:25+00:00 URL: https://externals.io/message/27851#27857 · In reply to: #27856 > Alain Williams wrote: > > […] > > Can we please stop that FUD? (even if it is meant as a joke) No: it was NOT a serious point. What is wrong with the occasional grin ? > ... if at all then you might say it looks like Javascript, Python or > Ruby. Perl uses an ugly mix of () and [] to emulate multi-dimensional > arrays rather unlike the syntax proposed here. > > Thanks, > - Chris -- Alain Williams Linux Consultant - Mail systems, Web sites, Networking, Programmer, IT Lecturer. +44 (0) 787 668 0256 http://www.phcomp.co.uk/ Parliament Hill Computers Ltd. Registration Information: http://www.phcomp.co.uk/contact.php #include