> The popular scripting language Python
> (http://www.python.org) uses indentation as the primary
> mechanism for structuring code.

[. . .]

> I don't know what (if any) theoretical work this design decision was based
> on.

I've heard that Python's use of indentation derives from
Haskell (which, as I mentioned in the previous message got
it from Landin's ISWIM� via Miranda), although I could
easily beleive a more direct route from ISWIM. I forgot to
mention that BCPL had a relaxed attitude to semicolons,
driven by newlines.

> (Also, it might be worth noting that Makefiles have a
> similar, although far less sophisticated, way of
> delimiting blocks: any line beginning with a tab i s
> "contained" by the latest preceding line that isn't
> preceded by a tab.)

Not to mention FORTRAN, SNOBOL &c.


  J�n

1. I only remembered the name of the language just now.
-- 
J�n Fairbairn                                 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
31 Chalmers Road                                         [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cambridge CB1 3SZ            +44 1223 570179 (after 14:00 only, please!)



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