---------------------------------------- > Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:22:20 -0700 > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: 8 space tabs, 80 column lines & small functions ever *bad* ? > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >> You'd think KISS principle would make people embrace the Linux coding >> style.... >> >> (80 column lines & 8 space indents) >> >> Instead they cringe! >> >> Now *I* cringe when I hear about 2-3 space idents and 130 column lines. >> >> Anyone ever seen a case where lotsa little functions *wasn't* ideal and >> *very* >> nice? 8 space tabs/80 columns forces you to chop your problem into little >> bite >> sized functions!!! I love it! > > Excuse me, but there is not a single shred of validated evidence about > this *either way*. > > And Linus has shown himself to be making weak choices on a lot of things > lately. His judgment is far less sound than many folks in open source > who are far less vocal. > The myth of Linux: that Linus is a great programmer. He isn't. He's good, I'd hire him. But he isn't great.
What he is is a great manager. He's very good at making decisions that, while perhaps not optimal, are good enough to work. He's good at motivating people to work, and dealing with all the people issues of the job. I'd hire him as a manager quicker than I would as a programmer. The coding style for linux is in that vein. It isn't optimal, mainly because their is no optimal answer, its all personal preference. In fact, 8 spaces is probably one of the least popular choices- most people seem to prefer 2-4. But by choosing one and sticking with it, he avoids all the pointless bitching about it. Actually, picking 8 may be a stroke of genius in that reguard- he makes everyone band together in their hatred :) Gabe _________________________________________________________________ Climb to the top of the charts! Play the word scramble challenge with star power. http://club.live.com/star_shuffle.aspx?icid=starshuffle_wlmailtextlink_jan -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-lpsg
