> 1\. indentation based syntax cannot by definition use auto indentation like > features > 2\. braces add visual clutter
I would also add: 3\. Braces and indentation can imply different scoping, where the compiler only sees braces and programmers always see indentation and sometimes also braces, essentially guaranteeing inconsistent interpretation by programmers. Apple had a serious "goto fail" incident around this: <https://dwheeler.com/essays/apple-goto-fail.html> ; GCC 6 added a -Wmisleading-indentation that could catch this, but it isn't popular AFAIK. Some people would say this supports braces (you have redundancy! indentation and braces have to match!) but I think this is an excuse - you don't have to confirm that + means + and not - , why single out scoping? Since people indent anyway, I think indentation is the right choice in the indentation/braces choice.
