I think the point is that different people are...different. It probably won't surprise you to find out that I am in the C camp that prefers your second example. I'm sure what those studies show is what the "majority" find easier not what "everyone" finds easier. Who knows, maybe it's a left-brain, right-brain thing. And it wouldn't be the first time I was told my brain was "wired differently" from the general public. Just ask my wife :-)
Jeff -----Original Message----- From: Alan Gauld [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2005 5:47 PM To: Smith, Jeff; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: tutor@python.org; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Tutor] Are you allowed to shoot camels? [kinda OT] > I also disagree about the symbology. I am never confused by it. I'll believe you, but its interesting that computer scientists have done lots of studies to test people's comprehension of programs and in every single case there has been clear evidence that additional prefixes/characters etc obscure undestanding. Even by those who thought they were fluent in the language concerned. Check the book Code Complete for some references, or try searching the Software Engineering Institute stuff at CMU. Its like the old argument in C over whether int f(){ blah() } or int f() { blah() } was clearer. Many people claim to prefer the second but objective testing repeatedly shows that the first form produces measurably better results. In both of these cases its not about style its about what works. I suspect Guido was aware of that research and applied it to Python's design. Larry wasn't and didn't... (although he sure is now! :-) Alan G. _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor