RE: [PHP-DEV] RFC: Short syntax for Arrays (redux)

> -----Original Message----- > From: John Crenshaw [mailto:johncrenshaw@priacta.com] > Sent: 01 June 2011 23:00 > > Spot on. It has nothing to do with extra typing (and that sort of > design is part of what ruined Ruby). My fingers move plenty fast and > if extra characters make things more safe or more readable, I'll be > the first to sign up. In this case, however, the extra characters > just make things messy. > 1. The most readable format is pure JSON Matter of opinion. I don't agree. > 2. The most familiar format is pure JSON (because these same > developers are almost certainly already using it in their jQuery > code) Also matter of opinion, and of experience. Apart from the fact that my use of jQuery amounts to a few weeks out of a (mumble)-year programming career, no I don't use pure JSON for it - Javascript object literals, yes, but not pure JSON. > 3. The most compact format is pure JSON Um. Depends. I would tend to write 'a': 'b' in JSON, but 'a'=>'b' in PHP. But YMMV. > 4. The format most consistent with other languages is JSON Again, matter of experience. Last time I counted, I'd used upward of 30 different programming languages and dialects, some of which had very bizarre ways of representing things, and none of which (apart from Javascript!) used a JSON-like array-literal syntax. And, actually, I *want* my PHP arrays to look different from my Javascript/JSON arrays, especially as I might be looking at both as part of the same project -- I *want* a big data structure to scream "I'm PHP" or "I'm Javascript/JSON" at me, to help trigger my brain into the right programming mode. All of this is just IMHO, of course, and probably a lot more than my regulation 2 pennorth, but there you go. Cheers! Mike -- Mike Ford, Electronic Information Developer, Libraries and Learning Innovation, Leeds Metropolitan University, C507 City Campus, Portland Way, LEEDS,  LS1 3HE,  United Kingdom E: m.ford@leedsmet.ac.uk T: +44 113 812 4730 To view the terms under which this email is distributed, please go to http://disclaimer.leedsmet.ac.uk/email.htm