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Tabs or Spaces

  • July 3, 2013 at 11:26 am

    #1629628

    We share a peeve.

  • July 3, 2013 at 11:51 am

    #1629633

    Death to char(9) in SQL code:

    1. Indented code characters will move one space, more than one space (depending on what user preference was) or not at all when inserting/deleting empty “space” in front of a line of SQL code when tabs are used along with spaces. One of those three things happens, and we cannot know which, if there are a combination of spaces and tabs to the left of SQL code when removing or adding to indention. Using tabs along with spaces violates the principle of least surprise.

    2. Fact is we will present scripts in any number of tools where we can present text. Does anyone expect otherwise? We all should care about every text presentation tool we might routinely use, including Email, IM, Word Processors, Spreadsheets, et.al. No telling where a script might need including, and including them should be as simple as possible. While that last bit is an opinion, I like to think it so obvious it stands on its own merit.

    3. It is a fact that not knowing whether a preceding character is a tab or a space makes using find and replace harder. For instance, replacing all space-comma-space with space-space-comma-space will miss all tab-comma-space. Or can some of you visually distinguish tabs in the editor?

    4. The space bar is large; it is conveniently located (under either thumb); it is easy to strike multiple times rapidly. These are ergonomic facts and they are obviously less true for the tab key, which is much smaller, under-left-pinkie and more difficult to push even for a touch typist.

    5. Disallowing an additional unseen character means we never have to code to allow for it while searching through or automatically formatting the text of our library of views, stored procedures or functions. This is a fact.

    6. Overall, editing and re-editing code with tabs will take longer because of reasons stated in 1-5 above.

    Fortunately we can use the tab key to insert spaces instead!

  • July 3, 2013 at 2:29 pm

    #1629673

    I'd argue these days we should have tools that reformat stuff for us. My company (Red Gate) makes one, but there are others.

    We shouldn't have to worry about this stuff.

  • July 3, 2013 at 2:40 pm

    #1629675

    Steve Jones - SSC Editor (7/3/2013)

    I'd argue these days we should have tools that reformat stuff for us. My company (Red Gate) makes one, but there are others.

    We shouldn't have to worry about this stuff.

    Unfortunately and even with many options, none of them format code like I want it.

    --Jeff Moden

    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • July 3, 2013 at 2:52 pm

    #1629679

    Jeff Moden (7/3/2013)

    Steve Jones - SSC Editor (7/3/2013)

    I'd argue these days we should have tools that reformat stuff for us. My company (Red Gate) makes one, but there are others.

    We shouldn't have to worry about this stuff.

    Unfortunately and even with many options, none of them format code like I want it.

    I understand. I have a few requests into the Prompt team to allow a few more options.

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