Re: [PATCH 3/3] diff --stat: sometimes use non-linear scaling.

From: Sean <seanlkml@sympatico.ca>
Date: Sep 27, 2006, 08:41 UTC
Message-ID: <BAYC1-PASMTP059765F6CE0979DC2F8D5AAE1A0@CEZ.ICE>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.63.0609271030180.14200@wbgn013.biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de>

On Wed, 27 Sep 2006 10:35:16 +0200 (CEST) Johannes Schindelin <Johannes.Schindelin@gmx.de> wrote:

> In this case, though, "English" is utterly, totally irrelevant. The 
> question is a mathematical one, and thus, the solution is a mathematical 
> one.

Well, no.. At least for me, I "think" in english, not mathematics. And thus I have to understand each condition in my native language. And i'm being honest with you when I tell you that my parser hiccups every time I see such a construct.

> So, in essence, if you do not understand a conditional with a constant on 
> the left side, just because it happens to honour the mathematical view of 
> "left is small, right is large", you do not stand a chance of 
> understanding the formula, right?

It's not a matter of being able to understand, it's being able to digest at a glance, almost without a thought as opposed to consciously having to rearrange the arguments into something that "feels" right.

> Oh, come on! You cannot possibly spend even _seconds_ on this particular 
> construct!
> 
> 'nough said.

I'm telling you that it is disconcerting and annoying to have to rejig such a construct. Whereas when expressed in the opposite format it makes reading simple and natural. Making the code easier and more pleasurable to read.

And if you find it so easy to read either way, then why not bend for those of us who have trouble reading it your way instead of just telling us to get stuffed?

Sean