1 Jan
2006
1 Jan
'06
8:47 a.m.
It's a
good question, though - why *do* we use fixed-width fonts for
programming? Tradition? Or does it just make things easier somehow?
I suspect it's because fixed-width fonts make it easier to indent source consistently. Assuming you're using spaces instead
of tabs that is.
My guess is that we in "ye olde days" used chain printers and other
printers
with fixed character width, so we could make 80/80 listings which looked
sensible.
For an example of how this looks/looked on RPG forms (the ones I talked
about earlier), you can look at the bottom of
http://www.farumdata.dk/uk/xxval.asp (View Script File as Text)
There were different forms in my time (H(eader) F(ile) I(nput) E(xtension)
C(alculation) and O(utput), each with preprinted headers. Writing on
standard forms was a big no-no the places I graced with my presence :-)
Just imagine writing a RPG II program with e.g. the Operand field 1 column
off :-)
I still think RPG is a good language for commercial use, as a lot of things
happen behind your back, such as file opening, reading, deblocking, decimal
point handling, edit masks, etc.
Nico