On Sat, Jul 23, 2011 at 08:44:56AM -0400, David Place wrote:
If I am reading your code, I may look up second and find it in Control.Arrow. I have to learn about Arrows to understand your code? And pure makes me need to study the Applicative class. I imagine that it is likely that second is the only thing from Control.Arrow that you are using and pure is the only thing from Control.Applicative. So, you need two lines of extra code to express what could be expressed much more perspicuously as:
If I am reading your paragraph, I may look up 'perspicuously' and find it in the dictionary. I have to learn about this word to understand your paragraph? You need three extra syllables to express what could be expressed much more clearly as: 'So, you need two lines of extra code to express what could be expressed much more clearly as:'. ;-) I am all for clarity in both code and prose. Excessive vocabulary use can hinder understanding; but so can artificial restriction. In any case, length has very little correlation with clarity. -Brent