New syntax for blocks

[r]

On Nov 18, 5:27 pm, Steven D'Aprano
<ste... at REMOVE.THIS.cybersource.com.au> wrote:
> On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:28:11 +1300, greg wrote:
> > r wrote:
> >> I think the syntax was chosen because the alternatives are even worse
> >> AND since assignment is SO common in programming, would you *really*
> >> rather type two chars instead of one?
>
> > Smalltalk solved the problem by using a left-arrow character for
> > assignment. But they had an unfair advantage in being able to use a
> > non-standard character set on their custom-built machines.
>
> > We should be able to do a lot better now using Unicode. We could even
> > heal the <> vs != rift by using a real not-equal symbol!
>
> The problem isn't with the available characters, but with *typing* them.
>
> It is hard to enter arbitrary Unicode characters by the keyboard, which
> frankly boggles my mind. I don't know what the state of the art on Mac is
> these days, but in 1984s Macs had a standard keyboard layout that let you
> enter most available characters via the keyboard, using sensible
> mnemonics. E.g. on a US keyboard layout, you could get ≠ by holding down
> the Option key and typing =.
>
> For me, I had to:
>
> Click Start menu > Utilities > More Applications > KCharSelect.
> Click through thirty-four(!) tables scanning by eye for the symbol I
> wanted.
> Click the ≠ character.
> Click To Clipboard.
> Go back to my editor window and paste.
>
> --
> Steven

♂ <-- Heres a free lesson... Stephen, hold down <CNTRL> and press
<KEYPAD-1> twice, then release <CNTRL>. ;-)

PS: But please lets not start using Unicode chars in programming, you
guy's already know how much i *hate* Unicode.