Why not allow empty code blocks?

[Chris Angelico]

On Wed, Aug 3, 2016 at 3:54 AM, Steven D'Aprano
<steve+python at pearwood.info> wrote:
> On Wed, 3 Aug 2016 02:56 am, BartC wrote:
>
>> (And I expect that next they will eliminate languages altogether. All
>> you need is some way of specifying a sequence of calls to library
>> functions and sprinkling around some control statements;
>
> That would be called "a language".

:)

>> it could be
>> drag-and-drop with a GUI display of the program flow.)
>
> It could be, but won't be. Outside of a very few tiny niches, including
> Squeak which is designed for children, such user-interfaces are far too
> cumbersome to ever get widespread use.
>
> But for limited niches, like generating GUIs, form designers, or even
> assembling regular expressions, sure, why not?

They do exist, and IMO they're languages just as much as textual ones
are. You don't eliminate computer language by switching to a GUI
drag-and-drop system than you eliminate human language by using hand
signs. In fact, deaf people generally communicate using something
called "{American,Korean,Australian,...} Sign Language" - it's not
called "American Way of Talking Without Talking Or Using Language".

ChrisA