[mkmcdonald]

CoffeeScript is not a language. It's a compiler to make JavaScript look like Ruby. Just like the superfluous idea of "semicolons are optional because of a design error", it's personal style.

Be sure not to whine, though, when the abstraction leaks and your code breaks.

[petercooper]

To make JavaScript look like Python, even. List comprehensions, significant whitespace, etc.

[exogen]

I thought this too, at first, but only because I didn't know Ruby very well. Now I realize it's heavily inspired by both, but actually more closely resembles Ruby, IMO.