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by untog 5032 days ago
The argument that CoffeeScript saves countless }); }); } } is invalid, IMO.

I agree that counting }); as a line isn't necessary, but CoffeeScript saving you doing any of that is a very valid benefit. It cleans up code dramatically- ignore line numbers and just think about all the extra stuff that ends up surrounding multiple function calls.
1 comments
thezilch 5032 days ago
I'm thinking it doesn't happen that often, and I would counter with having you think just how much more cognitive effort is used in parsing and debugging the syntax of CS. Remember, debugging and reading "old" code dominates our days, so it doesn't add up for me. As well, if you and the many others that like to claim keystroke reductions, there is no difference in "fu<tab>" for "->" and numerous other comparisons.
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untog 5032 days ago
just how much more cognitive effort is used in parsing and debugging the syntax of CS

Have you tried CS? It's far more readable, by virtue of not having "function() {}" splattered all over the page. I don't care/worry about keystroke reductions, I care about readable code. The lack of curly brackets and addition of significant whitespace absolutely does make for more readable code.

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thezilch 5032 days ago
Sure, I've tried it. Function calls are never splattered all over my page, so I don't have to care about that. And at best, it only allows me to cram more crap onto a single line, which is also not often helpful. Instead, I get to -- have to -- think about and end every function with something sane, in the event, for example with jQuery's .each(), I can't have my function magically returning false -- the last evalutated variable -- and terminating the each mapping.

My code already has significant whitespace; it's required by styleguide and linting. CS has prolific issues with whitespace usage, especially when it comes to parsing function arguments and lines broken over multiple lines. Just look through this or any other thread on CS being pushed.

CS often has mind fucks, and I'd rather have to ignore a couple lines with } on them.

Note: I mostly write in Python, if that gives any indication into how I very much enjoy significant whitespace.

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