[tunesmith]

Wouldn't literate programming encourage a very linear style of programming with long methods? It seems like it would encourage the opposite of single-responsibility-principle, since it's really hard to read a narrative that jumps all over the place.

[taeric]

I think the catch is the the majority of programs are more linear than the index of methods would give credit to. Sure, some folks are making utility data structures that don't really have much of a narrative to them, I suppose.

I would think for most programs there is a very direct sense of linearity in getting a task done. Sure, you will often have a lot of support methods. But seeing them just directly listed can be as much of a distraction as anything else.

Note, also, for nontrivial applications, you will likely have a collection of literate programs. Not just one giant literate program.

[cdosborn]

The narrative doesn't have to jump all over the place. If anything, defining macros allows you greater flexibility. Also, using macros allows for defining different levels of languages that encapsulate a "single-responsibility". Could you be more specific?