On Mon, Jun 17, 2002 at 10:33:00PM +0200, Andreas Raab wrote:
> Lex,
> 
> > Aside from that, there is a possible cost even an expert programmer. 
> > Time spent learning the extra forms could have been spent becoming a
> > better programmer in general with the existing forms. 
> 
> If the extra forms make it possible to write more readable, easier to
> maintain code I would argue that this is time well spent.

I second this.  An analogy is that we might decide to revamp English
to make it as orthogonal and learnable as possible.  On the one hand,
people might be able to master the language a few years quicker.  On
the other, poets might find themselves unable to express themselves as
subtly and powerfully.  

Although I share Lex's inclination to be critical of proposed
additions to Smalltalk syntax (like many of you, I would cry if it
turned into C++), in this case I believe that the improved readability
of the resulting code justifies the change.  I have certainly found it
useful in a scene graph that I've been working on.

Thanks Andreas (and others, for the discussion)
Joshua