Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

“HOW TO RETURN” for something as common as “def” is crazy!


Well, not as bad as something like

    public static function words(string $document): array {
which some languages these days are coming up with.


While I agree, at least here every word, though is verbose, at least means something, whereas “HOW TO RETURN” carries no more meaning than “def”.


As I understand it, "RETURN" means that the function will return something. And that when you define a function that returns nothing, but only does something, you just use "HOW TO".


I guess it's a shortening of "here's how to return the words in a document".

I think def is good though. I guess with new fangled prompt engineering you could use the english version.


> public static function words(string $document): array {

>, though is verbose, at least means something

I disagree, it is hardly verbose. there can be further detailing of the input and return value of the function beyond a simple type. Java didn't go far enough, not by a long shot - we need hardcore painstaking, completely brutal typing. Such typing will be highly beneficial for software reliability - you're not against reliability are you?


Reminds me if tabloid language, were the translation would be :

DISCOVER HOW TO words WITH document


    DISCOVER THE SHOCKING TRUTH ABOUT HOW TO hello WITH name:
        PRINT "hello " + name


I think:

    DISCOVER THE SHOCKING TRUTH ABOUT HOW TO hello WITH name:
        YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS "hello " + name


I love programming in listicle:

HERE ARE THE TOP 10 fibbonacci_numbers:

YOU WON'T BELIEVE n := 6




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: