[TUHS] 80 columns ...

[Dan Cross]

On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 4:40 PM, Larry McVoy <lm at mcvoy.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Nov 08, 2017 at 04:34:13PM -0500, Dan Cross wrote:
>> >> The thing that sort of vexes me about these arguments is that the
>> >> number 80 is so arbitrary.
>> >
>> > Not really.  Programmers need windows side by side.  Lots and lots of bit
>> > mapped displays can handle 2 80 column windows at a reasonable font size.
>>
>> Lots of them can also handle two 100 column windows, or perhaps more
>
> Sure, my laptop can.  But what about the ones that can't?

That's why I think this argument doesn't hold up well. If we're to
consider those, then what about the ones that can't handle two
80-column windows at the font size required by the user?

>> > And I made the point about side by side diff tools.
>>
>> But what about 3-way merge tools?
>
> Dude, you're talking to the guy that invented distributed source management
> and has written what is likely the best 3 way merge tool on the planet (jk,
> it's good though).  My 3 way merge
>
>         [ left version ] [ right version ]
>         [ left version ] [ right version ]
>         [ left version ] [ right version ]
>         [ left version ] [ right version ]
>         [ left version ] [ right version ]
>         [ left version ] [ right version ]
>         [       merge      ] [   help    ]
>         [       merge      ] [   help    ]
>         [       merge      ] [   help    ]
>
> Works great!

Touche. :-)

        - Dan C.