Re: Request for opinionated opinion

Am 6. Mai 2021 22:54:24 schrieb silverdr_at_wfmh.org.pl:

> I've got a bit unusual request for you guys... For the next "racer" project
> we need a kind of file requester functionality so I built a prototype and
> one, minor part of it caused an unexpectedly large divergence of opinion
> within the team. It is about the quotation marks, which virtually all DOS
> types and variants return around file names when listing directory. I left
> them in place because:
>
> - being a Commodore user for decades I no longer see their "ugliness" ->
> it's always been this way for me
>
> - to parse them out and correctly cover all cases, including the tricky
> situations with SHIFT-SPACE(s) or quotes inside filenames I'd need another
> chunk of code, eating up scarce address space I have at my disposal. And I
> am not even convinced that I can cover all of the cases correctly
>
> My counterpart OTOH is convinced that edge cases can be ignored and the
> quotes should be removed because they look horrible[*] when compared to
> plain filenames. To be fully frank, when I take my Commodore hat off, I
> have to admit that he's kinda got a point there.
>
> What do you think? Would you rather see directory the way it is usually
> presented by the DOS - like here:
>
> https://nc.silverdr.com/s/4s7kCTq5eHxm7XX
>
> or with quotes around filenames removed like:
>
> https://nc.silverdr.com/s/JAYEneWzdxC79eC

I'm probably in it for too long, but my take is to prefer function over
form. I've probably been bitten too many times (on PCs tho) by file names
with spaces and stuff that I just don't want to go without quotes.

You didn't show filenames with spaces in your listing. What about two files
with identical names except one has a space at the end of the name?

Besides, I have seen too many web sites that have become less usable when
they where beautified. Like more click for the same functionality, or
invisible menus or at strange places etc.

I would be very careful if "looks ugly" is the only reason.

André

>
>
> * - he's a rather recent "convert" to (8-bit) Commodore -> fresh eye
> --
> SD!