Re: [RFC] Characters per line: from punch card (80) to line printer (132) (was: [Patch][OpenMP/OpenACC/Fortran] Fix mapping of optional (present|absent) arguments)

[Paul Koning]

> On Dec 5, 2019, at 11:17 AM, Joseph Myers <jos...@codesourcery.com> wrote:
> 
> On Thu, 5 Dec 2019, Thomas Schwinge wrote:
> 
>> In the relevant session at the GNU Tools Cauldron 2019, Michael Meissner
>> stated that even he is not using a 80 x 24 terminal anymore, and that
>> should tell us something.  ;-)
>> 
>> So, I formally propose that we lift this characters per line restriction
>> from IBM punch card (80) to mainframe line printer (132).
> 
> I thought these line lengths were based on readability studies suggesting 
> lengths that lines shorter than 80 columns were more readable?

That's certainly a general rule.  There is a reason why books aren't wide, and 
why newspapers have columns.  The eye can't deal well with long lines.  So 
while 132 column lines are certainly possible with modern computers, it doesn't 
mean they are desirable.

        paul