Curly Brackets War
The Great Developer Divide: Curly Brackets in the Same Line vs. Next Line – The War We Didn’t Ask For
Ah, the eternal question that divides the coding community. A question so divisive, it could tear apart friendships, break up teams, and potentially make you question your very existence as a programmer. A question that, at its core, isn’t about function but about form. It’s the choice that separates the rebels from the bureaucrats, the trailblazers from the rule-followers: Do you put your curly brackets on the same line as the if statement, or do you live a life of pure, PSR-12 compliance and place them on the next line?
Let’s dive into the philosophical and psychological motivations behind these two camps, as we unravel the most pointless debate in programming history.
Camp 1: The “Curly Bracket on the Same Line” Warriors – True Rebels
First, we have the Curly Bracket on the Same Line camp, also known as The Mavericks, The Rebels, The Non-Conformists. These developers believe that curly brackets should be right next to the if statement, as nature intended. This choice is not just about coding style; it’s about making a statement. The statement being: "I don’t follow your rules, PHP-FIG. I make my own destiny."
Philosophy:
- Why waste a line when you could just smush everything together in one neat, compact block? After all, who needs all that extra whitespace between lines? In a world of efficiency, saving a single line of code is an act of heroism.
- The brackets are already implied! It’s a sign of confidence. They know the braces will be there. They just don’t need to announce it with unnecessary formalities.
- They see the next-line people as a bunch of snobs who like to follow rules because someone decided it was proper. The nerve!
Motivation:
- Speed: Why press
Enterwhen you can simply keep typing and move on to the next thing? Time is money, after all. - Efficiency: Code that flows together in one line just looks faster. If the brackets are too spread out, the logic gets lost in all the real estate between lines.
- Freedom: They believe this practice symbolizes rebellion against the rules. PSR-12? More like PSR-1-2-many lines! They live on the edge.
Example Code:
if ($userIsLoggedIn) { echo "Welcome, User!"; }
- Bold. Concise. Efficient.
Camp 2: The “Curly Bracket on the Next Line” Purists – The Bureaucrats of Code
Then, there’s the Curly Bracket on the Next Line faction, the die-hard defenders of PSR-12, Clean Code, and Formalities. These developers would rather set their code in stone with a thousand curly brackets aligned like soldiers standing at attention. They don't just follow rules; they love them. They believe in the sanctity of style guides and the sweet harmony of well-ordered syntax.
Philosophy:
- Code is art. Art has structure, and structure means keeping that curly bracket in its rightful place: a fresh line after the
ifstatement. PSR-12 may be a standard, but it’s also a noble calling. - By keeping the curly brackets in the next line, they’re creating space to breathe. It’s like a yoga session for your code—fluid, balanced, and full of whitespace.
- Who cares if it takes an extra line? They are committed to a clean and readable experience, and their code is like a freshly printed textbook.
Motivation:
- Conformity: They believe in doing things the right way, and they don't care what the rebels say. Standards are there for a reason, people! Stability, readability, and maintainability.
- Clarity: Adding the bracket to the next line improves the visual hierarchy of the code. When your eyes scan it, you see exactly where the block starts. It’s easier on the eyes, and easier on the brain. This is code, not a fast-food menu!
- Respectability: They want to be able to submit their code to any open-source project and have it pass without so much as a raised eyebrow. Consistency is key. No one wants to be the “one person” whose code sticks out like a sore thumb. Nobody likes that guy.
Example Code:
if ($userIsLoggedIn)
{
echo "Welcome, User!";
}
- Neat. Tidy. Standardized.
The Middle Ground: The Awkward Relationship
And then, of course, there are those rare unicorns of the programming world—The Middle Grounders, the ones who mix and match depending on mood, project, or the quality of coffee that day. These developers don’t feel the need to pick a side. They might put the brackets on the next line for a nice clean project or keep it on the same line for a quick-and-dirty script. The thrill of indecision drives them to boldly embrace both worlds, depending on their current whims.
The Deep, Existential Question: Is It Really That Important?
At the end of the day, let’s step back and ask the hard question: Does it really matter? Does whether the curly bracket sits right after the if statement or lounges on its own line change the fundamental structure of the universe? Absolutely not.
But do you know what does matter? People who argue about this online for days and days, piling up hundreds of comments on GitHub Issues, Twitter threads, and Stack Overflow debates. They’re the true warriors, fighting for a cause they don’t even fully understand, but by God, they will defend it with the ferocity of a thousand semicolons.
Conclusion: The Great Curly Bracket War Will Never End
In the end, whether you belong to the “Same Line” or “Next Line” camp, the real takeaway is simple: coding is art, and art is subjective. As long as your code compiles and does what it’s supposed to do, the world is a little bit better for it.
But next time, when you find yourself having a heated debate with a fellow coder over curly brackets, just remember: You’re not arguing about code. You’re arguing about something much deeper—your identity as a programmer, your legacy, and maybe even your very soul.
Just be sure to never, ever make this debate the hill you die on... unless, of course, you’re one of those guys who uses tabs instead of spaces. Then you’ve already lost.
