The left edge is already cluttered.
a = 5 b = a() def foo(xyz): abc = 5 c = 20
It is the indentation that alerts your eye to the function definition.
But the indentation alone doesn't distinguish a def from an if or while or any other indented thing. Most people would leave some space before and after the function definition: a = 5 b = a() def foo(xyz): abc = 5 c = 20 Unfortunately, leaving space between the decorators and the function would break the visual association between them. Greg Ewing, Computer Science Dept, +--------------------------------------+ University of Canterbury, | A citizen of NewZealandCorp, a | Christchurch, New Zealand | wholly-owned subsidiary of USA Inc. | greg@cosc.canterbury.ac.nz +--------------------------------------+