[Python-Dev] Fun with whitespace

[Kurt B. Kaiser]

"Tim Peters" <tim.one at comcast.net> writes:

> Heads up!  Using reindent.py to normalize whitespace in the Tools/scripts
> directory uncovered a file with bad syntax problems.  So I repaired that
> file's errors, then ran reindent over the entire source tree.

I'm thinking that it might be a good idea to modify IDLE to use
four-space indenting only, and remove the Tab options from the
configuration dialog.

Right now, every time a program is Run/F5, IDLE runs a version of
tabnanny on it and then runs a syntax check.  We could add a
reindent.py check after tabnanny (if tabnanny fails, the user is notified
to fix things first).  Indents would be normalized at 4 spaces, and if
an error was detected, a dialog would warn the user that the file
would be changed.  The user could confirm (auto fix) or cancel and fix
things manually.

I've tried to use IDLE to convert tab-indented code to space-indented,
but it's never worked well for me.  If you set the wrong number of
spaces/tab the code gets scrambled.  reindent.py seems to work fine.
Are there situations in which it can fail, assuming tabnanny is happy?

The implementation would continue to create the .bak file.  Alternatively,
maybe the undo capability could be extended to cover the reindent.  Or
both.

Is it time for IDLE to enforce four-space indentation?  Any opinions?
-- 
KBK