5
\$\begingroup\$

In Fortran 77 (and probably older ones), you require six spaces before each line. This makes it incredibly difficult to golf, so should we count those spaces in the byte/character count?

Fortran punch card

\$\endgroup\$
3
  • 2
    \$\begingroup\$ Use Fortran 90+ :P \$\endgroup\$ Nov 9, 2014 at 10:39
  • \$\begingroup\$ Related \$\endgroup\$ Nov 9, 2014 at 14:26
  • \$\begingroup\$ Java is also at a ridiculous disadvantage, but plenty of answers here. I think they really just compete against the other Java answers or you know - just have fun. \$\endgroup\$
    – gnibbler
    Nov 9, 2014 at 22:36

1 Answer 1

12
\$\begingroup\$

Yes, count them

Every language has its pros and cons, but that doesn't mean that every language should get special treatment. If the person posing a question wants to set up a complicated handicap system then that's their decision, but the default assumption should be that a program's score is the size that a tool such as wc would report for the source file, with appropriate adjustments for special flags.

\$\endgroup\$

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .