Block Syntax

Most programming languages use curly brackets { } to group statements, forming a block. However, this has the inherent problem that it is often a fight between style fanatics to either save space and write it on the same line as the condition, or style fanatics to write it on a seperate line, aligning the opening and closing brackets. There are better alternatives for curly brackets (most language designers feel that curly brackets where a terribly idea in the first place). Bellow are some alternatives.

C syntax with starting bracket on same line as the conditional statement: if (x==3) { printf("three!"); return; }

C syntax with the starting bracket aligned with the closing bracket: if (x==3) {    printf("three!"); return; }

C syntax, with Whitesmiths style C indentation, arguing that { and } are not part of the if statement: if (x==3) {    printf("three!"); return; }

Pascal syntax: begin and end instead of { }: if (x=3) then begin writeln("three!"); return end;

Shell syntax: as Pascal, but with if/then/fi instead of if/begin/end: if [ $x -eq 3 ] then echo "three!"; return 0; fi

Shell syntax: with if/then on the same line: if [ $x -eq 3 ]; then echo "three!"; return 0; fi

Ruby: remove the spurious then from the condition/then/end: if x == 3 print "three!" return end

PHP alternative control structure syntax, similar to Ruby, but using endif using specific end-keyword per condition: if (x === 3): echo "three!"; return; endif;

Python syntax: indentation implies nesting, no need for end or } syntax: if (x==3): print("three!") return