• Linus Torvalds added hidden tabs to Kconfig to challenge parsers that can’t handle them.
  • Tabs were intentionally added to the common Kconfig file for page sizes to expose faulty parsers.
  • Torvalds believes parsers unable to handle tabs shouldn’t be parsing kernel Kconfig files, aiming to force fixes.
    • rollmagma@lemmy.world
      111·
      4 months ago

      People who use spaces are not taping space space space space space space space space. Their tapping the tab key all the same.

      • Kid_Thunder@kbin.social
        1·
        4 months ago

        Sorry I didn’t realize I had replied with I deleted my comment. I understand some editors allow you to set tab and you can set actual spaces, like in vi. However, personally I feel like hitting tab gives me the whitespace I want for readability already.

        For programmatic parsing it is simple because it’s just looking for an HT.