Wireshark · Wireshark-dev: Re: [Wireshark-dev] tab-width considered less effective than some might think

[Bill Meier <wmeier@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Guy Harris wrote:

<snip>

> At least on UN*X, it's probably best to assume that a tab character in  
> a file advances to the next tab stop, with tab stops set every 8  
> characters.  Yes, this means that if you want 4-space indents, you  
> can't use tab characters, although it might be possible to configure  
> your editor so that typing the tab key indents every 2, or 4, or...  
> spaces, e.g. by setting c-basic-offset to 4 in GNU Emacs.


I suspect we're on the same page.

My personal preference is to use only spaces for indentation and that, 
if tabs are used, the tab stops should be every 8 characters.

IOW I agree, as you suggest, that if tabs are used "it's probably best 
to assume ..., with tab stops at every 8 characters".

Another example: I note that  viewvc assumes (or is configured to 
assume) 8 character tabs stops when displaying Wireshark source
(http://anonsvn.wireshark.org/viewvc).

I've been thinking for quite some time about suggesting that the use 
"non 8 space tabs" (eg: tab stops every 4 spaces) be deprecated;

So: what do others think ?  :)