The fewer spaces between an operator and its arguments, the earlier the execution?" I don't know the answer to this, but it did lead me to come up with the following joke language inspired by ill-conceived supposedly "helpful" language features:
- To eliminate hard-to-read brackets, code is evaluated depending on spacing. That is, 3-2 - 1is0, but3 - 2-1is2.
- The multiplication operator is xinstead of the confusing*. Yes, the spaces are part of the operator and don't count towards the evaluation order.
- Of course, the evaluation order of ambiguously spaced code is undefined. 3 x 2 + 1may be9or7in a valid implementation.
- Division is done using nice, readable horizontal divisor lines:
     3
    ---
     x
- To eliminate confusing semicolons, periods are instead used to terminate function invocations and blocks: myfun 3,2.
- To allow flexibility, adding an extra space before a function parameter passes it in by name, which means it's evaluated each time it's used: myfun 1, foobar 3..will evaluatefoobar 3.as many times as it's used, whereasmyfun 1,foobar 3..evaluates it exactly once.
- Our language also supports coroutines! Simply wrap any code in the "aside operator", also known as "brackets": (myfun 3,2.)
- As a convenient shorthand, any function call terminated with a !instead of a.will exit the program with a code of 1 if the function call returns a falsey value.
- The boolean values are yesandno, though they're actually just alternate names for0and1. (0 is true to maintain compatibility with unix exit codes.)
- Everything but yesis falsey, for simplicity's sake.
- Variables are declared using the syntax x is 3.and changed usingx becomes 3..
- To prevent arguments over naming, the following variable names are considered the same: FooBar,fooBar,foo_bar,FOO_BAR. Butfoobaris a different variable.
- There is also an aliascommand to define aliases of variable names at runtime. The effect of this command is global. It's an excellent tool for multilingual teams.
- Comments, since they're important, are enclosed between triple explanation marks.
Finally, here's an example function in this language. Suggestions for "improvements" are very welcome. :D
function isPrime,x,
  div is 2.
  result is no.
  alias r to result.
           2
  while div  < x,
                     | x |
    remainder is x - |---|. !!!Using easy visual representation of the floor function.!!!
                     _div_
    remainder is 0?
      r becomes yes.
  .
.