Comments on: Stick with ERB or move to Haml http://pathfindersoftware.com/2009/06/stick-with-erb-or-move-to-haml/ The Fastest Way to Launch Successful Software Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:36:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Darin Burris http://pathfindersoftware.com/2009/06/stick-with-erb-or-move-to-haml/#comment-9577 Darin Burris Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:02:54 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/2009/06/stick-with-erb-or-move-to-haml/#comment-9577 Here are a few of my beefs with HAML. First, why abstract something that isn't complex to begin with? I can understand abstracting complex programming languages, but HTML isn’t a programming language and isn’t complex, so why mess with it. I just don't get it. I also disagree that HAML is cleaner. Do you end up using fewer characters? Sure, but that doesn't translate to it being cleaner. I would argue that my markup is as clean as it's HAML abstraction any day. And guess what, another front-end developer can read it without knowing HAML. Furthermore, I don't always work in Rails, most of the time I'm writing my markup locally, translating a design comp into XHTML. Why then would I want to rewrite it in HAML? Seems like extra effort, not a reduction in effort. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t like HAML, I simply fail to see benefits as others do. Here are a few of my beefs with HAML.

First, why abstract something that isn’t complex to begin with? I can understand abstracting complex programming languages, but HTML isn’t a programming language and isn’t complex, so why mess with it. I just don’t get it.

I also disagree that HAML is cleaner. Do you end up using fewer characters? Sure, but that doesn’t translate to it being cleaner. I would argue that my markup is as clean as it’s HAML abstraction any day. And guess what, another front-end developer can read it without knowing HAML.

Furthermore, I don’t always work in Rails, most of the time I’m writing my markup locally, translating a design comp into XHTML. Why then would I want to rewrite it in HAML? Seems like extra effort, not a reduction in effort.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t like HAML, I simply fail to see benefits as others do.

]]> By: Sharad Jain http://pathfindersoftware.com/2009/06/stick-with-erb-or-move-to-haml/#comment-9576 Sharad Jain Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:33:13 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/2009/06/stick-with-erb-or-move-to-haml/#comment-9576 @Stephen, thanks for the comments. I rec'd several comments about designers actually liking Haml. This also makes sense.. once you get used to new format and it is efficient, why look the other way. I am wondering if haml gem has builtin support for making the compile/conversion process easier.. (something similar to "compass --watch" that). Do you mind blogging about how u use haml in ur daily work? This could be something I and designers at my company and others benefit from. Thanks again. @Stephen, thanks for the comments. I rec’d several comments about designers actually liking Haml. This also makes sense.. once you get used to new format and it is efficient, why look the other way. I am wondering if haml gem has builtin support for making the compile/conversion process easier.. (something similar to “compass –watch” that). Do you mind blogging about how u use haml in ur daily work? This could be something I and designers at my company and others benefit from. Thanks again.

]]> By: Stephen Korecky http://pathfindersoftware.com/2009/06/stick-with-erb-or-move-to-haml/#comment-9575 Stephen Korecky Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:21:08 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/2009/06/stick-with-erb-or-move-to-haml/#comment-9575 As a designer, I love HAML, cleaner, makes sense, and all around a joy to write. If you write HTML and are unwilling to learn HAML, your just limiting yourself to what you know. I only wish HTML 5 would use HAML style syntax :D As a designer, I love HAML, cleaner, makes sense, and all around a joy to write. If you write HTML and are unwilling to learn HAML, your just limiting yourself to what you know. I only wish HTML 5 would use HAML style syntax :D

]]> By: Seban http://pathfindersoftware.com/2009/06/stick-with-erb-or-move-to-haml/#comment-9574 Seban Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:53:00 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/2009/06/stick-with-erb-or-move-to-haml/#comment-9574 In company where I work is some dualism as you write. Programmers mostly like HAML and prefer it over Erb. But our HTML designers (all magic in presentation layer) prefer Erb. They said that Erb is more readable for them, and has syntax highlight in their editors (!). In company where I work is some dualism as you write. Programmers mostly like HAML and prefer it over Erb. But our HTML designers (all magic in presentation layer) prefer Erb. They said that Erb is more readable for them, and has syntax highlight in their editors (!).

]]>