Power10: Reduce verbosity through #light
[This post is part of a series, "wish-list for future versions of VB"]
IDEA: Add a #light directive, like F#, to reduce VB's verbosity. We already eliminated the dreaded "_" to make VB syntax look cleaner. We could also use layout as in Python and F#'s "light syntax" to be able to omit noise words like End Function, End Sub, End If, End Class, End Module -- they don't have any significance, especially since the IDE is hardcore about introducing intendation.
Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim s = Console.ReadLine()
If s = "" Then
Console.WriteLine("you pressed enter")
Else
f(s)
Sub f(ByVal s As String)
Console.WriteLine("you wrote " & s)
Provisional evaluation from VB team: A new syntax for the language would be a MAJOR upheaval. In this case we don't think it brings enough benefit. In any case, we think that the new WPF-based VS2010 editor will be capable of achieving the same effect through plugins.