[whatwg] Rename the 7-arg arcTo() to ellipseTo()?

Ian Hickson ian at hixie.ch
Sun Sep 23 15:57:09 PDT 2012


On Fri, 21 Sep 2012, Tab Atkins Jr. wrote:
> 
> So, can we rename the 7-arg arcTo to ellipseTo?  That seems to support 
> your "always [require] all the arguments" recommendation. ^_^

Just have one arcTo command, that takes all the arguments. Why split it 
into two, if you always require all the arguments?


> > In general, though, I wouldn't recommend trying to do this at all. The 
> > SVG path syntax is its own thing, and it already supports arcs and so 
> > forth. Adding a whole new redundant set of commands that work slightly 
> > differently is just bloat asking for interop issues, IMHO. The design 
> > of the path syntax makes sense, it's terse. Embrace its strengths, 
> > don't second-guess its design.
> 
> The existing SVG "A" command is one of the largest source of complaints 
> from hand-authors. While it's *occasionally* useful as stated, it often 
> requires you to do trig to get the effect you want. The Canvas arc 
> commands, with their use of an angle to sweep across, are exactly what 
> authors want a lot of the time, and commonly ask for.

So introduce a new one-letter command that fixes specifically the problems 
with A, don't drag in the entire canvas path API. :-)

-- 
Ian Hickson               U+1047E                )\._.,--....,'``.    fL
http://ln.hixie.ch/       U+263A                /,   _.. \   _\  ;`._ ,.
Things that are impossible just take longer.   `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.'



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