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

[Ian Hickson]

On Sun, 23 Sep 2012, Tab Atkins Jr. wrote:
> On Sun, Sep 23, 2012 at 3:57 PM, Ian Hickson <ian at hixie.ch> wrote:
> > 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?
> 
> Oh, that's what you meant.
> 
> That seems silly.  It's more convenient and simple for authors to have a 
> circular form, separate from the elliptical form.  It lets you omit the 
> second radius and the rotation, as they're irrelevant.

Omitting two numbers, one of which is zero, is easily no more a win than 
the cost of having two different nearly-identical commands. Just consider 
C/c and S/s; is it really worth it?


> >> > 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. :-)
> 
> We're not, we're pulling in the two/four useful arc commands.

I have to admit to being very confused about what you're trying to do.

What's wrong with A/a? It seems to be equivalent to arcTo(). Is it arc() 
that you want to add? I'm very confused.

-- 
Ian Hickson               U+1047E                )\._.,--....,'``.    fL
http://ln.hixie.ch/       U+263A                /,   _.. \   _\  ;`._ ,.
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