# Proposal: \`then\`, \`else\` syntax to replace \`&&\`, \`||\` short-circuiting

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/proposal-then-else-syntax-to-replace-short-circuiting/1323>\
**Category:** Internals & Design\
**Created:** [January 6, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/proposal-then-else-syntax-to-replace-short-circuiting/1323 "2017-01-06T13:33:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 36

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**Author:** ![Tamas\_Papp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/tamas_papp/32/25949_2.png) [@Tamas\_Papp](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Tamas_Papp)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 2:02pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/proposal-then-else-syntax-to-replace-short-circuiting/1323/36 "2017-01-07T14:02:11Z")

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IMO exploring the space of language design by discussion is an illusion in most cases except trivial ones. The ramifications are usually not apparent until you use them — doing a PR is just a small step towards that. Also, as noted in [another thread you started](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/voting-system-to-assess-community-demand-for-various-features/627/5), the scarce resource is developer time, not the lack of willing discussants to these bikeshedding threads.

Many projects, apparently also Julia, have a culture of asking for PRs if you want a change. This has some wonderful benefits:

1. the proposer signals some interest in the change,
2. the PR provides a rudimentary test of the proposal,
3. even small PRs draw people in and familiarize them with the codebase and practices.

(2) and (3) are very important. I have abandonned many PRs midway, or refrained from submitting, learning that what I want is impractical or meaningless (2). Also, many Julia contributors will ask that you do a PR for trivial changes, even when the cost of mentoring apparently exceeds what it would take for them to do it (3). When I suggested that you do a PR if you really care about his, I was serious.

(Food for thought: most people who write code for a living and have deadlines would do more than complain if you replaced their silly QWERTY with superior DVORAK without their permission. Doing this in a company would get you fired.)

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_[View the full topic](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/proposal-then-else-syntax-to-replace-short-circuiting/1323)._