Errr... is this a case of one Thompson trying to out-Thompson
the other Thompson?
I'm failing to see what that change adds
to Keith's comment that wasn't already clearly implicit in it.
To be fair, I think that this was just a case of over-exuberance.
But to understand that comment, we must first examine the real,
underlying question - which is: Do newbies benefit from having these
"human compilers" go over their code line-by-line? And, the closely
related question: Do they appreciate it?
Obviously, the "human compilers" (The Thompson Twins, the Ambuhls, the
MacIntires) assume the answers to these questions are (unqualified) yes(s).
Equally clearly, sensible people aren't so sure, and some, including
this author, think the correct answer is in the negative.
Given the above, I'm sure Human Compiler David Thompson saw the above as
simply another syntax error, emitted the required diagnostic, and
moved on to the next, without giving the matter a second thought.
As I say, in that context, really just a case of over-exuberance.