folio

I must say that the omission of a hash key on Mac keyboards is one of the dumbest design decisions ever.

If you use your Mac to produce graphics for the web, you’ll want to use the hash key for colour hex codes. If you’re writing CSS, you’ll definitely need it for defining the same.

If you’re writing JavaScript, you’ll want to use the hash key for private instance fields. If you’re writing HTML, you’ll want to use the hash key to create anchor links.

All this even before we get onto this new-fangled invention called social media, and the ubiquitous hashtag. I know, I know, we can invoke hash by hitting the Alt and 3 keys at the same time, but doesn’t it seem like an oversight to you?

Granted, the dollar symbol, found next to the pound symbol is also used in programming, so is potentially indispensable. Hail the almighty dollar! We must not mess with that.

But what about the caret key? Well, of course real programmers will tell you that is indispensable too. And I suppose in the hierarchy, the Perl and C brigade are more important than us lowly web devs.

Naturally, I defer to their status and rank. But what’s this, right on the end of my keyboard? Why on earth are these two symbols more important than the humble hash key: ± and §?

What on earth are these for? One a sop to mathematicians, the other to typesetters. Has the world gone mad? Each industry must have its special key. Where’s Nigel Farage when you need him?