# A column width for each line?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/a-column-width-for-each-line/147874>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [September 6, 2008, 12:18pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/a-column-width-for-each-line/147874 "2008-09-06T12:18:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hunt\_J](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Hunt\_J](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Hunt_J)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 12:18pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/a-column-width-for-each-line/147874/1 "2008-09-06T12:18:01Z")

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I wonder if any of you have a policy on column width when writing code.

Ruby and Ruby on Rails don’t seem to have set any rule.

Merb says “80 column line width except in exceptional situations”  
[http://merbivore.com/contribute.html](http://merbivore.com/contribute.html)

- What’s your personal thoughts on column width? Needed or not needed?
- If you work alone, do you have a personal policy?
- If you work in a team, do you have a guideline?

I feel 80 is too narrow. Even when working with a notebook, people  
have like 13 inch display.

- What’s the optimal width if you set?

I don’t have much programming experience, so I would like to hear from  
you.

-J