C# without braces? Let indentation do the job.

[IpseDocetLuelli]

Proposal: Optional Braces for Block Structures Based on Indentation (Python-style syntax for C#)

Summary

Introduce an optional syntax mode in C# that allows developers to omit curly braces {} for block structures (e.g., if, for, while, methods, classes), relying instead on indentation to define scope — similar to Python.

This would be an opt-in feature that preserves full backward compatibility with existing C# syntax.

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Motivation

• ✅ Improved readability: Code becomes visually cleaner and easier to follow, especially with nested blocks.
• ✅ Reduced visual noise: Eliminates redundant symbols, allowing developers to focus on logic.
• ✅ Modern syntax alignment: Languages like Python, F#, Nim, and Haskell use indentation-based scoping effectively.
• ✅ Lower barrier for newcomers: Developers coming from Python or similar languages find C# more approachable.

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Examples

Current C# syntax

if (x > 0)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Positive");
    x--;
}
```csharp
if (x > 0)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Positive");
    x--;
}

Proposed indentation-based syntax

if (x > 0)
    Console.WriteLine("Positive")
    x--

This would apply to all block structures, including loops, methods, classes, etc.

Opt-In Mechanism

To avoid breaking existing code and tooling, this feature would be explicitly enabled via one of the following:

• #pragma indentBlocks
• .editorconfig setting
• Compiler flag (e.g., /langversion:preview)

Technical Considerations

• The compiler must treat consistent indentation as a structural delimiter.
• IDEs, formatters, and linters must support both styles.
• Mixed styles should be discouraged or flagged for clarity.
• Error handling for inconsistent indentation must be robust.

Drawbacks

• Potential confusion in teams using mixed styles.
• Requires updates to tooling and documentation.
• May introduce subtle bugs if indentation is misused.

Conclusion

This proposal aims to offer a modern, concise alternative to traditional C# syntax without replacing it. By making braces optional through indentation, developers gain flexibility and clarity — especially in clean, functional-style codebases.

The feature would be opt-in, ensuring full compatibility and developer choice.

Related Discussions

None found at the time of writing. This appears to be a novel proposal.

[HaloFour]

C# is not a whitespace sensitive language. Attempting to retrofit it to be one would be an enormous amount of work and introduce ambiguities for no real benefit.

IMO this is akin to asking python to support curly braces for scoping in addition to indentation.

[333fred]

Effectively a duplicate of #496, though this goes further. The answer to that one is that it will never happen, and this is similar. Have you tried F#?