Description

Hi

This is more a question or a start of a discusion around the fact that currently a space is required before a colon in phtml files when using the alternative syntax for control structures.

So currently Magento code standards expects us to use this format in phtml files:

<?php if ($something) : ?>
    <!-- do something -->
<?php else : ?>
    <!-- do something else -->
<?php endif; ?>

I'm wondering why this is required at this moment? Was there a reason for requiring it like this? Or did it just happen because it is the default setting of the PHP_CodeSniffer project?
Because it looks very ugly (personal opinion), other php projects don't enforce this syntax, a lot of php tutorials/samples don't use it, and it's also not part of any php coding standard as far as I'm aware?

I would rather see this format:

<?php if ($something): ?>
    <!-- do something -->
<?php else: ?>
    <!-- do something else -->
<?php endif; ?>

This could be changed with this option:
https://github.com/squizlabs/PHP_CodeSniffer/wiki/Customisable-Sniff-Properties#squizcontrolstructurescontrolsignature

I'm seeing a lot of files being changed recently in the 2.3-develop branch whereas in Magento 2.3.2 this syntax wasn't being enforced yet. So it feels like somebody made this decision to enforce this but I can't find the reasoning behind it.

Not sure if this would make a chance to get changed?
No big deal if not, just wanted to bring this up 🙂

Thanks!