80 limit is something that should have been increased long time ago. Note that this limit is used since age when length of every identifier was limited to 8 characters and only one font on the screen/printer. No possibility to change font size.

God, we have different screen and printing technology now. We have very different programming languages. There's no reason to use 80 characters anymore. Increase it to 120 chars at least.

Even then it shouldn't be a hard limit. You go one character over the line? Well, nothing happens!

Edit:

Detailed answers about the history of 80-char limit

Characters Per Line on Wikipedia

A study at Wichita State University found that CPL had only small effects on readability, including factors of speed and comprehension. When asked for preferences, however, 60% of respondents indicated a preference for either the shortest (35 CPL) or longest (95 CPL) lines used in the study. At the same time, 100% of respondents selected either one of these quantities as being the least desirable.

80 limit is something that should have been increased long time ago. Note that this limit is used since age when length of every identifier was limited to 8 characters and only one font on the screen/printer. No possibility to change font size.

God, we have different screen and printing technology now. We have very different programming languages. There's no reason to use 80 characters anymore. Increase it to 120 chars at least.

Even then it shouldn't be a hard limit. You go one character over the line? Well, nothing happens!

Edit:

Detailed answers about the history of 80-char limit

Characters Per Line on Wikipedia

A study at Wichita State University found that CPL had only small effects on readability, including factors of speed and comprehension. When asked for preferences, however, 60% of respondents indicated a preference for either the shortest (35 CPL) or longest (95 CPL) lines used in the study. At the same time, 100% of respondents selected either one of these quantities as being the least desirable.

80 limit is something that should have been increased long time ago. Note that this limit is used since age when length of every identifier was limited to 8 characters and only one font on the screen/printer. No possibility to change font size.

God, we have different screen and printing technology now. We have very different programming languages. There's no reason to use 80 characters anymore. Increase it to 120 chars at least.

Even then it shouldn't be a hard limit. You go one character over the line? Well, nothing happens!

80 limit is something that should have been increased long time ago. Note that this limit is used since age when length of every identifier was limited to 8 characters and only one font on the screen/printer. No possibility to change font size.

God, we have different screen and printing technology now. We have very different programming languages. There's no reason to use 80 characters anymore. Increase it to 120 chars at least.

Even then it shouldn't be a hard limit. You go one character over the line? Well, nothing happens!

Edit:

Detailed answers about the history of 80-char limit

Characters Per Line on Wikipedia

A study at Wichita State University found that CPL had only small effects on readability, including factors of speed and comprehension. When asked for preferences, however, 60% of respondents indicated a preference for either the shortest (35 CPL) or longest (95 CPL) lines used in the study. At the same time, 100% of respondents selected either one of these quantities as being the least desirable.