Re: OT - people v computer

Uwe Klein wrote:
Bruce Hartweg wrote:

this reminds me of some code I periodically have to look at
written long ago by a very smart guy- cool algorithms and such,
but completely unreadable, it was Fortran, used named blocks (which
overlapped on purpose) and the kicker was not only zero comments
but also zero whitespace - vertically *and* horizontally!

so he was optimizing the compile step!

Bruce

some smarts smart, eh?

uwe
yup. i think he saved money to by not needing a spacebar on his keyboard ;)

Bruce

PS
did i mention his functions had not only multiple exit points, but
multiple entry points? and purposely used the overlapping blocks
so that h[23] was the same exact memory as g[154] ?

now try to recode an that algorithm in C - or better yet, get handed
a C program that had a subtle bug, then be told that it was a port
of the ugly fortran and be asked to find the bug. 3 weeks of my life
I'll never get back.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OT - people v computer
    ... but completely unreadable, it was Fortran, used named blocks (which ... overlapped on purpose) and the kicker was not only zero comments ... and purposely used the overlapping blocks ... of the ugly fortran and be asked to find the bug. ...
    (comp.lang.tcl)
  • Re: OT - people v computer
    ... written long ago by a very smart guy- cool algorithms and such, ... but completely unreadable, it was Fortran, used named blocks (which ... but also zero whitespace - vertically *and* horizontally! ...
    (comp.lang.tcl)
  • Re: set based gurus help wanted
    ... diskette which has the major algorithms in the text on it. ... gives it that name involves packing a knapsack for a trip. ... value of the knapsack by careful packing without breaking your back. ... Who has a PC version of FORTRAN 66 on their ...
    (microsoft.public.sqlserver.programming)
  • Re: List of software programs written in fortran (for engineers and scientists)
    ... were written originally in languages other than Fortran. ... Do you think, for instance, that the early algorithms that appeared ... changing any character handling, and the like. ...
    (comp.lang.fortran)
  • Re: What Algorithims are used for IEEE Mathematical and Inquiry Intrinsic Procedures
    ... There were stories about the extended precision functions ... they went more toward the usual polynomial algorithms. ... in some of the patents. ... It might be that the Fortran version hasn't been scanned yet. ...
    (comp.lang.fortran)