Size Matters Take Two
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I spent a VERY productive day today refactoring some code which I originally wrote in 1988 (22 years between code reviews!). The code reduced in size by about 90% once all the superfluous code was removed - superfluous now, vital when the code was originally written to get around 16 bit memory addressing and CPU speed issues. I can't believe the hoops I used to have to jump through to get things working. You youngsters don't know how easy you have it! Luckily, I had the forethought to surround large sections of code with //HACK tags explaining why some of these strange things were being done. This turned out to be one of the most time-saving coding guidelines I ever implemented! Spelling
Paul Hooper If you spend your whole life looking over your shoulder, they will get you from the front instead.
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I spent a VERY productive day today refactoring some code which I originally wrote in 1988 (22 years between code reviews!). The code reduced in size by about 90% once all the superfluous code was removed - superfluous now, vital when the code was originally written to get around 16 bit memory addressing and CPU speed issues. I can't believe the hoops I used to have to jump through to get things working. You youngsters don't know how easy you have it! Luckily, I had the forethought to surround large sections of code with //HACK tags explaining why some of these strange things were being done. This turned out to be one of the most time-saving coding guidelines I ever implemented! Spelling
Paul Hooper If you spend your whole life looking over your shoulder, they will get you from the front instead.
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I spent a VERY productive day today refactoring some code which I originally wrote in 1988 (22 years between code reviews!). The code reduced in size by about 90% once all the superfluous code was removed - superfluous now, vital when the code was originally written to get around 16 bit memory addressing and CPU speed issues. I can't believe the hoops I used to have to jump through to get things working. You youngsters don't know how easy you have it! Luckily, I had the forethought to surround large sections of code with //HACK tags explaining why some of these strange things were being done. This turned out to be one of the most time-saving coding guidelines I ever implemented! Spelling
Paul Hooper If you spend your whole life looking over your shoulder, they will get you from the front instead.
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Paul Hooper wrote:
You youngsters don't know how easy you have it!
Well in my day we had to program using binary switches. And we liked it! :)
My first computer's main improvement over older models was a kex keypad to replace the switches, but nothing beats typing in machine code programs directly :)
A while ago he asked me what he should have printed on my business cards. I said 'Wizard'. I read books which nobody else understand. Then I do something which nobody understands. After that the computer does something which nobody understands. When asked, I say things about the results which nobody understand. But everybody expects miracles from me on a regular basis. Looks to me like the classical definition of a wizard.
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Paul Hooper wrote:
You youngsters don't know how easy you have it!
Well in my day we had to program using binary switches. And we liked it! :)
ricmil42 wrote:
in my day we had to program using binary switches
You had binary! You lucky get! When I started out I had to write an entire batch processes using only 1's. Scratched onto papyrus. Using Mr Babage's pocket knife!
Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. or "Drink. Get drunk. Fall over." - P O'H
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ricmil42 wrote:
in my day we had to program using binary switches
You had binary! You lucky get! When I started out I had to write an entire batch processes using only 1's. Scratched onto papyrus. Using Mr Babage's pocket knife!
Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. or "Drink. Get drunk. Fall over." - P O'H
Given your age, your memory still serves you well. Or are you having another episode? :)
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]
I only read formatted code with indentation, so please use PRE tags for code snippets.
I'm not participating in frackin' Q&A, so if you want my opinion, ask away in a real forum (or on my profile page).
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I spent a VERY productive day today refactoring some code which I originally wrote in 1988 (22 years between code reviews!). The code reduced in size by about 90% once all the superfluous code was removed - superfluous now, vital when the code was originally written to get around 16 bit memory addressing and CPU speed issues. I can't believe the hoops I used to have to jump through to get things working. You youngsters don't know how easy you have it! Luckily, I had the forethought to surround large sections of code with //HACK tags explaining why some of these strange things were being done. This turned out to be one of the most time-saving coding guidelines I ever implemented! Spelling
Paul Hooper If you spend your whole life looking over your shoulder, they will get you from the front instead.
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I spent a VERY productive day today refactoring some code which I originally wrote in 1988 (22 years between code reviews!). The code reduced in size by about 90% once all the superfluous code was removed - superfluous now, vital when the code was originally written to get around 16 bit memory addressing and CPU speed issues. I can't believe the hoops I used to have to jump through to get things working. You youngsters don't know how easy you have it! Luckily, I had the forethought to surround large sections of code with //HACK tags explaining why some of these strange things were being done. This turned out to be one of the most time-saving coding guidelines I ever implemented! Spelling
Paul Hooper If you spend your whole life looking over your shoulder, they will get you from the front instead.
In my career, I have made two deep forays into hell required by the technology at hand. Both involved 16-bit memory addressing and the segmented memory model. If I had a time machine, it's a toss-up which I would do: Go back in time and smack myself up the side of the head about a couple personal decisions, or go back and kill whoever thought the segmented memory models were a cool idea.
Software Zen:
delete this;
Fold With Us![^] -
ricmil42 wrote:
in my day we had to program using binary switches
You had binary! You lucky get! When I started out I had to write an entire batch processes using only 1's. Scratched onto papyrus. Using Mr Babage's pocket knife!
Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. or "Drink. Get drunk. Fall over." - P O'H
In my day, we had to whistle into a modem!
Before .NET 4.0, object Universe = NULL;