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Assignment Statement Considered Harmful

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  • N Nemanja Trifunovic

    After we figured out that goto is bad[^] and established that if statement is not much better[^], and of course for loops should be avoided at all cost[^] it is time for another logical step in that direction: ladies and gentlemen I give you Assignment Statement Considered Harmful[^].

    utf8-cpp

    R Offline
    R Offline
    Ravi Bhavnani
    wrote on last edited by
    #18

    On a (somewhat) related note, I found Big Ball of Mud[^] to be an excellent read. /ravi

    My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

    R 1 Reply Last reply
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    • E El Corazon

      Deyan Georgiev wrote:

      Programming is harmful

      I don't see what how that is possible... it isn't like programs launch missiles or anything... err... oh... wait.....

      _________________________ John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." Shhhhh.... I am not really here. I am a figment of your imagination.... I am still in my cave so this must be an illusion....

      S Offline
      S Offline
      Single Step Debugger
      wrote on last edited by
      #19

      Yes!

      The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.

      1 Reply Last reply
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      • N Nish Nishant

        Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:

        I just wonder where functional programmers store the result of your statement.

        In a closure.

        Regards, Nish


        Blog: blog.voidnish.com Most recent article: An MVVM friendly approach to adding system menu entries in a WPF application

        K Offline
        K Offline
        Keith Barrow
        wrote on last edited by
        #20

        Obligatory XKCD reference: http://xkcd.com/297/[^]

        ragnaroknrol The Internet is For Porn[^]
        Pete o'Hanlon: If it wasn't insulting tools, I'd say you were dumber than a bag of spanners.

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        • Y Yusuf

          Ok, next month's competition Write a piece of code with the following condition a. You can't use goto (very simple) b. You can't use if statement c. You can't use for loops d. You can't use assignment statements. Good luck :rolleyes:

          Yusuf May I help you?

          E Offline
          E Offline
          El Corazon
          wrote on last edited by
          #21

          #include int main() { int a, b; std::cout << "Enter a number: "; std::cin >> a; std::cout << "\nEnter a number: "; std::cin >> b; std::cout << "Largest: " << ((a > b) ? a : b) << "\nSmallest: " << ((a < b) ? a : b) << std::endl; return 0; }

          _________________________ John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." Shhhhh.... I am not really here. I am a figment of your imagination.... I am still in my cave so this must be an illusion....

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • Y Yusuf

            Ok, next month's competition Write a piece of code with the following condition a. You can't use goto (very simple) b. You can't use if statement c. You can't use for loops d. You can't use assignment statements. Good luck :rolleyes:

            Yusuf May I help you?

            0 Offline
            0 Offline
            0x3c0
            wrote on last edited by
            #22

            //if-statement
            if(value == 95.0)
            return 44;
            else
            return 76;

            //switch-block
            switch(value)
            {
            case 95.0:
            return 44;
            default:
            return 76;
            }

            //ternary operator - if feeling frustrated by idiotic constraints, nest as appropriate to share mood with other developers
            return (value == 95.0) ? 44 : 76;

            I suppose I don't need to say how to replace a for loop with a while loop. Not entirely certain how to get around the assignment statements though - maybe another member could shed some light on this?

            OSDev :)

            L 1 Reply Last reply
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            • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

              Too easy, you need to add: e. Make it do something useful.

              Did you know: That by counting the rings on a tree trunk, you can tell how many other trees it has slept with.

              A Offline
              A Offline
              AspDotNetDev
              wrote on last edited by
              #23

              System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("format", "C:");

              [Forum Guidelines]

              D 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • 0 0x3c0

                //if-statement
                if(value == 95.0)
                return 44;
                else
                return 76;

                //switch-block
                switch(value)
                {
                case 95.0:
                return 44;
                default:
                return 76;
                }

                //ternary operator - if feeling frustrated by idiotic constraints, nest as appropriate to share mood with other developers
                return (value == 95.0) ? 44 : 76;

                I suppose I don't need to say how to replace a for loop with a while loop. Not entirely certain how to get around the assignment statements though - maybe another member could shed some light on this?

                OSDev :)

                L Offline
                L Offline
                Lost User
                wrote on last edited by
                #24

                I guess you could use tail recursion

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • R Ravi Bhavnani

                  On a (somewhat) related note, I found Big Ball of Mud[^] to be an excellent read. /ravi

                  My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

                  R Offline
                  R Offline
                  Roger Wright
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #25

                  An excellent read, Ravi! :-D Fortunately, all of my projects are based from inception on the BBoM architecture, which saves me loads of time by never refactoring.

                  "A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"

                  R 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • B Brady Kelly

                    I've had four beers, but that makes sense. A literal is basically an anonymous object. The following is not allowed in C#, but I think it illustrates the concept of assigning to a literal quite nicely, and we all know how promiscuous older languages were compared to our beloved.

                            var lit = new {Name = "Brady"};
                            lit.Name = "Ennis";
                    
                    E Offline
                    E Offline
                    Ennis Ray Lynch Jr
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #26

                    The assigning to a literal bug refers to

                    4 = 5;

                    Being legal code and replacing the binary value of 4 with 5 break all logic based one that literal.

                    Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • R Roger Wright

                      An excellent read, Ravi! :-D Fortunately, all of my projects are based from inception on the BBoM architecture, which saves me loads of time by never refactoring.

                      "A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"

                      R Offline
                      R Offline
                      Ravi Bhavnani
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #27

                      Hey, btw check your email!  (The one to which CP email replies are sent). /ravi

                      My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

                      1 Reply Last reply
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                      • R Rajesh R Subramanian

                        Yusuf wrote:

                        Write a piece of code with the following condition a. You can't use goto (very simple) b. You can't use if statement c. You can't use for loops d. You can't use assignment statements.

                        //#include <iostream> //wait... we don't any of those!

                        int main()
                        {
                        return; //usage of return is NOT yet banned.
                        }

                        It's time for a new sig. Seriously.

                        M Offline
                        M Offline
                        Mladen Jankovic
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #28

                        Rajesh R Subramanian wrote:

                        **int** main() {   **return;** // return what?usage of return is NOT yet banned. }

                        You see, it's harder then you think.

                        Rajesh R Subramanian wrote:

                        usage of return is NOT yet banned.

                        And you see why it should be.

                        [Genetic Algorithm Library] [Wowd]

                        R 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • N Nemanja Trifunovic

                          After we figured out that goto is bad[^] and established that if statement is not much better[^], and of course for loops should be avoided at all cost[^] it is time for another logical step in that direction: ladies and gentlemen I give you Assignment Statement Considered Harmful[^].

                          utf8-cpp

                          L Offline
                          L Offline
                          Lost User
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #29

                          They even admitted that SSA exists - what's the problem then? Just use that.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • M Mladen Jankovic

                            Rajesh R Subramanian wrote:

                            **int** main() {   **return;** // return what?usage of return is NOT yet banned. }

                            You see, it's harder then you think.

                            Rajesh R Subramanian wrote:

                            usage of return is NOT yet banned.

                            And you see why it should be.

                            [Genetic Algorithm Library] [Wowd]

                            R Offline
                            R Offline
                            Rajesh R Subramanian
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #30

                            :((

                            It's time for a new sig. Seriously.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • A AspDotNetDev

                              System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("format", "C:");

                              [Forum Guidelines]

                              D Offline
                              D Offline
                              dawmail333
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #31

                              Public Function IWinzTheInterwebz
                              Return ITriforcezUAllMuwahahahahahaz(Me)
                              End Function

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • N Nemanja Trifunovic

                                After we figured out that goto is bad[^] and established that if statement is not much better[^], and of course for loops should be avoided at all cost[^] it is time for another logical step in that direction: ladies and gentlemen I give you Assignment Statement Considered Harmful[^].

                                utf8-cpp

                                T Offline
                                T Offline
                                Tomz_KV
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #32

                                With so many harmful statements, not much left for a programmer to use.

                                TOMZ_KV

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • N Nemanja Trifunovic

                                  After we figured out that goto is bad[^] and established that if statement is not much better[^], and of course for loops should be avoided at all cost[^] it is time for another logical step in that direction: ladies and gentlemen I give you Assignment Statement Considered Harmful[^].

                                  utf8-cpp

                                  A Offline
                                  A Offline
                                  Alexander DiMauro
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #33

                                  His conclusion: learn functional programing. Haskell recommended. dice.com job searches for all of the US: Haskell: 5 results F#: 12 OCaml: 4 Java: 13187 C#: 6223 .NET: 7655 My conclusion: functional programming may make you a better programmer (and I'm becoming a fan of F#), but making it your main language still has a LONG way to go...unless you work in academia, I suppose.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • Q QuiJohn

                                    aspdotnetdev wrote:

                                    and dihydrogen monoxide (in large enough quantities)

                                    What do you mean? I've literally been swimming in it.


                                    He said, "Boy I'm just old and lonely, But thank you for your concern, Here's wishing you a Happy New Year." I wished him one back in return.

                                    N Offline
                                    N Offline
                                    NowIsForever
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #34

                                    Beware! H₂O is a highly addictive substance and it can kill you in more ways than one: Water Intoxication.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • Y Yusuf

                                      Ok, next month's competition Write a piece of code with the following condition a. You can't use goto (very simple) b. You can't use if statement c. You can't use for loops d. You can't use assignment statements. Good luck :rolleyes:

                                      Yusuf May I help you?

                                      L Offline
                                      L Offline
                                      Lilith C
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #35

                                      Does it need to be commercially viable?

                                      I'm not a programmer but I play one at the office

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • N Nemanja Trifunovic

                                        After we figured out that goto is bad[^] and established that if statement is not much better[^], and of course for loops should be avoided at all cost[^] it is time for another logical step in that direction: ladies and gentlemen I give you Assignment Statement Considered Harmful[^].

                                        utf8-cpp

                                        T Offline
                                        T Offline
                                        Trajan McGill
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #36

                                        Alas, I think the author has a basic misunderstanding, which is to think of a variable as a place rather than as a placeholder. A variable is not a register, a glass of water, or a memory location. A variable is a symbol for a value, which happens to be represented on a computer by registers or memory locations or other means of storage. Consider where the concept comes from: algebra. A mathematician might say something like, "Let 'r' represent the radius of a circle. Let 'pi' represent the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. We may find the area of any circle by the formula (pi * r * r)." In that sort of language, we see that a variable is not "storing" something, it is "standing in for" something. It is a symbol assigned an association with a particular variable, in the same way the words "he" or "she" or "it" may be assigned an association with a particular person or thing in some context. And just like it is possible to associate "he" with one person, and then in the next paragraph associated it with another, or just like we may successively let 'r' stand for many radii if we need to calculate areas of multiple circles, assigning a new value to a variable is perfectly reasonable. It is simply a re-association, in the same way "Hank Williams" and "Martin Luther King" each originally was a word pointer to a certain man, and now is typically used to point to the original man's son. So to say: x = 5; ... x = 10; Is simply asking the reader (or compiler) to, at one time, consider the string "x" to be a stand-in for the value 5, and later instructing the reader to consider the same string as a stand-in for the value 10. As for the following: x = 5; y = 10; ... x = y; It appears at first glance as though it could be a confusion of things and types, but even this is not, really. Remember that "y" is not really a thing that is being assigned to x. It doesn't mean, "Assign 5 to x. Now assign 10 to y. Now assign the object y to x." The string "y" is simply a stand-in, a representation that could be replaced in-line with whatever value it is currently associated with. So "x = y;" is no different than "x = 10;" in the above case. So it is also, contrary to the article's contentions, entirely possible for x to equal y. x equals y whenever the value for which "x" stands equals the value for which "y" stands. Now, if you're astute, you might note that when "x" or "y" appears on the left side of the assignment operator, it isn't acting the

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                                        • N Nemanja Trifunovic

                                          After we figured out that goto is bad[^] and established that if statement is not much better[^], and of course for loops should be avoided at all cost[^] it is time for another logical step in that direction: ladies and gentlemen I give you Assignment Statement Considered Harmful[^].

                                          utf8-cpp

                                          J Offline
                                          J Offline
                                          jsc42
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #37

                                          Nemanja Trifunovic wrote:

                                          goto is bad[^]

                                          :doh: Irony: Follow the link for 'goto is bad' and hover over the house icon above the 'GoTo Considered Harmful' title on the page. The tooltip says 'go to mainpage'. There are still some places where 'go to' is the easiest way of describing navigating around things.

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