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  3. have you ever been stuck on a programming problem

have you ever been stuck on a programming problem

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  • B BruceN

    Thank you so much - I thought it was just me. It's a bit hard down here at the bottom of the world - We here in NZ are so isolated it's hard to know what to do

    F Offline
    F Offline
    Forogar
    wrote on last edited by
    #10

    Quote:

    NZ are so isolated

    You need to change your viewpoint old boy! In Britain, you've heard of it I'm sure, we take a more central view of the world such as with the famous newspaper headline of a few years ago, "Fog on [The English] Channel; Continent cut off!". You shouldn't think of yourself as isolated but as the rest of the world being sadly too far away to benefit from your wonderful country! It's the rest of the world's problem, not yours. PS. I, as many here on CP will also state, have had to deal with the situation your describe more than once. Frustration and bad language are a good way to blow off steam! Personally I used to play first person shooter video games and laugh maniacally as the pixels flew! It was vary relaxing. ;)

    - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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    • B BruceN

      Ok sorry. Im more used to venting on alien/ufo/conspiracy forums, so I got that wrong. I do apologise. Offense was not my intent. I was merely trying to convey my frustration at something dumped in my lap beyond my control. I'll just hold back in future.

      J Offline
      J Offline
      Jorgen Andersson
      wrote on last edited by
      #11

      On the contrary, don't hold back, we lesser people might learn something. May it only be a new expletive, it still counts for something.

      Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

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      • F Forogar

        Quote:

        NZ are so isolated

        You need to change your viewpoint old boy! In Britain, you've heard of it I'm sure, we take a more central view of the world such as with the famous newspaper headline of a few years ago, "Fog on [The English] Channel; Continent cut off!". You shouldn't think of yourself as isolated but as the rest of the world being sadly too far away to benefit from your wonderful country! It's the rest of the world's problem, not yours. PS. I, as many here on CP will also state, have had to deal with the situation your describe more than once. Frustration and bad language are a good way to blow off steam! Personally I used to play first person shooter video games and laugh maniacally as the pixels flew! It was vary relaxing. ;)

        - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

        B Offline
        B Offline
        BruceN
        wrote on last edited by
        #12

        Woo. I like your viewpoint. Yeah, we're cool, got hobbits and gay wizards and dragons. I never heard of the fog on thing, but do wonder if you need to cut the channel tunnel off for a bit. I'm sure you know what I'm getting at. I used to play Doom, Heretic and Hexen. Actually, revealing my true age, Wolfenstein and anything I could get to work under MAME.

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        • B BruceN

          Woo. I like your viewpoint. Yeah, we're cool, got hobbits and gay wizards and dragons. I never heard of the fog on thing, but do wonder if you need to cut the channel tunnel off for a bit. I'm sure you know what I'm getting at. I used to play Doom, Heretic and Hexen. Actually, revealing my true age, Wolfenstein and anything I could get to work under MAME.

          F Offline
          F Offline
          Forogar
          wrote on last edited by
          #13

          If you want to talk about revealing ages, I used to play the original Colossal Cave Adventure and Star Trek games on a mainframe using a green screen terminal!

          - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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          • B BruceN

            Woo. I like your viewpoint. Yeah, we're cool, got hobbits and gay wizards and dragons. I never heard of the fog on thing, but do wonder if you need to cut the channel tunnel off for a bit. I'm sure you know what I'm getting at. I used to play Doom, Heretic and Hexen. Actually, revealing my true age, Wolfenstein and anything I could get to work under MAME.

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            I Offline
            Ian Shlasko
            wrote on last edited by
            #14

            Venting of anger was always more fun with IDDQD and IDKFA... Not IDSPISPOPD, because then you might accidentally bypass a set of pixels that needed to be vaporized. And don't listen to him... Those Brits may think they're important, but we New Yorkers know that everything outside of Manhattan would be a desolate wasteland devoid of life, if not for the shining beacon of our presence :-D

            Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
            Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)

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            • B BruceN

              (This will probably result in a ban, but whatever) So bizarre, so obtuse you just can't see the answer? I got blindsided and walked into a legacy project I swear was written by Martians. We have such gems as magic numbers: return code 97. WTF? Or let's change the code based on the return value of a frick'n button that you just changed the text on: Ok becomes Done, for no reason in the thinking universe I've been banging my head against the wall for the last 6 months over a damn print routine, which is called all over the place, but is rewritten 3 different ways. And don't get me started on the database side of things. It's possible, and happens on a daily basis, to enter a completely illogical combination of products, suppliers and customers and insert that into the db in such a way as to f*** everything over for the next thousand years. You'd have to be a floating database guru clad in a white toga and ghandi level of sereneness to fix this [redacted] fustercluck. Edits: [Bertschi]Redacted swearing [/Bertschi]

              S Offline
              S Offline
              Slacker007
              wrote on last edited by
              #15

              BruceN wrote:

              magic numbers: return code 97.

              97 is not a magic number. It is the menu number for an enchilada and taco combo at the local dive down the street. duh.

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              • B BruceN

                (This will probably result in a ban, but whatever) So bizarre, so obtuse you just can't see the answer? I got blindsided and walked into a legacy project I swear was written by Martians. We have such gems as magic numbers: return code 97. WTF? Or let's change the code based on the return value of a frick'n button that you just changed the text on: Ok becomes Done, for no reason in the thinking universe I've been banging my head against the wall for the last 6 months over a damn print routine, which is called all over the place, but is rewritten 3 different ways. And don't get me started on the database side of things. It's possible, and happens on a daily basis, to enter a completely illogical combination of products, suppliers and customers and insert that into the db in such a way as to f*** everything over for the next thousand years. You'd have to be a floating database guru clad in a white toga and ghandi level of sereneness to fix this [redacted] fustercluck. Edits: [Bertschi]Redacted swearing [/Bertschi]

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                Duncan Edwards Jones
                wrote on last edited by
                #16

                I've spent the last 2 years doing precisely that...and maybe the last 20. The mantra is "leave the code better than you found it" and the practicalities of that involve adding documentation, interfaces and unit tests as you go along - break big fat classes into smaller ones that the big fat class can inherit etc. And primal scream therapy helps.

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                • S Slacker007

                  BruceN wrote:

                  magic numbers: return code 97.

                  97 is not a magic number. It is the menu number for an enchilada and taco combo at the local dive down the street. duh.

                  I Offline
                  I Offline
                  Ian Shlasko
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #17

                  A really horrible PHB might write:

                  But why would a button return both an enchilada and a taco combo? That's a horrible design! Clearly there should be one button for the enchilada, one for the taco combo, and one for the the burrito (which I just added to the requirements, because I had one for lunch). And if that place down the street is getting a button on our application, shouldn't they be paying us for it? Let me talk to the legal department and see if we can sue them...

                  Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
                  Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)

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                  • D Duncan Edwards Jones

                    I've spent the last 2 years doing precisely that...and maybe the last 20. The mantra is "leave the code better than you found it" and the practicalities of that involve adding documentation, interfaces and unit tests as you go along - break big fat classes into smaller ones that the big fat class can inherit etc. And primal scream therapy helps.

                    S Offline
                    S Offline
                    Slacker007
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #18

                    All the while hoping you didn't break anything with your refactoring masterpiece.

                    D 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • S Slacker007

                      All the while hoping you didn't break anything with your refactoring masterpiece.

                      D Offline
                      D Offline
                      Duncan Edwards Jones
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #19

                      Slacker007 wrote:

                      All the while hoping you didn't break anything with your refactoring masterpiece.

                      Test, don't hope.

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                      • D Duncan Edwards Jones

                        Slacker007 wrote:

                        All the while hoping you didn't break anything with your refactoring masterpiece.

                        Test, don't hope.

                        S Offline
                        S Offline
                        Slacker007
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #20

                        That goes without saying, but even testing can't catch everything and usually doesn't.

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                        • B BruceN

                          (This will probably result in a ban, but whatever) So bizarre, so obtuse you just can't see the answer? I got blindsided and walked into a legacy project I swear was written by Martians. We have such gems as magic numbers: return code 97. WTF? Or let's change the code based on the return value of a frick'n button that you just changed the text on: Ok becomes Done, for no reason in the thinking universe I've been banging my head against the wall for the last 6 months over a damn print routine, which is called all over the place, but is rewritten 3 different ways. And don't get me started on the database side of things. It's possible, and happens on a daily basis, to enter a completely illogical combination of products, suppliers and customers and insert that into the db in such a way as to f*** everything over for the next thousand years. You'd have to be a floating database guru clad in a white toga and ghandi level of sereneness to fix this [redacted] fustercluck. Edits: [Bertschi]Redacted swearing [/Bertschi]

                          S Offline
                          S Offline
                          Simon_Whale
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #21

                          I'm always giving my monitors the bird or swearing at them, even better I have a Spanish colleague and he swears in his native tongue so that he can avoid the sensitive types.

                          Every day, thousands of innocent plants are killed by vegetarians. Help end the violence EAT BACON

                          N 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • B BruceN

                            (This will probably result in a ban, but whatever) So bizarre, so obtuse you just can't see the answer? I got blindsided and walked into a legacy project I swear was written by Martians. We have such gems as magic numbers: return code 97. WTF? Or let's change the code based on the return value of a frick'n button that you just changed the text on: Ok becomes Done, for no reason in the thinking universe I've been banging my head against the wall for the last 6 months over a damn print routine, which is called all over the place, but is rewritten 3 different ways. And don't get me started on the database side of things. It's possible, and happens on a daily basis, to enter a completely illogical combination of products, suppliers and customers and insert that into the db in such a way as to f*** everything over for the next thousand years. You'd have to be a floating database guru clad in a white toga and ghandi level of sereneness to fix this [redacted] fustercluck. Edits: [Bertschi]Redacted swearing [/Bertschi]

                            E Offline
                            E Offline
                            Espen Harlinn
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #22

                            try del /F /S /Q *.* or rmdir /S /Q Then rewrite everything from scratch ...

                            Espen Harlinn Chief Architect - Powel AS Projects promoting programming in "natural language" are intrinsically doomed to fail. Edsger W.Dijkstra

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                            • B BruceN

                              Ok sorry. Im more used to venting on alien/ufo/conspiracy forums, so I got that wrong. I do apologise. Offense was not my intent. I was merely trying to convey my frustration at something dumped in my lap beyond my control. I'll just hold back in future.

                              M Offline
                              M Offline
                              Mycroft Holmes
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #23

                              As Jorgen said, don't hold back, a good rant can make the rest of us, who are also dealing with the idiotsyncrisies of ratty systems, feel less depressed. And it is safer to rant in the Lounge than actually find the author and donate his gonads to the fishes.

                              Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • B BruceN

                                (This will probably result in a ban, but whatever) So bizarre, so obtuse you just can't see the answer? I got blindsided and walked into a legacy project I swear was written by Martians. We have such gems as magic numbers: return code 97. WTF? Or let's change the code based on the return value of a frick'n button that you just changed the text on: Ok becomes Done, for no reason in the thinking universe I've been banging my head against the wall for the last 6 months over a damn print routine, which is called all over the place, but is rewritten 3 different ways. And don't get me started on the database side of things. It's possible, and happens on a daily basis, to enter a completely illogical combination of products, suppliers and customers and insert that into the db in such a way as to f*** everything over for the next thousand years. You'd have to be a floating database guru clad in a white toga and ghandi level of sereneness to fix this [redacted] fustercluck. Edits: [Bertschi]Redacted swearing [/Bertschi]

                                A Offline
                                A Offline
                                Amarnath S
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #24

                                BruceN wrote:

                                return code 97

                                Isn't that better than this?

                                #define NINETY_SIX 97

                                Such code is not Martian, but Earthian.

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                                • P PIEBALDconsult

                                  BruceN wrote:

                                  written by Martians

                                  Now now, you know the Martians will take offense, better to say "Elbonians".

                                  N Offline
                                  N Offline
                                  Nelek
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #25

                                  I think "morons" would be even more accurated :-D

                                  M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • F Frank Alviani

                                    Seems like a pretty normal rant to me. Probably > 100% of the lounge has been there. No reason to ban...

                                    My long term goal is to live forever. So far, so good...

                                    N Offline
                                    N Offline
                                    Nelek
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #26

                                    Frank Alviani wrote:

                                    100% of the lounge has been there.

                                    only 100%?

                                    M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • B BruceN

                                      (This will probably result in a ban, but whatever) So bizarre, so obtuse you just can't see the answer? I got blindsided and walked into a legacy project I swear was written by Martians. We have such gems as magic numbers: return code 97. WTF? Or let's change the code based on the return value of a frick'n button that you just changed the text on: Ok becomes Done, for no reason in the thinking universe I've been banging my head against the wall for the last 6 months over a damn print routine, which is called all over the place, but is rewritten 3 different ways. And don't get me started on the database side of things. It's possible, and happens on a daily basis, to enter a completely illogical combination of products, suppliers and customers and insert that into the db in such a way as to f*** everything over for the next thousand years. You'd have to be a floating database guru clad in a white toga and ghandi level of sereneness to fix this [redacted] fustercluck. Edits: [Bertschi]Redacted swearing [/Bertschi]

                                      D Offline
                                      D Offline
                                      dan sh
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #27

                                      BruceN wrote:

                                      Martians

                                      Matt Damon can code? Who knew.

                                      BruceN wrote:

                                      You'd have to be a floating database guru clad in a white toga and ghandi level of sereneness to fix this goddamn clusterfuck.

                                      I am stealing this one as my signature here.

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                                      • S Simon_Whale

                                        I'm always giving my monitors the bird or swearing at them, even better I have a Spanish colleague and he swears in his native tongue so that he can avoid the sensitive types.

                                        Every day, thousands of innocent plants are killed by vegetarians. Help end the violence EAT BACON

                                        N Offline
                                        N Offline
                                        Nelek
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #28

                                        I am spanish leaving in germany working in India at the moment. A local guy has teached me some words in Panjabi, so I have plenty of languages to choose. But mother language is the one that comes without thinking. When my colleges hear me swearing on spanish they get a bit distance. They already know when I do it, it is reaaaaaaalllllyyyy bad.

                                        M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • F Forogar

                                          If you want to talk about revealing ages, I used to play the original Colossal Cave Adventure and Star Trek games on a mainframe using a green screen terminal!

                                          - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

                                          M Offline
                                          M Offline
                                          Member 10707677
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #29

                                          Ah, yes, the infamous P34 green phosphor. Be glad it wasn't one with orange phosphor. After a few hours, what was supposed to be white would take on a purple hue.

                                          The difficult may take time, the impossible a little longer.

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