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  4. Doesn't "should" mean it's not required?

Doesn't "should" mean it's not required?

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Weird and The Wonderful
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  • L Lost User

    Richard Deeming wrote:

    In English, that's almost always written as "You must be ..." to avoid precisely this problem. ;-P

    It is probably not up for negotiation. Even if it says "you oughta be".

    Richard Deeming wrote:

    SHOULD This word, or the adjective "RECOMMENDED", mean that there may exist valid reasons in particular circumstances to ignore a particular item

    RFC or not, the word "must" will also have valid reasons to ignore a particular item. Unless we are talking about unsigned numbers, there are no absolutes. See the forum where code is "urgent" and "must" be finished by the next day. I should ignore those messages, must not redicule them. If I only could.. :rolleyes:

    Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

    P Offline
    P Offline
    PIEBALDconsult
    wrote on last edited by
    #14

    No assigngment must be finished.

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    • P PIEBALDconsult

      Quote:

      Your password should contain at least 6 characters

      If you're going to require it; don't say "should", say "must". :mad:

      U Offline
      U Offline
      User 11846885
      wrote on last edited by
      #15

      Insanity notwithstanding ... * Should should be reserved for project stretch targets. * Must must be used only in brewing. * Shall, shall be used in the case of compulsory requirements. * Will will only be used in the case of death

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      • P PIEBALDconsult

        No assigngment must be finished.

        L Offline
        L Offline
        Lost User
        wrote on last edited by
        #16

        You're right :) I must have made that mistake before :D

        Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

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        • W WiganLatics

          Your password should contain at least 6 characters, otherwise it won't be accepted. However, you CAN type a shorter password, it's just that it'll be rejected. ;P

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          Rio Rico Rick
          wrote on last edited by
          #17

          From the requirements document: "The password entered by the user should be rejected if it does not contain at least six characters." If I received that requirement from my boss, I would make darn sure that the password is rejected. I don't think I would randomly reject some and not others. How about "You shouldn't break the speed limit"? Now, if you were being chased by a tyrannosaurus rex, I think the judge would (should?) let you off the hook.

          hatfok King Yiddum's Castle Pegasus Galaxy

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          • P PIEBALDconsult

            Quote:

            Your password should contain at least 6 characters

            If you're going to require it; don't say "should", say "must". :mad:

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            M Offline
            MikeTheFid
            wrote on last edited by
            #18

            SHame + cOULD = SHOULD Could says there is a choice to be made and is an element of should. Shame on those who don't follow the implied directive is an element of should. Should is one of the most stress-inducing words in the English lexicon and absolutely... ...ought not be used in message boxes, forms or web pages. IMNSHO :)

            Cheers, Mike Fidler "I intend to live forever - so far, so good." Steven Wright "I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met." Also Steven Wright "I'm addicted to placebos. I could quit, but it wouldn't matter." Steven Wright yet again.

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            • R Rio Rico Rick

              From the requirements document: "The password entered by the user should be rejected if it does not contain at least six characters." If I received that requirement from my boss, I would make darn sure that the password is rejected. I don't think I would randomly reject some and not others. How about "You shouldn't break the speed limit"? Now, if you were being chased by a tyrannosaurus rex, I think the judge would (should?) let you off the hook.

              hatfok King Yiddum's Castle Pegasus Galaxy

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              W Offline
              WiganLatics
              wrote on last edited by
              #19

              If I receive a requirement document from the boss, I just do what I want. It usually has an "optional requirements" section...

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              • P PIEBALDconsult

                Quote:

                Your password should contain at least 6 characters

                If you're going to require it; don't say "should", say "must". :mad:

                B Offline
                B Offline
                BrainiacV
                wrote on last edited by
                #20

                I think it is just local interpretation. I used to work with a guy who thought if a sentence contained the word "are" that it was then a question. "Are you going to do that?" "Where are you?" He didn't have an audible response when I said. "You are out of your mind." So maybe in the writer's local culture, saying "should" implied "have to".

                Psychosis at 10 Film at 11 Those who do not remember the past, are doomed to repeat it. Those who do not remember the past, cannot build upon it.

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                • P PIEBALDconsult

                  Quote:

                  Your password should contain at least 6 characters

                  If you're going to require it; don't say "should", say "must". :mad:

                  L Offline
                  L Offline
                  Lost User
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #21

                  The software is being polite; it's anticipating users who do not like being told what to do.

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                  • W WiganLatics

                    If I receive a requirement document from the boss, I just do what I want. It usually has an "optional requirements" section...

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                    Rio Rico Rick
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #22

                    Well then, what exactly do you do when they are not in the "optional" section? Please enlighten us! I'll check, but I'm sure I did not mention optional requirements.

                    hatfok King Yiddum's Castle Pegasus Galaxy

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                    • R Rio Rico Rick

                      Well then, what exactly do you do when they are not in the "optional" section? Please enlighten us! I'll check, but I'm sure I did not mention optional requirements.

                      hatfok King Yiddum's Castle Pegasus Galaxy

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                      W Offline
                      WiganLatics
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #23

                      Do I need to buy a sarcasm sign?

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                      • W WiganLatics

                        Do I need to buy a sarcasm sign?

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                        R Offline
                        Rio Rico Rick
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #24

                        No, but if you do, would you pick one up for me as well? :)

                        hatfok King Yiddum's Castle Pegasus Galaxy

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                        • P PIEBALDconsult

                          Quote:

                          Your password should contain at least 6 characters

                          If you're going to require it; don't say "should", say "must". :mad:

                          S Offline
                          S Offline
                          SeattleC
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #25

                          As used in many standards documents, "should" means, "This is a best practice. You're an idiot if you don't." It is the concensus advice of the standard-writers who are usually very experienced people. It is the behavior of a very junior, very unimformed person not to treat "should" advice in a standards document as "do it". But hey, knock yourself out, do a half-assed job. That's the way to impress your boss and your customers. I think there are people who are still rebelling against "should" advice in standards documents because they hated hearing their mom tell them what they "should" do. Chances are mom was right too.

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                          • P PIEBALDconsult

                            No assigngment must be finished.

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                            WiganLatics
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #26

                            It must be finished as a prerequisite for getting top marks. But if you don't desire top marks then it needn't be finished.

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                            • P PIEBALDconsult

                              Quote:

                              Your password should contain at least 6 characters

                              If you're going to require it; don't say "should", say "must". :mad:

                              K Offline
                              K Offline
                              kalberts
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #27

                              Quote:

                              Your password should contain at least 6 characters

                              Isn't that another way of stating: "Penis" is too short ?

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                              • K kalberts

                                Quote:

                                Your password should contain at least 6 characters

                                Isn't that another way of stating: "Penis" is too short ?

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                                PIEBALDconsult
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #28

                                I would then expect the validator to say, "Is it in yet?".

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                                • L Lost User

                                  If it says "should" then it is not optional, like in "could". You should be "this tall" to ride this ride.

                                  Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

                                  J Offline
                                  J Offline
                                  James Lonero
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #29

                                  In most cases, 'should' gives you some wiggle room. For DOD purposes, 'shall' means absolutely must be, required to be.

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                                  • J James Lonero

                                    In most cases, 'should' gives you some wiggle room. For DOD purposes, 'shall' means absolutely must be, required to be.

                                    L Offline
                                    L Offline
                                    Lost User
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #30

                                    James Lonero wrote:

                                    In most cases, 'should' gives you some wiggle room.

                                    So, more a very strong recommendation. Something like "all variable names should have a meaningfull name", and "code comments should be not stating the obvious".

                                    James Lonero wrote:

                                    For DOD purposes, 'shall' means absolutely must be, required to be.

                                    Good thing I don't work there then. We shall die, the rest is uncertain and open to discussion :)

                                    Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

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                                    • W WiganLatics

                                      Do I need to buy a sarcasm sign?

                                      R Offline
                                      R Offline
                                      Rob Grainger
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #31

                                      WiganLatics wrote:

                                      Do I need to buy a sarcasm sign?

                                      Yes, you really should ;-)

                                      "If you don't fail at least 90 percent of the time, you're not aiming high enough." Alan Kay.

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                                      • R Rob Grainger

                                        WiganLatics wrote:

                                        Do I need to buy a sarcasm sign?

                                        Yes, you really should ;-)

                                        "If you don't fail at least 90 percent of the time, you're not aiming high enough." Alan Kay.

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                                        Rio Rico Rick
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #32

                                        Teal'c says "Indeed"!

                                        hatfok King Yiddum's Castle Pegasus Galaxy

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