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  3. crap coding for myself. What variable names do you use?

crap coding for myself. What variable names do you use?

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  • M Marc Clifton

    rnbergren wrote:

    Does anyone else do this?

    Nope.

    rnbergren wrote:

    Sometimes I even do.

    Because "sometimes" is "usually never."

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    OriginalGriffO Offline
    OriginalGriffO Offline
    OriginalGriff
    wrote on last edited by
    #5

    Well said!

    "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

    "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
    "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

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    • R rnbergren

      so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

      To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

      D Offline
      D Offline
      Daniel Pfeffer
      wrote on last edited by
      #6

      Never. Either write code properly, or don't write it at all.

      Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows. -- 6079 Smith W.

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      • R rnbergren

        so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

        To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

        Sander RosselS Offline
        Sander RosselS Offline
        Sander Rossel
        wrote on last edited by
        #7

        "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle So no, I've made doing it "right" a habit and would not even think about naming something "astr" or "ewww" :)

        Best, Sander Azure DevOps Succinctly (free eBook) Azure Serverless Succinctly (free eBook) Migrating Apps to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript

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        • R rnbergren

          so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

          To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

          C Offline
          C Offline
          Chris Maunder
          wrote on last edited by
          #8

          I learned a long time ago that the temp code I'm planning on ditch often becomes the bedrock on which my applications teeter.

          cheers Chris Maunder

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          • R rnbergren

            so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

            To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

            K Offline
            K Offline
            kmoorevs
            wrote on last edited by
            #9

            rnbergren wrote:

            Does anyone else do this?

            I have been known to use slightly 'inappropriate' abbreviations for variable names. By inappropriate, I mean in human terms 'cause the compiler doesn't care. A common abbreviation in my line of business is ASS. It appears frequently in my code, and I've never been asked to change it. :) Another example is when we used crystal reports. The application object was crAp! :laugh: The worst I've done is leave some salty comments for myself as they were well deserved. :laugh: TBH, for utility variables I always use the same ones, usually 2 or 3 letters, kind of a signature I suppose. For others, I've gotten a lot more descriptive over the last decade or so.

            "Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse "Hope is contagious"

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            • R rnbergren

              so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

              To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

              J Offline
              J Offline
              Jon McKee
              wrote on last edited by
              #10

              If I'm writing "one-off" code I do this sometimes (e.g. a QA answer). Any code I might actually end up using for something I generally don't for three reasons: 1) harder to read for me, 2) you may never get back around to renaming everything, and 3) naming practice. Good naming is a skill just like any other.

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              • R rnbergren

                so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

                To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

                M Offline
                M Offline
                Mycroft Holmes
                wrote on last edited by
                #11

                Never ever do this in what you think is prototype code, it will and should come back and bite you when it goes into production. Doing it right MUST become a habit, an automatic action that you don't even think about it. Name it correctly, format it correctly and use the most efficient and elegant structure you can think of, even in a throw away piece of code you don't ever expect to use.

                Never underestimate the power of human stupidity - RAH I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP

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                • R rnbergren

                  so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

                  To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

                  L Offline
                  L Offline
                  Lost User
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #12

                  rnbergren wrote:

                  Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String

                  Sytems vs. Apps hungarian, and they both wrong in update code; we read Joel[^] and do not use it, since VB6. I will use a descriptive name. "CurrentInput", "DescText". Never will I use a form of hungarian, no matter whether sys or apps. Don't care about company's guideluines either. I write good code, despite guidelines. We use a descriptive name. No need to include type, one can get that by hovering the mouse.

                  rnbergren wrote:

                  Does anyone else do this?

                  I hope not, that's a sign of sickness. --edit I use names; if I don't have a good one in less than a minute, I pick whatever female variable name Google offers. That takes a few minutes more. Mostly going for cat names.

                  Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

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                  • R rnbergren

                    so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

                    To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

                    R Offline
                    R Offline
                    Rick York
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #13

                    No, never. I learned log ago that you have to be careful when proving a concept because once you do then you are asked to put in production. You need to have a good reason why it can't be or else it will be. Therefore, always build in a fatal weakness that will require revision before you can deploy it. The problem I often had was they want a quick PoC and even quicker deployment and there is never enough time for a shiny, finished product.

                    "They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers! Can I get an amen?"

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                    • R rnbergren

                      so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

                      To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

                      L Offline
                      L Offline
                      Lost User
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #14

                      No time to write crap code.

                      It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it. ― Confucian Analects: Rules of Confucius about his food

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                      • R rnbergren

                        so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

                        To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

                        G Offline
                        G Offline
                        Gary R Wheeler
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #15

                        I don't crap code, but if I did: Fred, Barney, Wilma, Betty, Pebbles, BamBam, Dino I could go on...

                        Software Zen: delete this;

                        L 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • G Gary R Wheeler

                          I don't crap code, but if I did: Fred, Barney, Wilma, Betty, Pebbles, BamBam, Dino I could go on...

                          Software Zen: delete this;

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

                          VB6?

                          Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

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                          • R rnbergren

                            so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

                            To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

                            C Offline
                            C Offline
                            CPallini
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #17

                            Yes, of course. 'foo', 'bar', 'goo' and 'boo' are my favourites. :-D

                            "In testa che avete, Signor di Ceprano?" -- Rigoletto

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                            • R rnbergren

                              so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

                              To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

                              W Offline
                              W Offline
                              Wizard of Sleeves
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #18

                              It seems like I am the only one, but I am with you on this one... sort of. The only non descriptive variables I use for i, j & k in for loops. This is a throw back to my Fortran programming days. i, j & k were integers, other letters were floats. However. When I say descriptive, I do use names like 'something', 'stuff', 'thisOne', 'thatThing', etc. Sometimes, these do creep into production code, but not in a way that is confusing to the future being that has to deal with my code.

                              Nothing succeeds like a budgie without teeth.

                              G 1 Reply Last reply
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                              • R rnbergren

                                so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

                                To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

                                L Offline
                                L Offline
                                Lost User
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #19

                                There is nothing worse, as a support engineer, than working through some code and coming to a line that says something like:

                                /* Note: Needs to be fixed before general release. */

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                                • R rnbergren

                                  so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

                                  To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

                                  M Offline
                                  M Offline
                                  Martin Hart Turner
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #20

                                  Nope, my OCD won’t let me do such things. Quick an dirty code as well as production get the full treatment!

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                                  • R rnbergren

                                    so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

                                    To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

                                    A Offline
                                    A Offline
                                    ACRowland
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #21

                                    Well, if I'm writing a very short procedure purely as a way to check it works or compare two methods that have occurred to me, and am probably doing it in a test rig, then yes, I will use short variable names for speed. But I do it properly when I rewrite the code into the actual program. One thing I will admit to: if I write a short utility function, one or two lines... you know, to return a filename without the extension, or the _n_th word in a string or something... I will often use astr, x etc. And counters are i. Always. Unless there is a nested loop, in which case one of them is j. Unless the code is long and complicated, in which case one is outer and the other inner. Should I hang my head in shame? [Please specify precise angle]

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                                    • R rnbergren

                                      so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

                                      To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

                                      B Offline
                                      B Offline
                                      BernardIE5317
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #22

                                      When learning the language (C++) I utilize class names cfoobar cgoobar and choobar as needed. Never needed a cjoobar. Also as per FORTRAN i often utilize i j k for loop counters. Otherwise I utilize descriptive variable names even lengthy ones unless the lengthy type name is conveniently nearby to provide the context.

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                                      • R rnbergren

                                        so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

                                        To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

                                        P Offline
                                        P Offline
                                        Pete Kelley
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #23

                                        I don't object to others doing that, but to think about code I do better to "think in code".
                                        So the comments about "habits" really apply here. If any identifier is unconventional/silly I won't be focused on the intent of the code.
                                        Secondly - the code that I do as a "one-off" often turns out to be useful and adopted in another project or context. It drags down my time and effort if I need to go back and tidy up and refactor.
                                        Lastly - I was part of a moderately sized audience for a product demonstration once. As often happens the "presentation gods" were unkind. The demo started going awry and exposing all kinds of errors, exposing dopey-silly stuff that the developers probably NEVER intended to be part of a marketing demo.
                                        I felt awful for the marketing guy that had to tap dance around to try to save this humiliating, failing pitch.

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                                        • R rnbergren

                                          so frequently I find myself doing a proof of concept very short code that I am going to flush out later. Sometimes I even flush it. Pun intended. Anyway I frequently use variables like the following. astr - it is A String Temp table #ewww - because the data in the table is stinky at best. and so forth. I always promise myself to clean it up before I actually use it anywhere. Sometimes I even do. Does anyone else do this?

                                          To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer

                                          G Offline
                                          G Offline
                                          gervacleto
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #24

                                          Yes, but only in a situation like this: 1) I need to change something in a database, that is really complicated to do using only SQL instructions. 2) Using any of my programs, I create a new button. I never use the name proposed by Visual Studio, but in this case it does not matter :) 3) I create the code I need to modify the database (Read data, change it, write it back) 4) I run the program and go to the module that has my button. 4a) Of course, I press the button. 5) The job is carried on. 6) I stop the program. 7) I delete the button That's it. The button's life is just the time it takes to change my database. (Or whatever stuff must be done)

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