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  3. Why FOO & BAR

Why FOO & BAR

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  • A Adrian Metcalfe

    Why do many developers use Foo & Bar in their examples eg. CFoo myFoo(); or m_Bar = m_Foo; etc... I searched MSDN and found 383 documents with Foo in them, any ideas ? Ta :confused:

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    Chris Maunder
    wrote on last edited by
    #2

    Here's one explanation Another is that it's a derivative of FUBAR. cheers, Chris Maunder

    realJSOPR 1 Reply Last reply
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    • C Chris Maunder

      Here's one explanation Another is that it's a derivative of FUBAR. cheers, Chris Maunder

      realJSOPR Offline
      realJSOPR Offline
      realJSOP
      wrote on last edited by
      #3

      That explanation is a crock of amoeba crap. Foo/Bar is DIRECTLY related to the acronym "FUBAR" which means "Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition" This term was most commonly used by soldiers in WW2 to describe an operation or mission that was wholly unsavory (and more often than not, equally as sensible as having a one-man rock throwing contest). Foo and BAR is a bastardisation of the original term, and don't let anyone tell you differently. "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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      • realJSOPR realJSOP

        That explanation is a crock of amoeba crap. Foo/Bar is DIRECTLY related to the acronym "FUBAR" which means "Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition" This term was most commonly used by soldiers in WW2 to describe an operation or mission that was wholly unsavory (and more often than not, equally as sensible as having a one-man rock throwing contest). Foo and BAR is a bastardisation of the original term, and don't let anyone tell you differently. "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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        Tim Smith
        wrote on last edited by
        #4

        John is right on this one. That was the first reference I have ever read saying it wasn't from 'FUBAR'. Tim Smith Descartes Systems Sciences, Inc.

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        • A Adrian Metcalfe

          Why do many developers use Foo & Bar in their examples eg. CFoo myFoo(); or m_Bar = m_Foo; etc... I searched MSDN and found 383 documents with Foo in them, any ideas ? Ta :confused:

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          Uwe Keim
          wrote on last edited by
          #5

          I once asked such a question on usenet. Here ist an answer: http://groups.google.de/groups?hl=de&frame=right&th=9402ac061808c173&seekm=881709639.933147%40optional.cts.com#link1. -- See me: www.magerquark.de

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          • realJSOPR realJSOP

            That explanation is a crock of amoeba crap. Foo/Bar is DIRECTLY related to the acronym "FUBAR" which means "Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition" This term was most commonly used by soldiers in WW2 to describe an operation or mission that was wholly unsavory (and more often than not, equally as sensible as having a one-man rock throwing contest). Foo and BAR is a bastardisation of the original term, and don't let anyone tell you differently. "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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            Roger Wright
            wrote on last edited by
            #6

            Another goody from WWII is JANFU - Joint Army-Navy F*** Up! Seems there was a little trouble with joint operations:-D No government program has ever failed to create a larger problem than it was intended to solve.

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            • realJSOPR realJSOP

              That explanation is a crock of amoeba crap. Foo/Bar is DIRECTLY related to the acronym "FUBAR" which means "Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition" This term was most commonly used by soldiers in WW2 to describe an operation or mission that was wholly unsavory (and more often than not, equally as sensible as having a one-man rock throwing contest). Foo and BAR is a bastardisation of the original term, and don't let anyone tell you differently. "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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              Tim Lesher
              wrote on last edited by
              #7

              The two explanations aren't mutually exclusive, you know... Tim Lesher http://www.lesher.ws

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              • A Adrian Metcalfe

                Why do many developers use Foo & Bar in their examples eg. CFoo myFoo(); or m_Bar = m_Foo; etc... I searched MSDN and found 383 documents with Foo in them, any ideas ? Ta :confused:

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                Michael Dunn
                wrote on last edited by
                #8

                Don't forget sample variable #3 that comes after bar: baz. :) --Mike-- "COM didn't solve the old version of DLL hell - it just provided us with a new and improved version of hell."   -- John Simmons, 1/22/2002 My really out-of-date homepage Sonork - 100.10414 AcidHelm Big fan of Alyson Hannigan.

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                • A Adrian Metcalfe

                  Why do many developers use Foo & Bar in their examples eg. CFoo myFoo(); or m_Bar = m_Foo; etc... I searched MSDN and found 383 documents with Foo in them, any ideas ? Ta :confused:

                  RaviBeeR Offline
                  RaviBeeR Offline
                  RaviBee
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #9

                  foo, bar, baz, derf and gronk have been part of hacker jargon for eons. See the jargon file that was created by gls, Don Woods, et. al way back in the 60's. But am I dating myself... :) /ravi "There is always one more bug..." ravib@ravib.com http://www.ravib.com

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                  • realJSOPR realJSOP

                    That explanation is a crock of amoeba crap. Foo/Bar is DIRECTLY related to the acronym "FUBAR" which means "Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition" This term was most commonly used by soldiers in WW2 to describe an operation or mission that was wholly unsavory (and more often than not, equally as sensible as having a one-man rock throwing contest). Foo and BAR is a bastardisation of the original term, and don't let anyone tell you differently. "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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                    David Wulff
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #10

                    John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote: equally as sensible as having a one-man rock throwing contest I love them, don't you? Last year at rock throwing camp there was a guy, and he had some cookies, and like this big bear came along, and then there wasn't a guy anymore. - Sorry, i've just been watching AP2 again! John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote: Foo and BAR is a bastardisation of the original term, and don't let anyone tell you differently. Yeah right. Next you'll be telling me that a goat is just a sheep with handy head grips. ;) ________________ David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk "Love your neighbor, but don't get caught" — Murphy's Laws of Sex

                    realJSOPR 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • RaviBeeR RaviBee

                      foo, bar, baz, derf and gronk have been part of hacker jargon for eons. See the jargon file that was created by gls, Don Woods, et. al way back in the 60's. But am I dating myself... :) /ravi "There is always one more bug..." ravib@ravib.com http://www.ravib.com

                      realJSOPR Offline
                      realJSOPR Offline
                      realJSOP
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #11

                      Ravi Bhavnani wrote: But am I dating myself... I dated myself for a while, but it got to the point that I wouldn't invite myself inside after a night out. Not tonight, my arm is tired... "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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                      • D David Wulff

                        John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote: equally as sensible as having a one-man rock throwing contest I love them, don't you? Last year at rock throwing camp there was a guy, and he had some cookies, and like this big bear came along, and then there wasn't a guy anymore. - Sorry, i've just been watching AP2 again! John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote: Foo and BAR is a bastardisation of the original term, and don't let anyone tell you differently. Yeah right. Next you'll be telling me that a goat is just a sheep with handy head grips. ;) ________________ David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk "Love your neighbor, but don't get caught" — Murphy's Laws of Sex

                        realJSOPR Offline
                        realJSOPR Offline
                        realJSOP
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #12

                        David Wulff wrote: Next you'll be telling me that a goat is just a sheep with handy head grips. How else are ya gonna keep the slippery little bitches from bucking you off before yer done? "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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                        • realJSOPR realJSOP

                          Ravi Bhavnani wrote: But am I dating myself... I dated myself for a while, but it got to the point that I wouldn't invite myself inside after a night out. Not tonight, my arm is tired... "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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                          RaviBeeR Offline
                          RaviBee
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #13

                          I was wondering how long it would take to get a response to that statement. 5 seconds, not bad! :) /ravi "There is always one more bug..." ravib@ravib.com http://www.ravib.com

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                          • realJSOPR realJSOP

                            David Wulff wrote: Next you'll be telling me that a goat is just a sheep with handy head grips. How else are ya gonna keep the slippery little bitches from bucking you off before yer done? "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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                            James T Johnson
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #14

                            John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote: David Wulff wrote: Next you'll be telling me that a goat is just a sheep with handy head grips. How else are ya gonna keep the slippery little bitches from bucking you off before yer done? ROFLMAO! James Sonork ID: 100.11138 - Hasaki "Not be to confused with 'The VD Project'. Which would be a very bad pr0n flick. :-D" - Michael P Butler Jan. 18, 2002

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                            • R Roger Wright

                              Another goody from WWII is JANFU - Joint Army-Navy F*** Up! Seems there was a little trouble with joint operations:-D No government program has ever failed to create a larger problem than it was intended to solve.

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                              Richard Stringer
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #15

                              Another goodie is TANGO UNIFORM. The true meaning is Tits Up meaning you got troubles. If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man. - Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar

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                              • realJSOPR realJSOP

                                David Wulff wrote: Next you'll be telling me that a goat is just a sheep with handy head grips. How else are ya gonna keep the slippery little bitches from bucking you off before yer done? "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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                                Steve T
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #16

                                How else are ya gonna keep the slippery little bitches from bucking you off before yer done? By sticking their back legs down your wellies, of course. No need for handles;) Steve T

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                                • RaviBeeR RaviBee

                                  foo, bar, baz, derf and gronk have been part of hacker jargon for eons. See the jargon file that was created by gls, Don Woods, et. al way back in the 60's. But am I dating myself... :) /ravi "There is always one more bug..." ravib@ravib.com http://www.ravib.com

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                                  markkuk
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #17

                                  A lot more up-to-date version of the Jargon File is here.

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                                  • A Adrian Metcalfe

                                    Why do many developers use Foo & Bar in their examples eg. CFoo myFoo(); or m_Bar = m_Foo; etc... I searched MSDN and found 383 documents with Foo in them, any ideas ? Ta :confused:

                                    M Offline
                                    M Offline
                                    moliate
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #18

                                    I have heard that FOO was used as a nonsense word long before FOOBAR, and the reason for the joining comes from FUBAR. Some more background can be found here. Guess the true origin is lost forever. /moliate

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