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From: gurr@west44.UUCP (Dave Gurr)
Newsgroups: net.lang
Subject: Re: Batch Programming / Re: ..., Going Off-line
Message-ID: <241@west44.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 20-Jun-84 10:56:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: west44.241
Posted: Wed Jun 20 10:56:40 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 14-Jun-84 00:56:58 EDT
References: <1044@vax2.fluke.UUCP> <3572@fortune.UUCP> <443@whuxle.UUCP>
Organization: CS Dept., Westfield College, London
Lines: 43

< force of habit .. >

> I'm not going to discuss the differences in philosophy of the various
> faculty members, but here's a quote that's been causing some discussion
> on another (non-usenet) mailing list.
>     Date: Sun 20 May 84 18:48:40-EDT
>     From: SAZ%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC.ARPA
> 
>     The following paragraph appeared in the Course Notes for
>     [an undergraduate computer course] under the section heading "Defensive
>     Programming":
> 
> 	      The word "bug" is in many ways misleading.  Bugs do not
> 	 crawl unbidden into our programs.  We put them there.
> 	 DON'T THINK OF YOUR PROGRAM AS "HAVING BUGS;" THINK OF
> 	 YOURSELF AS HAVING MADE A MISTAKE.  Bugs do not breed in
> 	 programs.  If there are many bugs in a program, it is
> 	 because the programmer has made many mistakes.  You
> 	 should never be proud when you track down a bug in your
> 	 own program.  It's like finding a cockroach in your
> 	 kitchen.  You should be embarrassed and upset that it was
> 	 there in the first place.

This philosophy is *dangerous*. Anyone out there remember the concept of
ego-less programming? If you get so tied up with a program that you are
embarrassed and upset about finding bugs, you may also convince yourself
that other shortcomings in the program don't exist.

I'm sorry if this sounds like a flame - it isn't supposed to. If anyone wants
a reference to the ego-less programming concept, mail me and I'll dig it out.
(On the other hand, maybe some kind soul out there in netland could provide
a really good list of refs. on this?)

		

          mcvax
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	vax135

	Dave Gurr, Westfield College, Univ. of London, England.