Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ncsu.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!mcnc!ncsu!mauney From: mauney@ncsu.UUCP (Jon Mauney) Newsgroups: net.lang.c Subject: Re: more about programming style Message-ID: <2894@ncsu.UUCP> Date: Fri, 12-Jul-85 13:52:02 EDT Article-I.D.: ncsu.2894 Posted: Fri Jul 12 13:52:02 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 13-Jul-85 15:27:53 EDT References: <11473@brl-tgr.ARPA> Organization: N.C. State University, Raleigh Lines: 24 > Some things, like medicine and C programming, are best left to professionals. Here is another example from medicine: doctors that scribble prescriptions using arcane abbreviations. Of course, since the prescription will be filled by a professional pharmacist or nurse, there is no problem; they all know what the Latin phrases mean and are experienced in interpreting ink blots. Nevertheless, Joe Graedon -- author of "The People's Pharmacy" and host of a local radio call-in program -- has collected many examples of misunderstood prescriptions. Despite explicit advice in the most widely respected drug textbook, many doctors insist on using "time-saving" "standard" medical idioms instead of writing out the prescription in plain English; they ignore the difficulties they cause to fellow health professionals (not to mention the patients). Similarly, many programmers insist on using well-known language idioms instead of arranging their code to maximize readability. A true professional increases efficiency by making things as easy as possible. -- Jon Mauney, mcnc!ncsu!mauney North Carolina State University "The door's not shut on my genius, but... I just don't have the time."