Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: $Revision: 1.6.2.16 $; site ISM780.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!hoxna!houxm!mhuxt!mhuxr!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!ISM780!darryl From: darryl@ISM780.UUCP Newsgroups: net.lang.c Subject: Re: Cryptic C code? Message-ID: <30000008@ISM780.UUCP> Date: Mon, 12-Aug-85 08:04:00 EDT Article-I.D.: ISM780.30000008 Posted: Mon Aug 12 08:04:00 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 17-Aug-85 15:23:21 EDT References: <359@tektools.UUCP> Lines: 27 Nf-ID: #R:tektools:-35900:ISM780:30000008:000:1196 Nf-From: ISM780!darryl Aug 12 08:04:00 1985 > Although this may seem cryptic at first sight, the notational > convenience is considerable, and the idiom should be mastered, > if for no other reason than that you will see it frequently in > C programs. > >I have trouble believing that the above has advantages of great >speed OR readability over: Note that K&R didn't say that the terse form had speed or readability advantages; their comment was that the lack of keystrokes overrode other considerations, once you got used to it. They were writing code using the ed editor on 110 or 300 baud terminals; anything that cut down the number of keystrokes was a big win. If you don't like the popular idioms in C, no says (well, at least, I don't) you have to use them. But you'd better get used to them, 'cause you'll see them a lot. Hnery Spencer aside, there does not seem to be a great force in the C community to throw these idioms out of the language or of common use. I suggest that they are here to stay; if you don't like them, you're going to be lumping them for a long time to come. --Darryl Richman, INTERACTIVE Systems Corp. ...!cca!ima!ism780!darryl The views expressed above are my opinions only.