Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!mit-eddie!rutgers!mtunx!mtune!codas!flnexus!kimbal!rick
From: rick@kimbal.UUCP (Rick Kimball)
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
Subject: Re: Re: Theory vs. Practice
Message-ID: <693@kimbal.UUCP>
Date: 20 Apr 88 00:40:06 GMT
References: <619@psu-cs.UUCP>
Organization: Mac Source BBS, Altamonte Spgs, FL
Lines: 63

From article <619@psu-cs.UUCP>, by warren@psu-cs.UUCP (Warren Harrison):

> Anyway, I'm really looking forward to some insight on the problem.

COBOL Mentality 101

	o	Use Globals whenever possible (You have no other choice!)
	
	o	MOVE statements are much more efficient than using address manipulation.

	o	Compilers written in COBOL do things the most efficient way.

		o	Create interpreted P-Code, not true excutables.
		o	Execute code from a data segment
		o	Modify the executable code on the fly
		o	Interface well to code written in other languages.

	o	UPPER CASE CODE IS THE EASIEST TO READ.
	
	o	Never use one bit when a byte will do.

	o	Never use 'Y' when 'YES' will do.

	o	READABLE CODE IS EASIER TO THROW AWAY WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK.

	o	NEVER use GOTO's; they are a sign of a Bad Programmer.

	o	ABOVE ALL, readabilty is most important, not functionality.


I left my last company because they tried to implement a PC 
based product using COBOL. Originally, it was to be
written in 'C' and XENIX.  I wasted five months trying to 
make it work without any success.  On my own time I 
re-designed and re-implemented all the code in 'C'.  The 
goal of the product was to give the user sub-second response.
With COBOL they got ten second response.  With the 'C' 
version they got the target response.  

When I showed them the results their response was; "Well we 
don't have any 'C' programmers except you and two other 
people.  So we'll write sub-routines for the COBOL programmers" 
(the other 20 people).  At that point, I got a real job and
have been enjoying every productive moment since.

I really don't hate COBOL. :-) It just doesn't fit well with the
UNIX way of thinking.  What I hate most of all is COBOL
thinking.

BTW: After I left, they cancelled the project after wasting
a lot of money on that could have been better spent on 
improving PC-Pursuit.  :-)

-- 
Rick Kimball       Software Design Group
                   Maitland, FL 32751
                   W (407) 660-0006; H (407) 788-6875
                   UUCP: rick@kimbal, ...codas!flnexus!kimbal!rick
-- 
Rick Kimball       Software Design Group
                   Maitland, FL 32751
                   W (407) 660-0006; H (407) 788-6875
                   UUCP: rick@kimbal, ...codas!flnexus!kimbal!rick