1 Jan
2013
1 Jan
'13
12:41 p.m.
On Tue, 1 Jan 2013, Chuck Guzis wrote:
Moral: If you write throw-away code, keep it to
yourself and don't let
another breathing human being see it. They might try to use it.
In 1970, I objected to using 2 digit decimal year numbers,
but I was ordered to do it.
"None of this will still be around."
"Wait, and put comments in AFTER the program is complete."
"Why are you wasting time adding comments to a program that is done?
We need you to get to work on the next project."
I was assigned to several man years to convert graphing packages from
CalComp to SC/SD Datagraphics. Instead of rewriting them, I intercepted
the lowest level calls (N/S/E/W/up/down?) and re-directed them to low
level calls in the Sc/SD routines. Finished in 2 weeks. Got chewed-out
for not using the entire time that had been contracted for.
We did enough things right (such as that) during that year that
the guvmint contract gave us a bonus that averaged $2K per person,
for the company to distribute as they saw fit. I received a gift
certificate for a supermarket frozen turkey. Because of
"man on the moon day", we "ran out" of holidays, and
were told to use vacation time for X-Mas. I called in sick.
In 1999, when I was contacted to help "repair" my code, I
refused.