On Aug 14, 2010, at 00:25, Gerhard Postpischil wrote:
> On 8/13/2010 11:22 PM, Ott, Jeff wrote:
>> SR R1,R1
>> LH R1,STUFF
>>
>> is one of my favs.
>
> That's right up there with:
>
> TM FLAGBYTE,MYFLAG
> BZ around
> NI FLAGBYTE,255-MYFLAG
> around ...
>
The bookkeeper's tried and tested instruction to new
apprentices working with quill pen and parchment ledger is:
If the amount-of-transation is not zero, then
add amount-of-transaction to account-balance.
Surely you wouldn't go through the mechanics of addition
if the amount is zero.
Now, update; bring in a computer. Translate that procedure
to COBOL. And if the programmer shortcuts the test, the
veteran bookkeeper is apt to question the validity of
modifying the algorithm, or of performing the addition
regardless that the amount is zero.
(And I didn't even separate the cases of receipts vs. expenses.)
-- gil
>
> Gerhard Postpischil
> Bradford, VT
