Paul Gilmartin heard:
I've even heard a tale (legend) that the technique was invented to
deceive automated standards checkers (Lint?) that otherwise required
definition of all apparent labels.
Invented? NO !
Long before standards checkers IBM 1401 Autocoder programmers used
these very same label substitutes, e.g.:
RDRTN__SBR__RDRTX+3_____SET_EXIT_ADDRESS______
--- the subroutine instructions ---
RDRTX__B____000__________RETURN_TO_INVOKER____
The above was "justifed" and somewhat unavoidable. Other uses were at
best somewhat justified or frawned upon for the same reasons as today's...
Andreas Geissbuehler
