Hi, Jonathon! On Sat, Jul 21, 2007 at 07:53:34PM +0000, jonathon wrote: > Alan Mackenzie wrote:
> > (i) "Everybody" first drew flowcharts before starting to code; > I still have my IBM Flowcharting template by my computer. IBM part # > GX20-8020-1. [Now wondering when I last used it.] I did some flowcharting a few years ago (with MS Visio, though there are certainly now better programs for that task), as a freelancer. The client had written a software system, safety relevant (though not safety critical, perhaps), and had forgotten to do the required unit documentation and unit tests for a bit of it. So they took me in to do the job. The doc bit, they insisted, was writing flowcharts for the existing code. The tests were to test that the code met its documentation. Hmmm.. HELLPPP!!!! I sent a recorded delivery letter to the agency stating "I had advised the client that this was not the most effective way of finding errors in the system". After getting my last timesheet signed, I ran like crazy without looking back. [ .... ] > > (i) People realised flowcharts were actually drawn after the program was > > finished, > The true hackers ran a program that created the flowchart. > > Fast forward to 2007: > > (i) Managers think you should draw UML pictures before starting to code; > To do list: > * Update the BASIC program for creating program flowcharts > so that it creates UML pictures; > * Get the specifications for the program; > * Write the program; > * Run the BASIC script that creates the UML Pictures; :-) It's notable that hackers who get to chose their own tools don't chose to use UML. At least, I'm not aware of any who do. Or is OpenOffice perhaps written with the assistance of UML? > > (ii) We're getting a variable length character code (UTF8)... and > > that tiny number of people who need to write in several languages at > > once. > That tiny number is roughly 1/3 of the world's population. Je n'escribo que bloß one langue at a time, üblicherweise. > xan > jonathon -- Alan Mackenzie (Ittersbach, Germany). --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
