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The Hard-Core Coder

~ I just can't stop writing code!

The Hard-Core Coder

Author Archives: Wyrd Smythe

Knowing Where To Bang

02 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by Wyrd Smythe in Stories

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Tags

computer programmers, computer programming, debugging, old joke, Python, Python code, tips

Sometimes ya gotta laugh. I just spent nearly an hour chasing one of those bugs that “can’t be happening” because “the code looks absolutely correct (as far as I can tell).” Of course, the bug, once you find it, was always hiding in plain view.

This time the fix involved adding just two characters, incidentally improving the program semantics, and very much reminded me of the old joke about the huge cargo ship that breaks down at sea…

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Aside

Update July 2017

20 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by Wyrd Smythe in Blog

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Tags

computer languages, computer programmer, data, Matplotlib, NOAA, programming language, Python, Pythonista, SQL, SQLite, xkcd

In the unlikely event anyone is reading this, and, more in the original spirit of “web logs“, as much a diary entry to record both the passing of time and the moment, after a long period of quiet, and in the long-winded run-on way that I sometimes have, a post.

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Iteration versus Recursion

19 Monday Dec 2016

Posted by Wyrd Smythe in CS101

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Tags

computer language, computer languages, computer programming, computer science, GOTO statement, iteration, language design, loop statements, programming language, recursion

When it comes to what makes a computer (or any other) language a programming language, there are three characteristics usually required:

  1. Saving state (variables)
  2. Selecting a code path (if-then)
  3. Iteration or recursion (or equivalent)

This post is just a brief note (for a friend) about the third item and why it allows three distinct options.

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The Thing About Constants

16 Tuesday Aug 2016

Posted by Wyrd Smythe in CS101

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Tags

constants, defined values, global constants, literal values, literals, named constants, named values, numerical constants, P.J. Plauger, string constants

Along with “always use less-than” is another great piece of always advice, except this one is a prohibition, a never rather than an always (same thing, really, from a programmer’s point of view).

It has to do with never having literal values embedded in your code!

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Good Ol’ BASIC

13 Saturday Aug 2016

Posted by Wyrd Smythe in Fun

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Tags

BASIC, free verse, poetry

Here’s a free verse ode to my very first computer programming language, good old BASIC:

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Counting From Zero

08 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by Wyrd Smythe in CS101

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Tags

Edsger Dijkstra, EWD831, greater-than, indexing, integer ranges, less-than, zero, zero indexing

In his brief 1982 essay (EWD831), computer science giant Edsger Dijkstra examines a topic that (inappropriately, as it turns out) vexes some programmers: Why in the world do computer people count starting at zero? Everyone knows that counting starts at one!

As it turns out, there are two very good reasons for counting from zero!

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What is a “Programming” Language?

06 Saturday Aug 2016

Posted by Wyrd Smythe in CS101

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Tags

computer language, computer languages, computer programming, computer science, language design, programming language, Turing complete

Back in the post HTML is not a programming language! I brought up the three properties required by a programming language. A discussion recently got me thinking about it again. This post is just some notes on those thoughts…

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Rare Languages

26 Tuesday Jul 2016

Posted by Wyrd Smythe in Fun

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Tags

Algol, BASIC, C++, computer humor, computer languages, Forth, humor, Lisp, programming language, valley girl

Cleaning out some old boxes of papers, I came across one of those humor bits that circulate in any profession. Back in the day, it was usually by fax. Then it was email, and now Tweets and other social platforms. (The song remains the same.)

This one concerned “rare” (i.e. made up) languages loosely based on existing languages. The humor depends, mostly, on recognizing parodied languages and certain other topical references (like “Valley Girls”).

In other words, a lot of the funny has sailed, but I found parts of it cute enough to record here…

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Blast From the Past #1

19 Tuesday Jul 2016

Posted by Wyrd Smythe in Fun

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Tags

email, old time stuff, SMTP, text file, upload

In the process of cleaning out boxes of old paperwork, I found this company memo, circa early 1980s, that describes a “simpler” way to send email. At the time, email systems were mainframe-based text systems you logged onto and typed at — actually not terribly unlike the web-based email systems today.

The memo reminds me of how it was back then and of how far we’ve come since. Here it is, reproduced as is:

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Python Pi

14 Monday Mar 2016

Posted by Wyrd Smythe in Fun

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Tags

digits of pi, pi, Pi Day, Python, Python code

For Pi Day I published a post on my main blog, Logos Con Carne. Here is the Python code behind the data generated in that post.

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← Older posts

The Posts

  • Knowing Where To Bang
  • Update July 2017
  • Iteration versus Recursion
  • The Thing About Constants
  • Good Ol’ BASIC
  • Counting From Zero
  • What is a “Programming” Language?
  • Rare Languages
  • Blast From the Past #1
  • Python Pi

The Topics

  • Blog (4)
  • CS101 (18)
  • Fun (13)
  • Opinion (9)
  • Stories (7)
  • Uncategorized (1)

The Month

April 2018
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The Past

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Wyrd Smythe

Wyrd Smythe

The canonical fool on the hill watching the sunset and the rotation of the planet and thinking what he imagines are large thoughts.

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