LOCAL variable names should be short, and to the point.
If you have
some random integer loop counter, it should probably be called "i".
Calling it "loop_counter" is non-productive, if there is no chance of it
being mis-understood. Similarly, "tmp" can be just about any type of
variable that is used to hold a temporary value.
I'm sorry, but I have to say bollocks to the last clause there. Calling a loop counter "i" means then that it is next to impossible to find out where it is being used.
Instead of using "i", I would use "index", for a generic case, as usually we're talking about indexing into some array or other data structure. The use of single letter variables names gets even worse when you have nested loops, I've lost count of the number cases where somebody using "i" and "j" as their loop variables have accidentally transposed the references, espcially when we're talking about code that gets changed over time. (i.e. real code, not an example:-)
It's far better to spend a extra few seconds in giving a meaningful name to a variable, rather than spending hours, debugging some strange intermittent memory overwrite! Let alone the cumulative numbers of hours spend trying to undestand a piece of code when frobnicating it a year later.
I Think I first really noticed that Mozilla and Firebird were making an impact, when finally my bank actually supported a browser other than Internet Exploder for their online service, and specifically mentioned support for Mozilla!
I guess that if (some) online service providers can be bothered to support a significant minority of users (e.g. Mac users, no flames here!), then support for another browser should be possible, and especially in their enlightened self interest
So that article is basically saying that as the iTunes files are encoded at 128 kbps, they are intrinsically worse than files encoded at 192 kpbs. However, he's comparing an AAC coded file with an MP3 encoded file!
In my experience in using my iPod, I'm more than happy with 128kbps AAC encoded rips of my CDs and am very happy with the audio quality of the stuff I've bought off iTunes.
One of the main reason for using water as the heat transfer agent, is that it has a very high specific heat (i.e it takes a relatively large amount of energy to raise a unit amount of water by 1 degree C.
I don't know what the specific heat of flourinert is but I waould guess that it is significantly lower than good old H20.
Actually the article was talking about running the applications on a Sun server, and displaying onto a Sunray (x terminal type display thingy)
Microsoft have ported IE and Outlook Express to Solaris, though I don't know if it is still as efficient a virus propagation mechanism as under Windows...
You're probably thinking of Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis otherwise known as PAM, this is caused by the organism, Naegleria fowleri (causing death in around a week) or acanthamoebic keratitis (GAE) (causing death in around a week to 1 year).
PAM is usually caught by swimming and inhailing icky water. GAE is normally only found in people with compromised immune systems. They have also been found in people using "home made" contact lens solution!
There only a few cases a year of either infection a year the USA, about 100 in the past 25 years.
For more fun diseases check out the "Bad Bug Book" at the Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition http://http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/chap29.html
Slashdot Mirror
In the UK we still use Miles per Gallon to measure fuel consumption, but buy our petrol in litres! :-)
I'm sorry, but I have to say bollocks to the last clause there. Calling a loop counter "i" means then that it is next to impossible to find out where it is being used.
Instead of using "i", I would use "index", for a generic case, as usually we're talking about indexing into some array or other data structure. The use of single letter variables names gets even worse when you have nested loops, I've lost count of the number cases where somebody using "i" and "j" as their loop variables have accidentally transposed the references, espcially when we're talking about code that gets changed over time. (i.e. real code, not an example :-)
It's far better to spend a extra few seconds in giving a meaningful name to a variable, rather than spending hours, debugging some strange intermittent memory overwrite! Let alone the cumulative numbers of hours spend trying to undestand a piece of code when frobnicating it a year later.
I guess that if (some) online service providers can be bothered to support a significant minority of users (e.g. Mac users, no flames here!), then support for another browser should be possible, and especially in their enlightened self interest
-Fooby
In my experience in using my iPod, I'm more than happy with 128kbps AAC encoded rips of my CDs and am very happy with the audio quality of the stuff I've bought off iTunes.
I don't know what the specific heat of flourinert is but I waould guess that it is significantly lower than good old H20.
Microsoft have ported IE and Outlook Express to Solaris, though I don't know if it is still as efficient a virus propagation mechanism as under Windows...
-Fooby
Alpha testing is normally done in-house (for us commercial types). Which leads along this line of thought.
If we have alpha-testing and beta-testing, does that mean gamma-testing is shipping to customers...?
--
Line eater? What line e
You're probably thinking of Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis otherwise known as PAM, this is caused by the organism, Naegleria fowleri (causing death in around a week) or acanthamoebic keratitis (GAE) (causing death in around a week to 1 year).
PAM is usually caught by swimming and inhailing icky water. GAE is normally only found in people with compromised immune systems. They have also been found in people using "home made" contact lens solution!
There only a few cases a year of either infection a year the USA, about 100 in the past 25 years.
For more fun diseases check out the "Bad Bug Book" at the Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition http://http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/chap29.html
-Fooby