Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!otter.hpl.hp.com!hpltoad!cdollin!kers From: kers@hplb.hpl.hp.com (Chris Dollin) Newsgroups: comp.object Subject: Re: Re: Readability of C/C++ vs. Readability of Ada Message-ID: Date: 25 Apr 91 10:06:22 GMT References: Sender: news@hplb.hpl.hp.com (Usenet News Administrator) Distribution: comp Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Bristol, UK. Lines: 23 In-Reply-To: jls@rutabaga.Rational.COM's message of 23 Apr 91 22:23:48 GMT Nntp-Posting-Host: cdollin.hpl.hp.com Jim Showalter writes: [Quotes someone; sorry, no attribution] >It would be foolish to program for the reading level of the novice >programmer [Jim says] Not really. The vast majority of work on software that goes on (like, about 70%) is MAINTENANCE. This is often performed by underpaid, underskilled, and overwhelmed junior programmers ... [Now it's me] Perhaps that's true. Perhaps we ought to treat maintenance as a skilled job, not a trial-by-ordeal for aspiring programmers (or software engineers. or whatever.) Still, once the product is out the door, who cares? [Just in case; the latter is not my opinion, nor Hewlett-Packard's.] -- Regards, Kers. | "You're better off not dreaming of the things to come; Caravan: | Dreams are always ending far too soon."