[Info-vax] Impenetrable code, was: Re: 8-bit characters

[Dave Froble]

On 11/14/2021 1:32 PM, Simon Clubley wrote:
> On 2021-11-12, Stephen Hoffman <seaohveh at hoffmanlabs.invalid> wrote:
>>
>> Some examples of Bliss macros were near-impenetrable, and most easily
>> read with the assistance of the Bliss compiler listings macro
>> expansion.  Macro32 macro support suffered somewhat similarly. C's
>> macro preprocessor is comparatively simplistic. Not that I haven't used
>> the C macro preprocessor on Fortran and BASIC code. In some ways. Bliss
>> macros remind me of C++ macros and C++ operator overloading support.
>>
>
> When people write code like that, they may think they are being
> "clever" but in fact they are just being irresponsible because
> they are just setting up major maintenance problems for further
> down the road.

I have no problem with clever code, but, dammit, explain it!

A short while back some posts in reply to some of mine claimed that there is 
such a thing as "too many comments".  Isn't this an example of justifying my 
claim that there is no such thing as "too many comments"?

Perhaps a paragraph or two to explain macros?  Then the really tough thing. 
Updates to the comments to explain modifications.  I prefer to do so with 
additional comments, leaving the originals intact.

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
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