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Groups > comp.lang.c > #175100

Re: bart again (UCX64)

From Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: bart again (UCX64)
Date 2023-09-11 23:18 +0100
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <87ledcqrp0.fsf@bsb.me.uk> (permalink)
References (13 earlier) <8238a0d7-aeb2-4b26-8b1d-611caa37049an@googlegroups.com> <udmddn$v4e7$1@dont-email.me> <udmpuu$110jq$1@dont-email.me> <8734zkspd5.fsf@bsb.me.uk> <f7077ac4-908c-41e9-96a0-58cf9df4d494n@googlegroups.com>

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Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> writes:

> On Monday, 11 September 2023 at 16:26:30 UTC+1, Ben Bacarisse wrote:
>>
>> Someone brought up the analogy with a safety belt, but it's no a good 
>> one. Covering cases that "can't happen" (it used to be called defensive 
>> programming in another bad analogy with defensive driving) is nothing 
>> like a safety belt. All it usually does is push the error somewhere 
>> else, since if the input was "unexpected" the contrived result will be 
>> too. 
>> 
> That analogy was because David Brown was making out that, because I
> consider the possibility that there might be errors in my code, I'm
> therefore a bad programmer.

That seems very unlikely.  Do you have a citation?

> You're right that when a program is incorrect, it's hard to provide correct
> behaviour. But things which are liley to be helpful and things which are
> likely not to be. Bascially programs fall into two categories.

Oh, here we go...

> Life support
> systems, where the worst thing you can do is return wrong results. And
> video games, where the worst thing you can do is return no results.

I am sure you can shoe-horn any other possibility into what you imagine
these two categories contain.

I will, however note that one is often designing code not programs.  The
authors of the C library don't know where it will be linked.

> If the life support system returns the wrong value for the oxygen, then
> the patient suffocates to death. If it crashes out, the alarm goes off, the
> nurse comes running, and the patient is administered emergency manual 
> oxygen whilst a new machine is brought.

Is it "crashing out" because a result was wrong or because there was no
result?  I'm just curious where this case lies in your arbitrary divide.

> If a video game returns a wrong result, then anything could happen

So the effect could be just the same as whatever you mean by "no
result".

> to the game (infinite levels, etc), but most likely the screen will
> flash a mess for a single frame, then the game will recover. The
> player will just notice a glitch.  If it returns no results, the game
> is dead. The player will likely ask for his money back.

And if "no result" is returned, everything might be well again by the
next frame cycle, just as returning the wrong result from some function
might kill the game.

> So you have to know which type of program you are writing before you decide 
> your error strategy.

No.  You can design code, and even whole programs, without ever making
that decision.  I don't think I've ever written a program that comes
down on one side or the other of this curious divide.

Anyway, none of this helps move the discussion forward.  To do that
someone must propose an actual example (simplified of course but with
enough detail to be able to consider the options properly) and we can
all then consider how we'd try to ameliorate the effect of possible
programming errors.

-- 
Ben.

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Thread

Re: bart again (UCX64) candycane@f172.n1.z21.fsxnet (candycane) - 2023-09-06 19:53 +1300
  Re: bart again (UCX64) Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2023-09-07 12:00 -0700
    Re: bart again (UCX64) Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2023-09-07 16:33 -0700
      Re: bart again (UCX64) Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2023-09-07 20:55 -0700
        Re: bart again (UCX64) Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2023-09-07 22:16 -0700
          Re: bart again (UCX64) Kaz Kylheku <864-117-4973@kylheku.com> - 2023-09-08 07:09 +0000
            Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-08 10:10 +0200
              Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-08 01:30 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-08 11:26 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-09-08 10:44 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-08 13:26 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Kaz Kylheku <864-117-4973@kylheku.com> - 2023-09-09 01:57 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-09 18:36 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Kaz Kylheku <864-117-4973@kylheku.com> - 2023-09-09 18:19 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-10 13:28 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-09-10 13:20 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-10 15:19 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-09-10 16:07 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-10 18:33 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Kaz Kylheku <864-117-4973@kylheku.com> - 2023-09-10 15:44 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-10 18:36 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Kaz Kylheku <864-117-4973@kylheku.com> - 2023-09-09 01:48 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-09 19:04 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-08 02:47 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-08 16:03 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-08 16:06 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-09 01:52 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-08 18:16 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-09 21:31 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-10 12:03 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-10 21:36 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-11 08:51 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2023-09-10 23:59 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-11 01:01 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-11 11:17 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-11 03:16 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-11 14:58 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-11 06:35 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Kaz Kylheku <864-117-4973@kylheku.com> - 2023-09-11 14:13 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-11 16:24 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-09-11 14:55 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-11 16:42 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Kaz Kylheku <864-117-4973@kylheku.com> - 2023-09-11 14:29 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-09-11 11:25 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-11 03:59 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Kaz Kylheku <864-117-4973@kylheku.com> - 2023-09-11 13:57 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-11 09:52 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-11 16:07 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-11 16:26 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-09-11 16:47 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-11 19:14 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-11 22:30 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-09-11 23:07 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2023-09-11 23:31 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-12 09:18 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-12 03:01 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-11 10:08 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-11 23:18 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-09-11 23:37 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-11 15:46 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2023-09-11 23:40 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-09-12 01:50 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2023-09-11 17:59 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2023-09-12 01:03 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-12 02:39 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-09-12 11:28 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-12 14:49 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-09-12 15:18 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-12 03:58 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-12 02:25 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-12 16:17 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-09-12 17:28 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-12 21:07 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-13 03:01 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-13 09:38 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-13 10:00 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2023-09-19 05:22 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-19 14:29 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-13 13:35 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-13 20:48 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2023-09-19 05:53 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-12 09:33 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2023-09-12 16:48 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-12 10:57 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2023-09-12 18:07 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-12 21:23 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-13 02:07 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-13 12:43 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-13 04:04 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-13 14:07 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-13 01:47 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-13 13:02 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-13 04:45 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-13 14:36 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2023-09-13 13:43 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2023-09-13 11:10 -0400
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Kaz Kylheku <864-117-4973@kylheku.com> - 2023-09-13 17:12 +0000
                [meta] spam in thread Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-13 11:22 -0700
                Re: [meta] spam in thread Kaz Kylheku <864-117-4973@kylheku.com> - 2023-09-13 18:40 +0000
                Re: [meta] spam in thread Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-13 11:48 -0700
                Re: [meta] spam in thread David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-13 21:01 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-13 19:58 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2023-09-18 12:36 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2023-09-18 13:40 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2023-09-20 19:43 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2023-09-20 20:14 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2023-09-20 22:10 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2023-10-01 11:03 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-13 07:39 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2023-09-13 15:18 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-13 18:39 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-13 15:44 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-13 08:42 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-13 22:35 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-13 18:49 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-11 15:40 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-09-12 03:36 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-12 12:58 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-12 12:49 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-09-12 12:52 +0100
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-09-12 05:22 -0700
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-12 15:05 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Kaz Kylheku <864-117-4973@kylheku.com> - 2023-09-09 02:17 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-10 14:44 +0200
                Re: bart again (UCX64) scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2023-09-08 14:36 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) Kaz Kylheku <864-117-4973@kylheku.com> - 2023-09-09 01:50 +0000
                Re: bart again (UCX64) scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2023-09-09 15:40 +0000
          Re: bart again (UCX64) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-09-08 09:57 +0200
          Re: bart again (UCX64) Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2023-09-09 10:23 -0700

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