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Re: Small challenge: sort names

From Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: Small challenge: sort names
Date 2026-04-22 13:22 +0300
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <20260422132222.00005f2d@yahoo.com> (permalink)
References (7 earlier) <10s85bu$1jgmp$1@dont-email.me> <10s8bup$1l5a9$2@dont-email.me> <%BOFR.189939$%Rle.181062@fx11.iad> <20260421205019.000060e2@yahoo.com> <10s9snd$22a96$1@dont-email.me>

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On Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:18:05 +0200
David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> wrote:

> On 21/04/2026 19:50, Michael S wrote:
> > On Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:38:03 GMT
> > scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) wrote:
> >   
> >> Bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:  
> >>> On 21/04/2026 16:33, DFS wrote:  
> >>>> On 4/21/2026 11:08 AM, Bart wrote:  
> >>  
> >>>>>
> >>>>> It didn't give any examples of what the output needs to look, at
> >>>>> least not in your OP. (They can see it by running your
> >>>>> submission, but it says no peeking.)  
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> You don't really need all that handholding do you?
> >>>>
> >>>> None of those issues would be typical of what the PHB would ask
> >>>> you to do.  "Sort this list by last name then first name" is all
> >>>> I would expect to get.  Asking about case-sensitivity and 4
> >>>> names and whitespace would make you look like a ninny.  
> >>
> >> You seem to be confusing a comic strip with reality.
> >>
> >> In the real world, for professional developers, detailed
> >> specifications are common.   Forty years ago, detailed
> >> specifications were common (we had three levels of
> >> specification for each project back in 1983; a concept
> >> spec, a detailed specification and a test specification).
> >>
> >> Even the two startups I've been associated with had clear
> >> and concise specifications for each project.
> >>  
> > 
> > Methinks, the segment of the industry that employed you for last nn
> > (40?) years is an exception rather than rule.
> > In industry as a whole imprecise specs are far more common. Also,
> > specs are not constant. If the software is user-facing then the
> > biggest batch of clarifications of the spec tend to come after
> > alpha version was shipped to friendly customers. But even after
> > that if the project is not dead then there tends to be continuous
> > flow of changes and clarifications of specs.
> >   
> Or perhaps he has just been lucky.
> 

I'd guess, it has more to do with being in the middle of solution stack
rather than on one or another edge.
In the middle specs are more stable and precise.

> I've had specifications (for hardware and software - we typically do 
> both) from customers that were hundreds of pages long, so detailed
> that they were basically impossible to fulfil.

The worst is when client, instead of telling you what result he wants to
get, insists on specifying how to do it.
Personally, when I see customer like that I look for way of not being
involved in the project. Because the most common end results is both
sides dissatisfied. But that is not the worst part of it. A mutual
stress during whole process of development is worse.

>  At the other end of
> the scale, we made a control system for a CNC saw machine where the
> only concrete specification was the colour it should be painted.

What it was?

> Often the process of helping turning customers' ideas into some kind
> of reasonable specification is part of the service we provide.  And
> usually there is a continuum as specifications change along the way
> (as you describe).
>

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Thread

Small challenge: sort names DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-07 23:14 -0400
  Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-08 10:22 +0200
    Re: Small challenge: sort names DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-08 12:25 -0400
      Re: Small challenge: sort names Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-08 18:57 +0100
        Re: Small challenge: sort names scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-04-08 21:04 +0000
          Re: Small challenge: sort names Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-09 00:10 +0300
            Re: Small challenge: sort names scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-04-08 23:35 +0000
              Re: Small challenge: sort names Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-09 02:59 +0300
                Re: Small challenge: sort names James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2026-04-09 06:29 -0400
                Re: Small challenge: sort names cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-04-09 15:15 +0000
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-11 08:49 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-04-11 19:59 +0000
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-16 18:50 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-04-16 19:54 +0000
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-17 16:22 +0200
              Re: Small challenge: sort names Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-04-08 17:27 -0700
              Re: Small challenge: sort names Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-08 22:14 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-04-09 02:19 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-04-09 15:06 +0000
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-12 06:35 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-04-12 14:51 +0000
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-13 06:31 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-12 06:48 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-04-12 16:15 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-25 13:31 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-04-25 15:12 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-26 04:13 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-04-25 19:50 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-26 05:28 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-04-26 12:08 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-26 18:16 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-04-26 19:37 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-27 02:17 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-04-27 09:19 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-04-26 17:47 +0000
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-27 02:33 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-04-27 09:34 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-27 12:35 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-27 13:28 +0100
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-27 17:02 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-27 17:36 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-04-27 16:18 +0000
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-27 11:42 +0300
                Re: Small challenge: sort names scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-04-27 16:27 +0000
                Assembler verb choice (Was: Small challenge: sort names) gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-04-28 12:59 +0000
                Re: Assembler verb choice (Was: Small challenge: sort names) Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-28 16:26 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-04-27 12:45 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-04-27 12:42 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-04-27 12:43 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-04-27 12:59 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-04-27 13:26 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-04-27 20:43 +0000
                Re: Small challenge: sort names "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-04-27 17:30 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-04-27 19:15 -0700
                Re: Small challenge: sort names gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-04-28 12:01 +0000
                Re: Small challenge: sort names David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-04-28 08:35 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-04-28 13:27 +0000
                Re: Small challenge: sort names David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-04-28 15:59 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-28 16:49 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-04-28 17:25 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-28 23:46 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-04-28 18:12 +0000
                Re: Small challenge: sort names David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-04-28 20:28 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names vallor <vallor@vallor.earth> - 2026-04-28 13:45 +0000
          Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-11 08:44 +0200
        Re: Small challenge: sort names DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-08 17:13 -0400
          Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-11 08:59 +0200
            Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-11 09:34 +0200
      Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-11 08:31 +0200
      Re: Small challenge: sort names vallor <vallor@vallor.earth> - 2026-04-28 14:19 +0000
    Re: Small challenge: sort names BGB <cr88192@gmail.com> - 2026-04-12 13:08 -0500
    What is the point of anything? (Was: Small challenge: sort names) gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-04-17 20:44 +0000
  Re: Small challenge: sort names Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-08 18:46 -0700
  Re: Small challenge: sort names Sort <Sort@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-11 19:15 +0100
  Re: Small challenge: sort names Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-16 18:24 +0200
    Re: Small challenge: sort names Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-16 18:38 +0100
      Re: Small challenge: sort names Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-16 19:43 +0200
    Re: Small challenge: sort names Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-18 11:22 +0100
      Re: Small challenge: sort names Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-18 17:48 +0200
        Re: Small challenge: sort names Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-19 08:44 +0200
    Re: Small challenge: sort names DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-22 05:33 -0400
      Re: Small challenge: sort names Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-04-22 03:16 -0700
        Re: Small challenge: sort names DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-22 07:35 -0400
          Re: Small challenge: sort names Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-23 08:11 -0700
            Re: Small challenge: sort names Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-23 20:14 +0200
              Re: Small challenge: sort names gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-04-23 18:30 +0000
        Re: Small challenge: sort names gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-04-23 17:19 +0000
      Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-22 14:11 +0200
        Re: Small challenge: sort names James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2026-04-22 21:27 -0400
          [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-23 15:51 +0200
            Re: [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-04-23 14:45 +0000
              Re: [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-23 17:03 +0200
              Re: [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-23 20:31 -0400
                Re: [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-04-23 18:43 -0700
                Re: [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-04-24 16:58 +0000
                Re: [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) Jan van den Broek <balglaas@dds.nl> - 2026-04-24 06:57 +0000
                Re: [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-24 10:10 +0200
                Re: [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-04-24 12:52 +0200
            Re: [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-04-23 16:36 -0700
              Re: [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-24 03:01 +0200
                Re: [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-04-23 18:50 -0700
                Re: [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-04-24 20:35 -0700
            Re: [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-24 14:20 +0300
              Re: [OT][meta] Gender (was Re: Small challenge: sort names) Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-24 14:32 +0200
      Re: Small challenge: sort names Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-23 20:10 +0200
        Re: Small challenge: sort names DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-25 10:26 -0400
          Re: Small challenge: sort names Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-26 13:01 +0200
  Re: Small challenge: sort names Rosario19 <Ros@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-18 11:16 +0200
    Re: Small challenge: sort names DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-18 08:11 -0400
      Re: Small challenge: sort names Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-18 14:03 +0100
    Re: Small challenge: sort names Rosario19 <Ros@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-20 21:20 +0200
      Re: Small challenge: sort names DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-20 16:43 -0400
        Re: Small challenge: sort names Rosario19 <Ros@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-21 05:09 +0200
          Re: Small challenge: sort names DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-21 08:46 -0400
            Re: Small challenge: sort names Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-21 16:08 +0100
              Re: Small challenge: sort names DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-21 11:33 -0400
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-21 18:25 +0100
                Re: Small challenge: sort names scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-04-21 17:38 +0000
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-21 20:50 +0300
                Re: Small challenge: sort names scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-04-21 18:22 +0000
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-22 03:48 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-04-22 09:18 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-22 13:22 +0300
                Re: Small challenge: sort names David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-04-22 12:38 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-22 13:58 +0300
                Re: Small challenge: sort names David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-04-22 13:13 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-22 14:53 +0200
                Re: Small challenge: sort names DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-21 16:31 -0400
                Re: Small challenge: sort names Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-21 23:04 +0100
      Re: Small challenge: sort names Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-04-20 14:16 -0700
        An audience of one (Was: Small challenge: sort names) gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-04-21 13:00 +0000
          Re: An audience of one (Was: Small challenge: sort names) "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-04-21 12:21 -0700
    Re: Small challenge: sort names Rosario19 <Ros@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-21 05:00 +0200
      Re: Small challenge: sort names Rosario19 <Ros@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-21 05:06 +0200
  Re: Small challenge: sort names gggggggggggunit <gunitinug@50cent.com> - 2026-04-18 10:19 +0000
    [OT] Shell approach to Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-19 09:35 +0200
      Re: [OT] Shell approach to Re: Small challenge: sort names gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-04-19 14:18 +0000
        Re: [OT] Shell approach to Re: Small challenge: sort names cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-04-19 19:32 +0000
          Re: [OT] Shell approach to Re: Small challenge: sort names Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-22 03:34 +0200
  Re: Small challenge: sort names Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-28 06:53 +0200
    Re: Small challenge: sort names gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-04-28 13:01 +0000

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