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Groups > alt.folklore.computers > #160836
| From | Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> |
|---|---|
| Newsgroups | alt.folklore.computers |
| Subject | Re: Lights on Burroughs machines |
| Date | 2016-03-11 04:20 +0000 |
| Organization | NewsGuy - Unlimited Usenet $23.95 |
| Message-ID | <nbth2k016sq@news4.newsguy.com> (permalink) |
| References | <1990Jan15.173434.5792@virtech.uucp> <729@ncs.dnd.ca> <1990Jan15.211417.17833@cs.rochester.edu> <0056fdea-825e-47cc-af67-a4488e1da575@googlegroups.com> |
On 2016-03-10, Quadibloc <jsavard@ecn.ab.ca> wrote: > On Monday, January 15, 1990 at 2:14:17 PM UTC-7, Ken Yap wrote: > >> Speaking of the Burroughs Fortran compiler, many years ago I happened >> to glance at a Burroughs Tech Bulletin (or whatever) and there was a >> bug warning stating (something like): >> >> "If the 25th variable in the 25th common block is named ZZXYZ then the >> compiler dies with a spurious error." >> >> It still boggles my mind how anybody would ever stumble upon a bug like >> that. Sounds like a magic cookie. Obscure, but still vulnerable. I learned two things early in my career: 1. Magic cookies are Evil. 2. "Never" (as in "Oh, that'll never happen") is usually about 6 months. > And presumably that is the origin of XYZZY in Colossal Cave Adventure! I once came across a little executable called XYZZY. Whenever you ran it, it said, "Nothing happens." -- /~\ cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid (Charlie Gibbs) \ / I'm really at ac.dekanfrus if you read it the right way. X Top-posted messages will probably be ignored. See RFC1855. / \ HTML will DEFINITELY be ignored. Join the ASCII ribbon campaign!
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Re: Lights on Burroughs machines Quadibloc <jsavard@ecn.ab.ca> - 2016-03-10 15:26 -0800
Re: Lights on Burroughs machines Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2016-03-11 04:20 +0000
Re: Lights on Burroughs machines "Charles Richmond" <numerist@aquaporin4.com> - 2016-03-11 16:29 -0600
Re: Lights on Burroughs machines tracymnelson@gmail.com - 2016-03-22 09:44 -0700
Re: Lights on Burroughs machines "Charles Richmond" <numerist@aquaporin4.com> - 2016-03-23 14:26 -0500
Re: Lights on Burroughs machines scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2016-03-11 14:07 +0000
Re: Lights on Burroughs machines "Charles Richmond" <numerist@aquaporin4.com> - 2016-03-11 16:25 -0600
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