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17:49:13
Josh_2
also I'm working with lists that are pretty darn short, so all this consing etc isn't expensive
17:56:44
beach
So since LISTP is true for the empty list and the non-empty list, then it is always true, unless the caller passes say 'hello or 234.
17:58:04
Josh_2
and if I don't do the check then a few functions will be passed with that arg and everything will die
17:59:43
beach
You need to read Bertrand Mayer. It is always desirable to signal an error when there is an anomaly. you should never hide it.
17:59:45
Bike
it might indicate that the calling code is doing something you don't expect it to, which you might be interested in knowing.
18:00:19
beach
But I don't think I can handle much more arguing about basic software-engineering ideas tonight.
18:00:58
Bike
if an error is signaled because x is the wrong type, you can find the problem pretty fast.
18:01:22
beach
OK, then I don't think I can handle lengthy justifications of my position on elementary software engineering, with the risk of having those positions questioned, tonight.
18:02:05
beach
Then, yes, always signal an error if there is a chance that the caller might do something wrong.
18:07:24
beach
This technique makes life easier for the person who has to debug defective code, because failure to respect the contract will then not be allowed to propagate more than absolutely necessary.
18:08:59
beach
But I should learn not to get involved in people's personal preferences by quoting elementary software-engineering ideas. The subsequent discussions tend to make me upset, and that's not good for me.
18:20:57
jeosol
beach: again, i know it's good for advise to be received or least pointers in the right direction. You are doing a good service here.
18:23:09
jeosol
I get pointers from the comments you make to others to improve my code. The back-and-forth on some issues can be frustrating. I'll let you run to family now.
19:07:00
Suzuran
We're actually not doing too bad as far as data recovery goes; We're batting above 80% so far.
19:07:57
Suzuran
"Dump completed: Read 803 files having 6659 blocks (23986176 bytes), of which 59 blocks contained data errors."
19:11:37
Suzuran
We had one tape that came back no errors at all, it was really short and didn't have a lispm header; It turned out to be someone's copy of Spacewar for Unix (for old pre-SunOS Suns)