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The only valid measurement of code quality: WTF/minute

osnews.com — Simple criteria of recognizing good code & bad code.

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  • Bviper, on 03/24/2008, -78/+250Now if only that was actually funny...
    • bdawg923, on 03/24/2008, -11/+310If that was on xckd.com you would've laughed.
      • amnesiac096, on 03/24/2008, -25/+8probably not
      • Loopholes, on 03/24/2008, -18/+3That is because xkcd is funny.
        • IglooBurner, on 03/24/2008, -4/+1Mr. "Loopholes" ... you make no sense.
      • str1fe, on 03/24/2008, -5/+28I haven't bookmarked xkcd because I can rely on digg frontpaging every single comic without fail.
      • lfroker, on 03/24/2008, -11/+4xkcd sucks.
    • Greg535, on 03/24/2008, -15/+9They probably would have made it funny.
    • bagboyrebel, on 03/24/2008, -3/+105it's funny if you have experience programming and looking at other peoples code.
      • phybere, on 03/24/2008, -1/+24Not really, it just bring back painful memories.
      • wickedawsome, on 03/24/2008, -0/+106Unfortunately, I do this when looking at my own code.
        • hackiavelli, on 03/24/2008, -3/+16I especially get the WTF moments when looking through old code I wrote. They usually break down into two types: the "I can't believe I wrote anything that elegant and expandable" WTF and the "I can't believe I ever wrote anything this horrible" WTF. Sadly the latter happens more than the former.
          • capiCrimm, on 03/24/2008, -1/+5and normally the first WTF decays into the later WTF the more you actually have to use the code.
        • Tulle, on 03/24/2008, -0/+2We feel you.
    • tas08, on 03/24/2008, -10/+5Personally, I'd have liked it better if the title was at the bottom and read simply, "Good Code Bad Code, measured in WTFs/Min"
    • gthyb, on 03/24/2008, -10/+2What is this, reddit?
      • stupidStan, on 03/24/2008, -0/+14oh my god... this was posted on another site!
        YOU CANT POST IT HERE!!!
        Everyone reads all the other sites!
        • surKaz, on 03/24/2008, -0/+2Kill the double poster!! A bunch of diggas mobilize.... We've got a code..uh..Red..
    • TypeEE, on 03/24/2008, -1/+15In real world, code reviews are mostly dead silent or "okay", "okay", moan for boringness, then "okay"
    • lovestospooge, on 03/24/2008, -0/+5It is funny. Just spend a year doing APCS AB, and you'll realize the true meaning of WTF.
    • themastersb, on 03/24/2008, -2/+4I loled
    • rentmitchum, on 03/24/2008, -0/+10It was funny because it's true. The slower you say WTF the worse the error probably is too. That could be part of the graph someone suggested. Haha.
  • ghee, on 03/24/2008, -7/+53A graph would have helped.
  • fhernand, on 03/24/2008, -11/+176WTF
  • Loopholes, on 03/24/2008, -68/+366xkcd wannabe alert.
    • Zarokima, on 03/24/2008, -17/+3Now I fear that if Randall does anything with this it won't be as funny because this piece of ***** will be tainting my memory.
    • dsmx, on 03/24/2008, -7/+41I never thought I'd say this but that is drawn even worse than xkcd.
    • JayD16, on 03/24/2008, -8/+226Because xkcd has a patent on pencil line drawings or something?
    • offput, on 03/24/2008, -2/+30Seems to me like we should let funny people be funny, regardless of the similarity of their work. It's not like he's plagiarizing xkcd's comics, and these are pretty funny.
    • muniak, on 03/24/2008, -5/+9bahaha I thought this was going to be the new xkcd
    • moush, on 03/24/2008, -10/+4I think he captured the ***** of xkcd spot on.
    • djk21108, on 03/24/2008, -4/+1It's almost exactly like xkcd.

      Stick figures.
      About nerdy stuff.
      Uses internet lingo.
      Not funny.
  • nova912, on 03/24/2008, -6/+52GOTO;
  • doshindude, on 03/24/2008, -28/+103WTF @ this ***** comic.
    great idea, terrible execution.
    • roosterjm2k2, on 03/24/2008, -7/+7Sometimes, the best way to bring out the idea, is to not focus on the execution...
      • tempusrob, on 03/24/2008, -1/+11And that's why you don't (or shouldn't, anyway, if that's your attitude) code for a living! ;)
        • roosterjm2k2, on 03/24/2008, -2/+2You're comparing art to code? Not even worth replying to.
        • surKaz, on 03/24/2008, -0/+3@roosterjm2k2.. .you replied tho.
        • BoneheadFarker, on 03/24/2008, -0/+1@roosterjm2k2

          If you don't think that writing good code is an art form, then you obviously don't code for a living.
    • tas08, on 03/24/2008, -4/+2Seconded.
    • specialK16, on 03/24/2008, -0/+14Oh ***** you people. You hate it only because it isn't xkcd. Munroe is like a god in here....
  • 711Security, on 03/24/2008, -8/+35Spoiler title.
    • Me1000, on 03/24/2008, -4/+11The title was funnier than the comic!
  • Drkkuja, on 03/24/2008, -16/+5I don`t get it.
  • trghpy, on 03/24/2008, -11/+65Decent joke material, bad joke presentation.
    Sorta like my manager knows how well the network is doing by how often he hears me say "awe bloody hell."
  • martalli, on 03/24/2008, -7/+8I think that pertains to any sort of a review.
  • rootneg2, on 03/24/2008, -4/+64I dunno, sometimes a "WTF?!" is a sign of really, really *good* code. As in so good that it totally blows your mind. This especially happens with some of the more obscure or "non-traditional" languages. LISP usually has a pretty high WTF/min rate for really, really slick code; so does Haskell (but who the hell uses Haskell?). You can also get pretty sneaky with dynamic programming in Ruby...

    /ruining the joke
    • comrade693, on 03/24/2008, -12/+13Sorry, but I disagree. Good code should be easy to read. If you are doing something fancy with the language that is really obscure and likely to cause a wtf, it better have a comment along with it to explain things.
      • ascheinberg, on 03/24/2008, -0/+19By your definition, Perl is pretty much *never* good code.
        • comrade693, on 03/24/2008, -1/+15Exactly. I stand by my definition.
        • vibrokatana, on 03/24/2008, -2/+9Perl is usually pretty easy to read. What I hate are the VB programmers who take the fact that their language is not case sensitive to heart and make you want to kill them for random capitalization changes all over....
        • publiclurker, on 03/24/2008, -2/+10How about C++ programmers who use the fact that the language is case sensitive. Spending more than a few minutes on code where two classes vary only by the camel casing is enough to make you research justifiable homicide rules in your state.
        • Tulle, on 03/24/2008, -0/+4No he's right, perl can very often be difficult to read. Especially with so many people making heavy use of regex *head explodes*.

          I'm kidding. I love regex.
        • actionscripted, on 03/24/2008, -1/+3If someone whips an anonymous Merlin loop with a few maps together -- in one line, in Perl -- and you can't read it...then you suck at Perl.

          Where's that episodic video?

          "If you can't handle this nested Regex, then go eat your lunchables..."
      • rootneg2, on 03/24/2008, -2/+4ahh. true. Good commenting is crucial.

        I don't really count commenting as "code" though; and at a certain point (I'd say when approaching comment/code > 4) it's probably better to just leave out the comments, and have separate code documentation. But some of the *really* crazy stuff will still elicit a wtf no matter how thorough the explanation; this usually occurs in the realm of academia however, rather than "production" code.
        • rootneg2, on 03/24/2008, -0/+3s/4/1/
        • comrade693, on 03/24/2008, -0/+7Documentation that requires you to go away from the code will never be looked at, unless we are talking about external api docs, which is a bit different. People, especially programmers, are inherently lazy and can't be bothered to look elsewhere for documentation.
          • rootneg2, on 03/24/2008, -0/+3Sometimes it's just a matter of being limited by ASCII art. If you're using really hefty math, a bit of LaTeX formatting or just some simple line-art diagrams are indispensable.

            Again, probably never an issue for "production" code, just for those wacky academics...
        • vibrokatana, on 03/24/2008, -0/+5I usually comment blocks of code for what it is supposed to do then if there are any "hacks" or otherwise obscure procedures.
          Trying to comment every single line of code just makes it plain ugly and a royal pain to read.
      • chrisatwork, on 03/24/2008, -1/+1I dont think you write much code.
    • rootneg2, on 03/24/2008, -0/+7* or anything with extensive pointer acrobatics.
    • scubaninja, on 03/24/2008, -0/+15"Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it."

      - Brian Kernighan
  • BillMoocho, on 03/24/2008, -16/+1This made front page...why?
  • FriedTurkey, on 03/24/2008, -12/+3I am sure this comic is huge on Slashdot. This would stroke the ego of tech guys who think they are the ***** but really just post on forums all day.
    • xartion, on 03/24/2008, -0/+9"This would stroke the ego of tech guys who think they are the ***** but really just post on forums all day."

      and that is different from digg how???

      /jokes
  • noahgelman, on 03/24/2008, -4/+10Are those Metric?
  • shyla, on 03/24/2008, -9/+4I just feel bad that they tried so hard, and did a drawing and everything when the title basically said it all
  • thailand1972, on 03/24/2008, -12/+1I defy anyone to laugh at this joke.
    • Me1000, on 03/24/2008, -2/+3I laughed at the title, but the drawing was stupid!
    • thailand1972, on 03/24/2008, -3/+2So 8 people defied me - ok, I take it back : the joke is funny (is it *****..:/)
  • Worldchrisis, on 03/24/2008, -5/+8I wonder what the wtf/m of LOLCODE is...
    • pyry, on 03/24/2008, -1/+3Something that requires new units: KWTF: "Kay, WTF" and MWTF: "Man, WTF".
      • DaHuuuuuudge, on 03/24/2008, -1/+3No, just KWTF, and it stands for kiloWTFs.
        • rootneg2, on 03/24/2008, -0/+7now the real question is:
          1 kwtf = 1000 wtf
          or does
          1 kwtf = 1024 wtf
        • gommle, on 03/24/2008, -0/+31 kilowtf = 1000 wtf
          1 kibiwtf = 1024 wtf
    • fluxion, on 03/24/2008, -0/+1inverse WTFs/minute, since regular WTF exception handling is critical
    • MikeMcG, on 03/24/2008, -0/+1It gets really bad when you start handling imaginary WTF/minute
  • crownedgriffin, on 03/24/2008, -3/+47Those of you who don't find this funny obviously don't have a job supporting ***** software.
    • kitaro53085, on 03/24/2008, -0/+3I have a job supporting ***** software; in COBOL no less.
      Yet, I do not find the joke funny.
      • BoneheadFarker, on 03/24/2008, -0/+4For the first 3 years of my career, I supported RPG programs. You're just bitter. When you get a better job, you'll find this funny.
  • gilbert2048, on 03/24/2008, -3/+10Ancient :(
    my programing teacher has been putting this up every once in awhile when grading code
    no digg!
    • computrius, on 03/24/2008, -1/+2It was posted on feb 8 2008 (I browse osnews.com daily, and remember when it was posted). I hardly think a month qualifies it as ancient.
      • surKaz, on 03/24/2008, -1/+1Alright, Alright.. I got this... *walks in slowly, takes a seat on chair, puts pipe in mouth*... "You sir, obviously haven't been on Digg for long.. or you have,.. but never learnt, Good day."
        • computrius, on 03/25/2008, -1/+2No matter how long ive been on dig that doesn't change the fact that this comic was only posted last month on the original site. A similar comic? maybe.. But not this one.
  • Mrdudeperson, on 03/24/2008, -12/+4Wow. That was.............Not Interesting.
  • xtekian, on 03/24/2008, -17/+5For a bland comic, wayyyy too many people are digging this.... bury it!!!
    • oblique63, on 03/24/2008, -0/+8aw, look like someone's not a programmer...
  • kalleanka, on 03/24/2008, -10/+44Stop complaining.
    It was a good joke and it was well made.
  • vashth3stampede, on 03/24/2008, -13/+2I looked at that comic and said WTF because it was lame
  • Skooma714, on 03/24/2008, -5/+19Don't worry , the new xkcd comes up in about 10 minutes.
  • tripledjr, on 03/24/2008, -4/+1Wasnt this posted like a week ago?
  • xerigen, on 03/24/2008, -1/+36You guys are harsh. I chuckled.
  • ekravchenko, on 03/24/2008, -0/+12It's funny because it's true
  • HanSolo69, on 03/24/2008, -8/+2I figured this was going to be something about the number of "WTF"s in the actual code.
  • eyegraphix, on 03/24/2008, -9/+1How the hell does this make front page?
  • fLUx1337, on 03/24/2008, -17/+8I think its kinda sad you mark this as lame because its not from xkcd. To you, sir, wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf.
  • martypal2005, on 03/24/2008, -0/+20Haha, this is awesome. Dugg.

    It's so true. You never hear the programmers every say, "Hey, thats brilliant, bravo.". There only silence (which means its good), then theres WTF.
  • TheLastFreeMan, on 03/24/2008, -2/+35Dugg for not being an xkcd and still making the front page.
  • WreckerOne, on 03/24/2008, -2/+4Code quality can't be measured by programmers or so called 'reviewers'. WTFs per minute measure the degree of prima donna of the WTFer. Everyone else's code is alway's the worst possible in a programmer's eye. Childlike WTFers simply haven't matured enough to control their emotions.
  • digitallysick, on 03/24/2008, -2/+1meh
  • therealgeddylee, on 03/24/2008, -6/+1This comic is completely incorrect. The more WTFs you throw out there, the better the code comes out, because you get frustrated, then figure ***** out. Frustrated, figure ***** out. Etc.
    • fluxion, on 03/24/2008, -0/+2get frustrated....take a smoke break. get frustrated...take a smoke break. etc.
  • iammzac, on 03/24/2008, -9/+1i don't get it..?
  • Jacksonblue, on 03/24/2008, -7/+0i don get it
  • Hitchhiker90, on 03/24/2008, -1/+14If any of you ***** actually read osnews you would know Thom is NOT trying to be xkcd. He told his story on there that the site needed some humor and he was willing to draw up some comics and asked for opinions on it. xkcd is not the only cartoonist, was not the first, and will not be the last. The sunday paper had them long before xkcd was around so those of you saying he's copying ask yourself who is really copying who? Hell Doonesbury had some of the ***** before xkcd. I know this is digg and its cool to bash someone before knowing the story behind them.
    • sbgskl, on 03/24/2008, -6/+1Just because he says he isn't trying to emulate xkcd doesn't mean he isn't. No one says xkcd invented the comic medium, but Thom's style is pretty darn close.
      • yacks, on 03/24/2008, -0/+8and i used to draw stick figure comics in my notebooks in high school which predates XKCD which must mean that they are stealing my style.
      • Hitchhiker90, on 03/24/2008, -0/+6He's not saying he's not trying to emulate xkcd. He said he wanted to add some humor to the site so he will draw up tech cartoons related to the news stories they report. By your own reasoning xkcd is trying to emulate other comics so why aren't you bashing it? Geek comics have been around, stick figures have been around, yet you don't mention a word about them. Face it, you have no arguement.
  • Telexen, on 03/24/2008, -0/+4I laughed...I try not to act like a programming geek because I'm not...but it's just funny because I know so many.
  • farhanhafeez, on 03/24/2008, -0/+4lolzz .... Deserves more than one Diggs ;)
  • HAMMERotheGODS, on 03/24/2008, -8/+1People Digg some lame *****.
  • louiebaur, on 03/24/2008, -8/+1dugg for for sucking
  • ttamez, on 03/24/2008, -1/+4as an EE who has taken courses in C++, Java, and Assembly, i find this hilarious because the right side is exactly what it would sound like the first few times i ran my code
  • NinjaPirateDude, on 03/24/2008, -3/+1i think it is safe to say that the punchline was below the waist........(interperate as you will)
  • amrhassan, on 03/24/2008, -1/+3***** hilarious
  • FrothyA, on 03/24/2008, -5/+2WTF, I don't get this.

    It must be proof that I'm NO nerd! Hahahahahahaa!
    • takua108, on 03/24/2008, -1/+2 Digger == nerd
      • FrothyA, on 03/24/2008, -1/+2No no no not a nerd. Just a geek which in today's world is considered sheik? Hmmmm I think I need to reevaluate myself.
  • krunk4ever, on 03/24/2008, -7/+3I had submitted this 40 days ago:
    http://digg.com/programming/The_Only_Valid_Measure ...
    • Berkana, on 03/24/2008, -3/+1Someone submitted this long before you, and it made it to the front page.
  • Berkana, on 03/24/2008, -0/+2You know, for all the times I see "we do not forget" here on digg (usually prefixed by "we do not forgive" and suffixed by "Expect us"), we sure have a lot of dupes.
    • milliamp, on 03/24/2008, -0/+1Many people don't check digg often enough to spot all the dupes.
  • swAppp, on 03/24/2008, -2/+1I never thought that we can measure codes by that. Silly but interesting. :) Too bad I can handle codes only as long as word wtf is ;/
  • sethpr, on 03/24/2008, -3/+2In Soviet Russia code WTFs you!
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