Editing 292: goto
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| title = goto | | title = goto | ||
| image = goto.png | | image = goto.png | ||
+ | | imagesize = | ||
| titletext = Neal Stephenson thinks it's cute to name his labels 'dengo' | | titletext = Neal Stephenson thinks it's cute to name his labels 'dengo' | ||
}} | }} | ||
− | ==Explanation== | + | == Explanation == |
− | + | {{w|goto}} is a construct found in many computer languages that causes control flow to go from one place in program to another, without returning. Once common in computer programming, its popularity diminished in the 60's and 70's as focus on {{w|Structured programming|structured programming}} became the norm. {{w|Edsger W. Dijkstra|Edsger Dijkstra}}'s article [http://www.u.arizona.edu/~rubinson/copyright_violations/Go_To_Considered_Harmful.html Go To Statement Considered Harmful] in particular contributed to the decline of ''goto''. | |
− | Often | + | Often people learning programming are told ''goto'' is bad and should be avoided, but frequently are not given a reason. In this case, [[Cueball]] can see no harm in using ''goto'' to avoid rewriting much of his program. As a result, he is attacked by a {{w|velociraptor}}. Velociraptor attacks are a running joke (and fear) often expressed in [[xkcd]]. The humor derives from the fact that a velociraptor attack is [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong an unlikely thing to happen] after using a ''goto'' statement. |
− | The | + | The title text refers to {{w|Neal Stephenson}}, an author of cyberpunk novels. A label is used in many programming languages to refer to a point in a program that a goto instruction can jump to. The joke is that one of Stephenson's characters in ''{{w|Cryptonomicon}}'' is named 'Goto Dengo'. |
− | + | ==Transcript== | |
+ | [Man sits at computer, thinking] | ||
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+ | Man: I could restructure the program's flow - or use one little 'GOTO' instead. | ||
− | + | Man: Eh, screw good practice. How bad can it be? | |
− | : | ||
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− | + | Text on computer: <tt>goto main_sub3;</tt> | |
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− | + | <nowiki>*Compile*</nowiki> | |
− | + | [Panel passes in which man simply looks at the computer] | |
− | + | [A raptor jumps into the panel and attacks the man at the computer] | |
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
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[[Category:Velociraptors]] | [[Category:Velociraptors]] | ||
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