4 ms·

I'd say you can't write good enough code in any language. The most high-profile, extensively tested C networking code still has security vulnerabilities, for ex

I'd say you can't write good enough code in any language. The most high-profile, extensively tested C networking code still has security vulnerabilities, for example--the best C code isn't good enough. And broadly speaking, I'd say good code meets deadlines, but I guess that's a bit of semantics on my part.

akira2501 7y ago
> extensively tested C networking code still has security vulnerabilities Are you familiar with Daniel J Bernstein? > the best C code isn't good enough Are you sure _you've_ seen the _best_ code? Are you sure you understood the constraints of those writing that code when you evaluated it? > I'd say good code meets deadlines I'm trying to say there's an obvious compromise between the two, which explains the wide spectrum of code quality.
- mantap 7y ago
  If you have to be DJB or Bellard to write good code in a programming language, that programming language probably has a problem. I used to write a lot of C back in the day, but I have to admit that C++ code is far more reliable and maintainable, which is a damning thing to say about any programming language.
- kerkeslager 7y ago
  I am somewhat familiar with Daniel J. Bernstein, but you'll have to enlighten me on why you've brought him up. If you're referencing programs where half the source code is written in a theorem proving language like CoQ, that's not really "written in C", now is it?
ncmncm 7y ago
Donald Knuth is quite fond of C. He writes checks to people who find bugs in his code. They are quite valuable, because they are very rare.
- ahhhhhhhhhhb 7y ago
  so rare, industry defining geniuses can avoid fucking up too much with unquantified effort and no real deadlines or pressure to produce. got it
  - ncmncm 7y ago
    If you were as productive as Donald Knuth, you would have reason to be very proud.
- pjmlp 7y ago
  Tex was implemented in Pascal and uses web2c to generate C code. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TeX https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TeX Had he implemented it directly in C he would be sending checks every day.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - jstimpfle 7y ago
    > Had he implemented it directly in C he would be sending checks every day. He used Pascal maybe not for the reasons you think. Remember it was the early 70s. If you actually look at the TeX source code, I'm pretty sure you won't find the kind of Pascal you envision. Nowadays, Knuth does use C directly. (FWIW)
- kerkeslager 7y ago
  Not networking code.

akira2501 7y ago

> extensively tested C networking code still has security vulnerabilities Are you familiar with Daniel J Bernstein? > the best C code isn't good enough Are you sure _you've_ seen the _best_ code? Are you sure you understood the constraints of those writing that code when you evaluated it? > I'd say good code meets deadlines I'm trying to say there's an obvious compromise between the two, which explains the wide spectrum of code quality.

mantap 7y ago
If you have to be DJB or Bellard to write good code in a programming language, that programming language probably has a problem. I used to write a lot of C back in the day, but I have to admit that C++ code is far more reliable and maintainable, which is a damning thing to say about any programming language.
kerkeslager 7y ago
I am somewhat familiar with Daniel J. Bernstein, but you'll have to enlighten me on why you've brought him up. If you're referencing programs where half the source code is written in a theorem proving language like CoQ, that's not really "written in C", now is it?

ncmncm 7y ago

Donald Knuth is quite fond of C. He writes checks to people who find bugs in his code. They are quite valuable, because they are very rare.

ahhhhhhhhhhb 7y ago
so rare, industry defining geniuses can avoid fucking up too much with unquantified effort and no real deadlines or pressure to produce. got it
- ncmncm 7y ago
  If you were as productive as Donald Knuth, you would have reason to be very proud.
pjmlp 7y ago
Tex was implemented in Pascal and uses web2c to generate C code. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TeX https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TeX Had he implemented it directly in C he would be sending checks every day.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- jstimpfle 7y ago
  > Had he implemented it directly in C he would be sending checks every day. He used Pascal maybe not for the reasons you think. Remember it was the early 70s. If you actually look at the TeX source code, I'm pretty sure you won't find the kind of Pascal you envision. Nowadays, Knuth does use C directly. (FWIW)
kerkeslager 7y ago
Not networking code.