2 ms·
I think you greatly overestimate how well software is documented. Just one example: When the Y2K problem was discussed in the late 90s, one of the big problems
by ahofmann 5y ago
I think you greatly overestimate how well software is documented. Just one example: When the Y2K problem was discussed in the late 90s, one of the big problems was that almost nobody understood the decades old code base. They hired experts, of course, to make sure there were no difficulties when they switched to the year 2000. They made such hair-raising discoveries in some code trees that a lot of the variables had completely useless names, like "Mickey Mouse".
- SteveMoody73 5y agoIn the late 90s I was involved in replacing a software for a financial system for a company that was written in a basic of all languages. It was complex and had almost no documentation. All knowledge of the system was in the head of the programmer of that system and he wasn't happy that his code was being replaced so he was reluctant to help. The little document that did exist was hopelessly out of date. A lot of business was done on that software
- jazzyjackson 5y agohah, sounds like a memory palace trick, I think I’ve heard a mathemagician use mickey mouse as a kind of variable name when doing mental math out loud.