Goto [Was Re: Chown ???]

[Jim]

Les wrote:
> On Fri, 2009-04-10 at 10:32 -0500, Dave Ihnat wrote:
>   
>> On Fri, Apr 10, 2009 at 11:07:00AM -0400, James Kosin wrote:
>>     
>>> Actually, GOTO was very heavily in BASIC programming language.  There
>>> was no idea of statement blocks back then.
>>> It may be the only language at the time where it isn't considered taboo.
>>>       
>> That's been a bone of contention for, literally now, decades.  "Goto"
>> isn't _taboo_, as such.  It's misuse/overuse is taboo.
>>
>> The purpose of deprecating use of goto was to avoid the spaghetti code
>> that was so prevalent, especially in C.  HOWEVER, blind adherence to
>> avoidance of the use of a strategically placed goto can result in
>> equally obscure code.  This is typically seen in deeply nested if
>> statements; I've seen nests 10 and 15-levels deep that would have been
>> far more clear if a simple error-condition goto to the end of the nest
>> had been implemented.
>>
>> I remember a Master Chief Petty Officer in the Navy when I was a lowly
>> Middie 3C.  He'd just done something that was Stricly Forbidden, and I
>> asked him--very tentatively; you treat Master Chiefs with respect just
>> below that of Captain, if that--if what he'd done was by the regs.
>>
>> "Nope.  There are Rules, and they're good 'uns.  Follow them."
>>
>> But...you just...
>>
>> "Rules are good.  You gotta know when to follow 'em, and when not to.
>> You don't know enough yet to know when not to follow 'em, so follow
>> 'em."
>>
>> It's been good advice for these past 30 years.
>>
>>     
> As an retire Navy Chief, I'll second that advice.  Thanks for the great
> memories and a chuckle.
>
> Regards,
> Les Howell ETC USN (Ret.)
>
>
>   
To think I have been talking to Swabby.

Jim
USMC