[H-GEN] Which is better?

[Andrae Muys]

Edwin Groothuis wrote:

> [ Humbug *General* list - semi-serious discussions about Humbug and     ]
> [ Unix-related topics. Posts from non-subscribed addresses will vanish. ]
> 
> On Sat, Apr 24, 2004 at 06:46:48PM +1000, Greg Black wrote:
> 
>>The real question here is: why do you care?
>>
>>At this stage of your programming life, your only real goal is to get it
>>right.
> 
> 
> So trying to understand how it works, figuring out what the differences
> are between two implementations, learning from experiences of others,
> isn't part of "getting it right"?
> 

Ahh, now if he had asked any of those questions then you would have a 
valid, point.  As what he actually asked were unanswerable minutae 
regarding *micro*-optimisation, your point is moot.

Moreover, as the questions themselves evidence a typical problem most 
first-years seem to have, Greg's response was not only valid, but highly 
appropriate.

> He showed some examples, analysed it and wanted to known our opinions
> about it. It sounds like he was actively[sp] looking for solutions.
> Doesn't sound like somebody who just wants to get the piece of
> paper.

I agree, his initiative in taking his question to a place where he might 
get some intelligent answers shows great promise.  I just hope he has 
the wisdom to realise that Greg has answered the question he needed to 
ask, rather than the question he mistakenly substituted.

Andrae Muys