Topic: Tech.jpg

[PANTS!]

Wait.  Are you using the octric system.  In this country we use imperioctal.

[Morvis13]

Wait.  Are you using the octric system.  In this country we use imperioctal.

You cavemen need to grow another pair of fingers and join the rest of the world.

[Mr. Beagle]

Backs slowly toward the door. 



But seriously, folks, I did two years of "Computer Technology" at Purdue. That's COBOL and that shit. Played with assembler, that taught me patience.

COBOL (my second language) had its advantages. One relevant to this discussion, as I recall, was the ability to do math in decimal cents without floating point rounding problems.

[fred.slota]

COBOL - we support Pennies.

[Calinthalus]

The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offense.
--Edsger Dijkstra

[werecow]

[Noisy Rhysling]

Backs slowly toward the door. 



But seriously, folks, I did two years of "Computer Technology" at Purdue. That's COBOL and that shit. Played with assembler, that taught me patience.

COBOL (my second language) had its advantages. One relevant to this discussion, as I recall, was the ability to do math in decimal cents without floating point rounding problems.

I had the chance to talk to Adm. Grace Hopper back in the day. She told me she never thought COBOL would out live her.

[Ron Obvious]

COBOL (my second language) had its advantages. One relevant to this discussion, as I recall, was the ability to do math in decimal cents without floating point rounding problems.

The rest of us just stored currency amounts in integer cents and divided by a 100 for display purposes when the time came.

[Noisy Rhysling]

COBOL was written for early computers and deliberately done in such a manner as to allow programmers to show managers what was going on. I have always thought this insanely optimistic.

[Mr. Beagle]

COBOL (my second language) had its advantages. One relevant to this discussion, as I recall, was the ability to do math in decimal cents without floating point rounding problems.

The rest of us just stored currency amounts in integer cents and divided by a 100 for display purposes when the time came.

Unfortunately, I have worked with some business and tax computer systems that did not do this, leading to aggravating and accumulating rounding errors.

[werecow]