Re: $foo $bar is BAD - Mailing list pgsql-general

On Fri, Apr 15, 2016 at 6:35 PM, Melvin Davidson <melvin6925@gmail.com> wrote:

Although people commonly use $foo $bar in examples, it is actually a misuse of a VERY rude acronym.

Anyone that has done time in the military, and other goverment agencies, has been introduced to the term fubar, which stands for "fouled up beyond all repair". Although fouled was replaced by another similar word where the 2nd, 3rd and 4th letters were substituted with other letters that gave more significance to it. Over time, fu was somehow misheard as foo, and coders commonly started using it in examples. Not Cool!

The next time you need to make an example, please try being a little more original (or meaningful) with your variable names.

​I understand your dislike of this. But, in reality, the likelihood of it changing is very small. The same with SNAFU. Personally, except in a context such as this, I don't use them (I like using "bubba" for meaninglessness). And, even in examples, I think that properly named variables are a good idea. ​Let's face it "The one language all programmers use is cursing." A fact of life, even if quite improper in the past. And still improper in a business / professional setting, IMO.

 

--

Melvin Davidson
I reserve the right to fantasize.  Whether or not you
wish to share my fantasy is entirely up to you.

​In the above instance, I fear this is a fantasy. [sigh]​

--

How many surrealists does it take to screw in a lightbulb? One to hold the griffon and one to fill the bathtub with brightly colored LEDs.

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John McKown