PHP4 to PHP5

[Jeff]

I'm working on a server that is running PHP4.

I'd like to upgrade this so I can use the PHP5 code I have already.

What kind, if any, problems will I have with the existing PHP code base?

I see:

Local Master

magic_quotes_gp c On On
magic_quotes_ru ntime Off Off

I'm not sure what that means. I think that means that anything coming in
on $_REQUEST is backslashed and I'm thinking that probably won't play
well with PDO. If I turn that off what kind of failure could I see in
the existing code? Is that only a problem in that single quotes will be
backslashed in the data? Or can I have runtime crashes?

Jeff

[Twayne]

Re: PHP4 to PHP5

I'm working on a server that is running PHP4.

>
I'd like to upgrade this so I can use the PHP5 code I have already.
>
What kind, if any, problems will I have with the existing PHP code
base?
I see:
>
Local Master
>
magic_quotes_gp c On On
magic_quotes_ru ntime Off Off
>
I'm not sure what that means. I think that means that anything coming
in on $_REQUEST is backslashed and I'm thinking that probably won't
play well with PDO. If I turn that off what kind of failure could I
see in the existing code? Is that only a problem in that single
quotes will be backslashed in the data? Or can I have runtime crashes?
>
Jeff

We probably don't have similar code, but I made the switch and had zero
problems of any kind. The only problem I ran into was I discovered
filter_var in 5.2.5 and then discovered my ISP is only at 5.2.2, which
doesn't support it. So at least from my viewpoint, I'd say just make
sure you're at the same level your server provides. I just made the
switch on the server and ran a phpinfo() to get the full rev, then ran
one on my own system and compared the two. Past 5.2.2 there were some
pretty useful additions but I don't know them all by heart.

HTH

Twayne

[Jerry Stuckle]

Re: PHP4 to PHP5

Jeff wrote:

I'm working on a server that is running PHP4.
>
I'd like to upgrade this so I can use the PHP5 code I have already.
>
What kind, if any, problems will I have with the existing PHP code base?
>
I see:
>
Local Master
>
magic_quotes_gp c On On
magic_quotes_ru ntime Off Off
>
I'm not sure what that means. I think that means that anything coming in
on $_REQUEST is backslashed and I'm thinking that probably won't play
well with PDO. If I turn that off what kind of failure could I see in
the existing code? Is that only a problem in that single quotes will be
backslashed in the data? Or can I have runtime crashes?
>
Jeff
>

The change from php4 to php5 probably won't be too painful. Virtually
everything I've written for php4 runs fine on php5.

The magic_quotes_gp c may be another problem, however. You should have
it off (it will be removed in php6 because it never really worked). If
you've been depending on it being on, you'll have some code to change.

--
=============== ===
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attgl obal.net
=============== ===

[Chuck Anderson]

Re: PHP4 to PHP5

Jeff wrote:

I'm working on a server that is running PHP4.
>
I'd like to upgrade this so I can use the PHP5 code I have already.
>
What kind, if any, problems will I have with the existing PHP code base?
>
I see:
>
Local Master
>
magic_quotes_gp c On On
magic_quotes_ru ntime Off Off
>
I'm not sure what that means. I think that means that anything coming in
on $_REQUEST is backslashed and I'm thinking that probably won't play
well with PDO. If I turn that off what kind of failure could I see in
the existing code? Is that only a problem in that single quotes will be
backslashed in the data? Or can I have runtime crashes?
>
Jeff
>
>

Just yesterday I ran into a problem with an old script I hadn't used in
a very long while. It accessed uploaded files via $HTTP_POST_FILE S,
which was still around in Php 4, but is gone in Php 5 (use $_FILES).

--
*************** **************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO

http://www.CycleTourist.com

Nothing he's got he really needs
Twenty first century schizoid man.
*************** *************** *****

[Jerry Stuckle]

Re: PHP4 to PHP5

Chuck Anderson wrote:

Jeff wrote:
>

> I'm working on a server that is running PHP4.
>>
> I'd like to upgrade this so I can use the PHP5 code I have already.
>>
> What kind, if any, problems will I have with the existing PHP code
>base?
>>
> I see:
>>
> Local Master
>>
>magic_quotes_g pc On On
>magic_quotes_r untime Off Off
>>
>I'm not sure what that means. I think that means that anything coming
>in on $_REQUEST is backslashed and I'm thinking that probably won't
>play well with PDO. If I turn that off what kind of failure could I
>see in the existing code? Is that only a problem in that single quotes
>will be backslashed in the data? Or can I have runtime crashes?
>>
> Jeff
>>
>>

>
>
Just yesterday I ran into a problem with an old script I hadn't used in
a very long while. It accessed uploaded files via $HTTP_POST_FILE S,
which was still around in Php 4, but is gone in Php 5 (use $_FILES).
>

Yes, that could be. But even $HTTP_POST_FILE S is still available (but
deprecated). You enable it with register_long_a rrays=on in the php.ini
file.

BTW - $_FILES and the rest have been around since php 4.1. Any code
written since then should be using the new arrays. But I also suspect
your code was written before then :-)

--
=============== ===
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attgl obal.net
=============== ===

[Curtis]

Re: PHP4 to PHP5

Jerry Stuckle wrote:

Jeff wrote:

> I'm working on a server that is running PHP4.
>>
> I'd like to upgrade this so I can use the PHP5 code I have already.
>>
> What kind, if any, problems will I have with the existing PHP code
>base?
>>
> I see:
>>
> Local Master
>>
>magic_quotes_g pc On On
>magic_quotes_r untime Off Off
>>
>I'm not sure what that means. I think that means that anything coming
>in on $_REQUEST is backslashed and I'm thinking that probably won't
>play well with PDO. If I turn that off what kind of failure could I
>see in the existing code? Is that only a problem in that single quotes
>will be backslashed in the data? Or can I have runtime crashes?
>>
> Jeff
>>

>
The change from php4 to php5 probably won't be too painful. Virtually
everything I've written for php4 runs fine on php5.
>
The magic_quotes_gp c may be another problem, however. You should have
it off (it will be removed in php6 because it never really worked). If
you've been depending on it being on, you'll have some code to change.
>

This is the code I wrote, if I need to deal with the possibility of
magic_quotes_gp c being enabled. I don't know if this is the best, most
efficient approach, though:

<?php
if ( get_magic_quote s_gpc() ) {
$lambda = create_function ('&$str,$key',' $str=stripslash es($str);');
array_walk_recu rsive($_GET, $lambda);
array_walk_recu rsive($_POST, $lambda);
array_walk_recu rsive($_COOKIE, $lambda);
}
?>

--
Curtis (http://dyersweb.com)

[Jeff]

Re: PHP4 to PHP5

Curtis wrote:

Jerry Stuckle wrote:

>Jeff wrote:

>> I'm working on a server that is running PHP4.
>>>
>> I'd like to upgrade this so I can use the PHP5 code I have already.
>>>
>> What kind, if any, problems will I have with the existing PHP code
>>base?
>>>
>> I see:
>>>
>> Local Master
>>>
>>magic_quotes_ gpc On On
>>magic_quotes_ runtime Off Off
>>>
>>I'm not sure what that means. I think that means that anything coming
>>in on $_REQUEST is backslashed and I'm thinking that probably won't
>>play well with PDO. If I turn that off what kind of failure could I
>>see in the existing code? Is that only a problem in that single
>>quotes will be backslashed in the data? Or can I have runtime crashes?
>>>
>> Jeff
>>>

>>
>The change from php4 to php5 probably won't be too painful. Virtually
>everything I've written for php4 runs fine on php5.
>>
>The magic_quotes_gp c may be another problem, however. You should have
>it off (it will be removed in php6 because it never really worked).
>If you've been depending on it being on, you'll have some code to change.
>>

>
This is the code I wrote, if I need to deal with the possibility of
magic_quotes_gp c being enabled. I don't know if this is the best, most
efficient approach, though:
>
<?php
if ( get_magic_quote s_gpc() ) {
$lambda = create_function ('&$str,$key',' $str=stripslash es($str);');
array_walk_recu rsive($_GET, $lambda);
array_walk_recu rsive($_POST, $lambda);
array_walk_recu rsive($_COOKIE, $lambda);
}
?>

Thanks, I've added that to my php code snippets library.

I think it's more likely that I may need to turn on magic_quotes_gp c in
some existing code. No telling what may be there until someone
complains! I'm not particularly wanting to spider 60 domains and check
the code, there's enough I don't get paid for now!

I think PHP suffers from the same problem that ASP does. It's
perfectly easy for any idiot to write the most horrible unmaintainable crap!

Jeff

>
--
Curtis (http://dyersweb.com)

[sheldonlg]

Re: PHP4 to PHP5

Jeff wrote:

Curtis wrote:

>Jerry Stuckle wrote:

>>Jeff wrote:
>>> I'm working on a server that is running PHP4.
>>>>
>>> I'd like to upgrade this so I can use the PHP5 code I have already.
>>>>
>>> What kind, if any, problems will I have with the existing PHP code
>>>base?
>>>>
>>> I see:
>>>>
>>> Local Master
>>>>
>>>magic_quotes _gpc On On
>>>magic_quotes _runtime Off Off
>>>>
>>>I'm not sure what that means. I think that means that anything
>>>coming in on $_REQUEST is backslashed and I'm thinking that probably
>>>won't play well with PDO. If I turn that off what kind of failure
>>>could I see in the existing code? Is that only a problem in that
>>>single quotes will be backslashed in the data? Or can I have runtime
>>>crashes?
>>>>
>>> Jeff
>>>>
>>>
>>The change from php4 to php5 probably won't be too painful.
>>Virtually everything I've written for php4 runs fine on php5.
>>>
>>The magic_quotes_gp c may be another problem, however. You should
>>have it off (it will be removed in php6 because it never really
>>worked). If you've been depending on it being on, you'll have some
>>code to change.
>>>

>>
>This is the code I wrote, if I need to deal with the possibility of
>magic_quotes_g pc being enabled. I don't know if this is the best, most
>efficient approach, though:
>>
><?php
>if ( get_magic_quote s_gpc() ) {
> $lambda = create_function ('&$str,$key',' $str=stripslash es($str);');
> array_walk_recu rsive($_GET, $lambda);
> array_walk_recu rsive($_POST, $lambda);
> array_walk_recu rsive($_COOKIE, $lambda);
>}
>?>

>
Thanks, I've added that to my php code snippets library.
>
I think it's more likely that I may need to turn on magic_quotes_gp c in
some existing code. No telling what may be there until someone
complains! I'm not particularly wanting to spider 60 domains and check
the code, there's enough I don't get paid for now!
>
I think PHP suffers from the same problem that ASP does. It's
perfectly easy for any idiot to write the most horrible unmaintainable
crap!

I have programmed in Fortran, PL/1, C, Java, Basic, Pascal, Cobol, PHP,
VB, DCL, sh, csh, etc. and there isn't a language that I have seen that
can prevent "any idiot to write the most horrible unmaintainable crap".

[Jeff]

Re: PHP4 to PHP5

sheldonlg wrote:

Jeff wrote:

>Curtis wrote:

>>Jerry Stuckle wrote:
>>>Jeff wrote:
>>>> I'm working on a server that is running PHP4.
>>>>>
>>>> I'd like to upgrade this so I can use the PHP5 code I have already.
>>>>>
>>>> What kind, if any, problems will I have with the existing PHP
>>>>code base?
>>>>>
>>>> I see:
>>>>>
>>>> Local Master
>>>>>
>>>>magic_quote s_gpc On On
>>>>magic_quote s_runtime Off Off
>>>>>
>>>>I'm not sure what that means. I think that means that anything
>>>>coming in on $_REQUEST is backslashed and I'm thinking that
>>>>probably won't play well with PDO. If I turn that off what kind of
>>>>failure could I see in the existing code? Is that only a problem in
>>>>that single quotes will be backslashed in the data? Or can I have
>>>>runtime crashes?
>>>>>
>>>> Jeff
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>The change from php4 to php5 probably won't be too painful.
>>>Virtually everything I've written for php4 runs fine on php5.
>>>>
>>>The magic_quotes_gp c may be another problem, however. You should
>>>have it off (it will be removed in php6 because it never really
>>>worked). If you've been depending on it being on, you'll have some
>>>code to change.
>>>>
>>>
>>This is the code I wrote, if I need to deal with the possibility of
>>magic_quotes_ gpc being enabled. I don't know if this is the best,
>>most efficient approach, though:
>>>
>><?php
>>if ( get_magic_quote s_gpc() ) {
>> $lambda = create_function ('&$str,$key',' $str=stripslash es($str);');
>> array_walk_recu rsive($_GET, $lambda);
>> array_walk_recu rsive($_POST, $lambda);
>> array_walk_recu rsive($_COOKIE, $lambda);
>>}
>>?>

>>
>Thanks, I've added that to my php code snippets library.
>>
>I think it's more likely that I may need to turn on magic_quotes_gp c
>in some existing code. No telling what may be there until someone
>complains! I'm not particularly wanting to spider 60 domains and check
>the code, there's enough I don't get paid for now!
>>
> I think PHP suffers from the same problem that ASP does. It's
>perfectly easy for any idiot to write the most horrible unmaintainable
>crap!

>
I have programmed in Fortran, PL/1, C, Java, Basic, Pascal, Cobol, PHP,
VB, DCL, sh, csh, etc. and there isn't a language that I have seen that
can prevent "any idiot to write the most horrible unmaintainable crap".

But *most* idiots wouldn't attempt to write C or Java or C++. Every
idiot thinks they can write ASP or PHP. They even have Complete Idiots
books for them. At least in PHP you can write well, I'm unconvinced that
is even possible in classic ASP.

Simple only encourages them. This is not a fault per se in the language.

Jeff

[Jerry Stuckle]

Re: PHP4 to PHP5

Jeff wrote:

sheldonlg wrote:

>Jeff wrote:

>>Curtis wrote:
>>>Jerry Stuckle wrote:
>>>>Jeff wrote:
>>>>> I'm working on a server that is running PHP4.
>>>>>>
>>>>> I'd like to upgrade this so I can use the PHP5 code I have already.
>>>>>>
>>>>> What kind, if any, problems will I have with the existing PHP
>>>>>code base?
>>>>>>
>>>>> I see:
>>>>>>
>>>>> Local Master
>>>>>>
>>>>>magic_quot es_gpc On On
>>>>>magic_quot es_runtime Off Off
>>>>>>
>>>>>I'm not sure what that means. I think that means that anything
>>>>>coming in on $_REQUEST is backslashed and I'm thinking that
>>>>>probably won't play well with PDO. If I turn that off what kind
>>>>>of failure could I see in the existing code? Is that only a
>>>>>problem in that single quotes will be backslashed in the data? Or
>>>>>can I have runtime crashes?
>>>>>>
>>>>> Jeff
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>The change from php4 to php5 probably won't be too painful.
>>>>Virtually everything I've written for php4 runs fine on php5.
>>>>>
>>>>The magic_quotes_gp c may be another problem, however. You should
>>>>have it off (it will be removed in php6 because it never really
>>>>worked). If you've been depending on it being on, you'll have some
>>>>code to change.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>This is the code I wrote, if I need to deal with the possibility of
>>>magic_quotes _gpc being enabled. I don't know if this is the best,
>>>most efficient approach, though:
>>>>
>>><?php
>>>if ( get_magic_quote s_gpc() ) {
>>> $lambda = create_function ('&$str,$key',' $str=stripslash es($str);');
>>> array_walk_recu rsive($_GET, $lambda);
>>> array_walk_recu rsive($_POST, $lambda);
>>> array_walk_recu rsive($_COOKIE, $lambda);
>>>}
>>>?>
>>>
>>Thanks, I've added that to my php code snippets library.
>>>
>>I think it's more likely that I may need to turn on magic_quotes_gp c
>>in some existing code. No telling what may be there until someone
>>complains! I'm not particularly wanting to spider 60 domains and
>>check the code, there's enough I don't get paid for now!
>>>
>> I think PHP suffers from the same problem that ASP does. It's
>>perfectly easy for any idiot to write the most horrible
>>unmaintainabl e crap!

>>
>I have programmed in Fortran, PL/1, C, Java, Basic, Pascal, Cobol,
>PHP, VB, DCL, sh, csh, etc. and there isn't a language that I have
>seen that can prevent "any idiot to write the most horrible
>unmaintainab le crap".

>
But *most* idiots wouldn't attempt to write C or Java or C++. Every
idiot thinks they can write ASP or PHP. They even have Complete Idiots
books for them. At least in PHP you can write well, I'm unconvinced that
is even possible in classic ASP.
>
Simple only encourages them. This is not a fault per se in the language.
>
Jeff
>

Jeff,

I agree. I've programmed in more languages than most - and some you've
probably never even heard of. In the years I've been programming and
teaching, I've seen some people try to write lousy code in other
languages.

For instance, they might try in C - but it isn't long before they have
real problems (i.e. bad pointers, insufficiently large arrays, etc.) and
give up. Even Java, with it's better handling of things, seems to deter
poor programmers.

But PHP and VBScript really do seem to attract poor programmers, and
even encourage them.

--
=============== ===
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attgl obal.net
=============== ===

[Peter H. Coffin]

Re: PHP4 to PHP5

On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:02:25 -0400, sheldonlg wrote:

I have programmed in Fortran, PL/1, C, Java, Basic, Pascal, Cobol,
PHP, VB, DCL, sh, csh, etc. and there isn't a language that I
have seen that can prevent "any idiot to write the most horrible
unmaintainable crap".

Idiots are very ingenious like that.

--
It is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain
to try to do it with ten blunt axes instead -- E.W Dijkstra, 1930-2002

[Dale]

Re: PHP4 to PHP5


"Jerry Stuckle" <jstucklex@attg lobal.netwrote in message
news:g5vrgd$pf5 $1@registered.m otzarella.org.. .

Jeff wrote:

>sheldonlg wrote:

>>Jeff wrote:
>>>Curtis wrote:
>>>>Jerry Stuckle wrote:
>>>>>Jeff wrote:
>>>>>> I'm working on a server that is running PHP4.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'd like to upgrade this so I can use the PHP5 code I have
>>>>>>already .
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> What kind, if any, problems will I have with the existing PHP code
>>>>>>base?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> I see:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Local Master
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>magic_quo tes_gpc On On
>>>>>>magic_quo tes_runtime Off Off
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>I'm not sure what that means. I think that means that anything
>>>>>>coming in on $_REQUEST is backslashed and I'm thinking that probably
>>>>>>won't play well with PDO. If I turn that off what kind of failure
>>>>>>could I see in the existing code? Is that only a problem in that
>>>>>>single quotes will be backslashed in the data? Or can I have runtime
>>>>>>crashes ?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Jeff
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>The change from php4 to php5 probably won't be too painful.
>>>>>Virtuall y everything I've written for php4 runs fine on php5.
>>>>>>
>>>>>The magic_quotes_gp c may be another problem, however. You should
>>>>>have it off (it will be removed in php6 because it never really
>>>>>worked). If you've been depending on it being on, you'll have some
>>>>>code to change.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>This is the code I wrote, if I need to deal with the possibility of
>>>>magic_quote s_gpc being enabled. I don't know if this is the best, most
>>>>efficient approach, though:
>>>>>
>>>><?php
>>>>if ( get_magic_quote s_gpc() ) {
>>>> $lambda = create_function ('&$str,$key',' $str=stripslash es($str);');
>>>> array_walk_recu rsive($_GET, $lambda);
>>>> array_walk_recu rsive($_POST, $lambda);
>>>> array_walk_recu rsive($_COOKIE, $lambda);
>>>>}
>>>>?>
>>>>
>>>Thanks, I've added that to my php code snippets library.
>>>>
>>>I think it's more likely that I may need to turn on magic_quotes_gp c in
>>>some existing code. No telling what may be there until someone
>>>complains! I'm not particularly wanting to spider 60 domains and check
>>>the code, there's enough I don't get paid for now!
>>>>
>>> I think PHP suffers from the same problem that ASP does. It's
>>>perfectly easy for any idiot to write the most horrible unmaintainable
>>>crap!
>>>
>>I have programmed in Fortran, PL/1, C, Java, Basic, Pascal, Cobol, PHP,
>>VB, DCL, sh, csh, etc. and there isn't a language that I have seen that
>>can prevent "any idiot to write the most horrible unmaintainable crap".

>>
>But *most* idiots wouldn't attempt to write C or Java or C++. Every idiot
>thinks they can write ASP or PHP. They even have Complete Idiots books
>for them. At least in PHP you can write well, I'm unconvinced that is
>even possible in classic ASP.
>>
> Simple only encourages them. This is not a fault per se in the language.
>>
> Jeff
>>

>
Jeff,
>
I agree. I've programmed in more languages than most - and some you've
probably never even heard of. In the years I've been programming and
teaching, I've seen some people try to write lousy code in other
languages.

lil self-righteous there, eh jer.

mmmm, perhaps the 'more than most' you speak of are simply the number of
noobs who ask questions here compared to the dozen of so who answer them.
given the amount of time you spend here, perhaps you've got a skewed, ever
so slightly, POV. 'most' people with whom i work on a professional level not
only have at least 7 programming languages under their belt, they also have
at least two spoken languages as well.

and, of all the programmers that i've met who DID write lousy code, i've yet
to meet ONE who had that intention at the time they sat down to produce a
result linguistically. the fact of the matter is, they are learning just as
we all are.

there's that, and there's the fact that 'most' advanced developers think
they know it all, have seen it all, and done it all. those are the ones i
pity most. those i respect the least are just these kinds of people who put
down the ones on the left-hand side of the learning curve! that should be
plain enough for a normal person, JERRY, to feel some kind of conviction
about the words they haphazardly choose.

[Dale]

Re: PHP4 to PHP5


"Peter H. Coffin" <hellsop@ninehe lls.comwrote in message
news:slrng8801f .uuk.hellsop@ab yss.ninehells.c om...

On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:02:25 -0400, sheldonlg wrote:
>

>I have programmed in Fortran, PL/1, C, Java, Basic, Pascal, Cobol,
>PHP, VB, DCL, sh, csh, etc. and there isn't a language that I
>have seen that can prevent "any idiot to write the most horrible
>unmaintainab le crap".

>
Idiots are very ingenious like that.

you know, these 'idiots' i don't have a problem with. i can't stand the
end-users. they can find a bug in software the minute you sit them in front
of the interface. it so negates the hours of time spent by the author and
the testing team to ensure they can't screw anything up!

while there is no stopping such ingenious idiots, i find i can deal with the
fact that the real problem is not them. i have to pause and rethink why i'm
calling someone an idiot; someone who is only doing what they know to do.
that's whether it's using an interface or writing the best code they know
how. both problems can be fixed...and that won't be blamed on how easily
code can be written in one language or another. grab one of the offenders
and show them a better way to write the code!

just a thought.

cheers.

[sheldonlg]

Re: PHP4 to PHP5

Dale wrote:

"Peter H. Coffin" <hellsop@ninehe lls.comwrote in message
news:slrng8801f .uuk.hellsop@ab yss.ninehells.c om...

>On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:02:25 -0400, sheldonlg wrote:
>>

>>I have programmed in Fortran, PL/1, C, Java, Basic, Pascal, Cobol,
>>PHP, VB, DCL, sh, csh, etc. and there isn't a language that I
>>have seen that can prevent "any idiot to write the most horrible
>>unmaintainabl e crap".

>Idiots are very ingenious like that.

>
you know, these 'idiots' i don't have a problem with. i can't stand the
end-users. they can find a bug in software the minute you sit them in front
of the interface. it so negates the hours of time spent by the author and
the testing team to ensure they can't screw anything up!
>
while there is no stopping such ingenious idiots, i find i can deal with the
fact that the real problem is not them. i have to pause and rethink why i'm
calling someone an idiot; someone who is only doing what they know to do.
that's whether it's using an interface or writing the best code they know
how. both problems can be fixed...and that won't be blamed on how easily
code can be written in one language or another. grab one of the offenders
and show them a better way to write the code!
>
just a thought.
>
cheers.
>
>

True. What comes to mind is my own experience. I taught myself Fortran
eons ago. It was spaghetti code (GOTOs) because that was all there was
at the time. The first time I had to function as a programmer (a few
decades ago), and not as an mechanical engineer, I had the task of
modifying someone else's code. I saw the if-then-else construct and I
said to myself "Wow, this is the way I think!". Since that time I have
written, perhaps, five GOTOs -- if that many. I made it my own. Then I
saw indentation. I said to myself "Wow, this is much easier to see".
Since then, I have always indented consistently. Later, someone said
that lower case was easier to read than upper case. Guess what I did?
I went to lower case. Then came Java with its unofficial "rules" for
upper/lower case. "Wow, this adds immediate recognition for the various
types. OK, I'll use it -- and I do now even in php (when I can)".

It is that kind of learning process, and self-improvement process, that
leads to better and better code -- and it is what Dale is talking about.

In summary, I agree.

[Jerry Stuckle]

Re: PHP4 to PHP5

sheldonlg wrote:

Dale wrote:

>"Peter H. Coffin" <hellsop@ninehe lls.comwrote in message
>news:slrng8801 f.uuk.hellsop@a byss.ninehells. com...

>>On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:02:25 -0400, sheldonlg wrote:
>>>
>>>I have programmed in Fortran, PL/1, C, Java, Basic, Pascal, Cobol,
>>>PHP, VB, DCL, sh, csh, etc. and there isn't a language that I
>>>have seen that can prevent "any idiot to write the most horrible
>>>unmaintainab le crap".
>>Idiots are very ingenious like that.

>>
>you know, these 'idiots' i don't have a problem with. i can't stand
>the end-users. they can find a bug in software the minute you sit them
>in front of the interface. it so negates the hours of time spent by
>the author and the testing team to ensure they can't screw anything up!
>>
>while there is no stopping such ingenious idiots, i find i can deal
>with the fact that the real problem is not them. i have to pause and
>rethink why i'm calling someone an idiot; someone who is only doing
>what they know to do. that's whether it's using an interface or
>writing the best code they know how. both problems can be fixed...and
>that won't be blamed on how easily code can be written in one language
>or another. grab one of the offenders and show them a better way to
>write the code!
>>
>just a thought.
>>
>cheers.
>>

>
True. What comes to mind is my own experience. I taught myself Fortran
eons ago. It was spaghetti code (GOTOs) because that was all there was
at the time. The first time I had to function as a programmer (a few
decades ago), and not as an mechanical engineer, I had the task of
modifying someone else's code. I saw the if-then-else construct and I
said to myself "Wow, this is the way I think!". Since that time I have
written, perhaps, five GOTOs -- if that many. I made it my own. Then I
saw indentation. I said to myself "Wow, this is much easier to see".
Since then, I have always indented consistently. Later, someone said
that lower case was easier to read than upper case. Guess what I did? I
went to lower case. Then came Java with its unofficial "rules" for
upper/lower case. "Wow, this adds immediate recognition for the various
types. OK, I'll use it -- and I do now even in php (when I can)".
>
It is that kind of learning process, and self-improvement process, that
leads to better and better code -- and it is what Dale is talking about.
>
In summary, I agree.

Ah, fond memories. My first language was Fortran II. Coding forms,
punched cards... Those were the days :-)

I also had lots of GOTO's. :-)

--
=============== ===
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attgl obal.net
=============== ===