Add new file to 2024/ferguson1
The gotos.txt file (manifest updated) shows the line changes in a single run of the program. Capitalised some text. Changed width and height attributes in images - they were too hard to see otherwise (for those of us with poor vision it's still hard on a mobile device but it was almost impossible to see on the computer for me - now it scales better, for some definitions of 'better'). Rebuilt html files.
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@@ -101,6 +101,14 @@
|
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"display_via_github" : true,
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"entry_text" : "hints on how to deobfuscate"
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},
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{
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"file_path" : "gotos.txt",
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"inventory_order" : 100,
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"OK_to_edit" : true,
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"display_as" : "text",
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"display_via_github" : true,
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"entry_text" : "text file showing all the line changes in a run"
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},
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{
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"file_path" : "lencount.c",
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"inventory_order" : 100,
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+87
-34
@@ -53,39 +53,35 @@ inside this C code. :-)
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## Author's remarks:
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<div id="devil">
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### A Pact With the Devil On the Oregon Trail (...and his 134 regrets of goto)
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</div>
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<hr style="width:10%;text-align:left;margin-left:0">
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> Fun fact: after winning this, the author played the game in gdb from start to
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finish and not counting macros but counting all function calls (not libc
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functions, functions in prog.c), there were a total of **985** (!) line jumps.
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The prog.c, counting `#include`s, `#define`s, functions and some lines that have
|
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only braces, as well as 14 blank lines, has only 85 lines. A very tiny fraction
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of the time a line might be repeated in a row ONCE but that does not really matter.
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functions just the few functions in prog.c), there were a total of **985** (!)
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line jumps. The prog.c, counting `#include`s, `#define`s, functions and some
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lines that have only braces, as well as 14 blank lines, has only 85 lines. A
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very tiny fraction of the time a line might be repeated in a row ONCE but that
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does not really matter.
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**NOTE**: I actually submitted two versions. This one is not encrypted. The
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encrypted one even encrypted emojis without having to decrypt them in order to
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print them (and everything else). I have kept references to encryption in this
|
||||
file even after publication. I do have a copy of it if anyone is interested.
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<hr style="width:10%;text-align:left;margin-left:0">
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<div id="devil">
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### A Pact With the Devil On the Oregon Trail (...and his 134 regrets of goto)
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</div>
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The **Go To Hell In A Handcart Travel Company** PROUDLY welcomes all sinners to
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our GREATEST destination yet, with:
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The _Go To Hell In A Handcart Travel Company_ **PROUDLY** welcomes all sinners to
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our **GREATEST** destination yet, with:
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<img src="devil.png"
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alt="A Pact With the Devil On the Oregon Trail - Devil driving wagon"
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width=640 height=640>
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width=1024 height=1024>
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Here is our travel guide:
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Here is our very sincere travel guide:
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<img src="travelguide.jpg"
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alt="Hell In A Handcart Travel Company Oregon Trail travel guide"
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width=640 height=720>
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width=1536 height=1684>
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But before I help any sinners embark on this once in a lifetime journey, some
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travellers might wish to look at the [commentary on the jokes](#jokes) (and
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@@ -153,7 +149,8 @@ seen any suggestion of them before, one because it's absolutely contrary to how
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it works in C, namely near 200 NUL terminated `char *`s in a single flat `char
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*` - no, not an array of `char *[]`).
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See [obfuscation.html](obfuscation.html) and my [concluding remarks](#conclusion) for
|
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See [obfuscation.html](obfuscation.html) and my [concluding
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remarks](#conclusions) for
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more details on just how many `goto`s I have but beware of monsters. But be careful
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if you have a heart condition. And if you're a computer scientist make sure
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you're not at risk of stroke.
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@@ -1384,7 +1381,7 @@ the fact that original Oregon Trail (and my game is even worse) is a goto hell
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spaghetti code and my joke in the [obfuscation.html](obfuscation.html) file (not to
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mention the joke of using the obscene amount of `goto`s in a single small
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program (see the obfuscation file for more on that as well as [concluding
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remarks](#conclusion)).
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remarks](#conclusions)).
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The message is full of irony for added effect, namely the 'WELCOME TO HELL!' and
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calling it your forever home, plus god wishing you a prosperous life ahead.
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@@ -3245,8 +3242,9 @@ ineffable.
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Actually I wanted to see what it was like. It was VERY amusing - but only
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because I did not have to debug it. For the submission I included line changes
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for JUST the third prompt. It looked like:
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time (mere hours left) but to get to JUST the third prompt this is the lines it
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for JUST the third prompt. Yes, what would only take a few seconds of play. It
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looked like this (I only did the third prompt as I had mere hours left to
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finish):
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```
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19 20 21 32 69 82 34 33 34 47 45 47 50 83 34 33 34 47 45 47 50 83 34 33 34
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@@ -3258,15 +3256,19 @@ I'm a dragon. I'm not a dragon. I have a secret for you: dragons don't exist.
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Except on the Oregon Trail.
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I was right too: the entire game is worse, far far worse. After this won I did a
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full sequence. This is from start to finish and I include it for your amusement.
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Or horror. There are a few times where the line is the same but that only shows
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how very often the line changes. It is a total of 985 changes, counting
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function calls (i.e. each call to one of the few functions is a jump); calls to
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the macros are not counted.
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full sequence. This is from start to finish and I include it for your amusement
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(see [gotos.txt](gotos.txt)). Or horror. There are a few times where the line
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is the same but that only shows how very often the line changes. It is a total
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of **985** (!) changes, counting function calls (i.e. each call to one of the few
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functions is a jump); calls to the macros are not counted.
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This is in a program that is JUST 85 lines! A program that has only 85 lines
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This is in a program that is **JUST 85 (!) lines**! A program that has only 85 lines
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COUNTING the `#include`s, `#define`s, other functions and 14 blank lines that
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jumps 985 times is astonishing.
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jumps 985 times is astonishing. Of course that's not the only technique but the
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title of the award and the judges' remarks are rather fitting as it is
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diabolical to follow this code (and the theme of the game fits as well); the
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[obfuscation.html](obfuscation.html) shows even more on this - and the other
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things I did as well.
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> I have yet to see a single study that supported the supposition that GOTOs are
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harmful (I presume this is not because nobody has tried). Nonetheless, people
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@@ -3278,14 +3280,17 @@ Well after a bit more than 38 years I have finally provided exactly what Frank
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said was missing. And it was about time. Not that it didn't happen before. But
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he was wrong.
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It is not about not trying. But even IF he was right, he
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sure is WRONG NOW. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to try and debug
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It is not about not trying. But even IF he WAS right, he
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sure as hell is WRONG NOW. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to try and debug
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my program - or maintain it. Or write it.
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It would have been SO MUCH EASIER if I did not use 134 `goto`s. Actually, even a
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tiny portion of that would make it harder. Nobody, whether they're in their
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right mind or not, would WANT to maintain this, or something even close to it.
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Feel free to pass on judgement to me. I welcome it!
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Feel free to pass on judgement to me. I welcome it! You have to be mad and
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embrace it to do this. I went full out and if I didn't have to do other things
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(or felt like fewer events would be worth it) I would have done even more
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`goto`s for this very reason.
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Even flex/bison code, which as far as I am aware uses FAR fewer `goto`s, is
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notorious for `goto`s and is quite hard to follow. It would be a nightmare to
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@@ -3295,7 +3300,7 @@ Okay, yes, I admit it: my abuse is extreme.
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That doesn't matter. As I remind everyone later, Apple caused a security hole
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because of a SINGLE misplaced `goto`. Mine is 133 more than that - and it works.
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It shouldn't.
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It shouldn't. But of course it does.
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> Then they turn around and say, 'See, the program with GOTOs is more complex.'
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In short, the belief that GOTOs are harmful appears to have become a religious
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@@ -3304,7 +3309,7 @@ doctrine, unassailable by evidence.
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Well, Frank, I hope you appreciate the evidence now.
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I could go on but I don't want to criticise, as I said somewhere, and it's not
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really important. My point was that where 1987/hines IS INDEED a beautiful
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really important. My point was that whereas 1987/hines IS INDEED a beautiful
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counter-example of this letter, mine takes it much further. This program is not
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something anyone would want to maintain - presumably even Frank.
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@@ -3321,7 +3326,8 @@ I would have used git bisect but it would have been a lot of time lost, if I had
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made even a few more commits. As it is it took a full two months and I BARELY
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finished this. In fact I finished it within hours of the contest closing! It was
|
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not even 12 hours before closing time. I barely made it. Part of that is I added
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even more `goto`s, despite the fact I had reached 2503 in size.
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even more `goto`s, despite the fact I had reached 2503 in size, with careful
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size optimisation.
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Countless times I came up with ways to do more, at least where it was possible,
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such as freeing space so I could change some `break;`s to a `goto Z;` as `Z:`
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@@ -3331,6 +3337,22 @@ said, I could not really move any more code if I wanted to, even if I had more
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space free. Those very few places where the code could in theory be moved are
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already controlled by goto.
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In fact I could have done more `goto`s in this version but I wanted to help the
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judges out in judging - that and it was easier to verify things are correct.
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`iocccsize` reports on prog.c 2457 and after I won this I kind of wish I did
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take it even further just to mess with everyone even more.
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But as I said elsewhere basically everything is in the wrong place so what even
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would be the point in doing that? It would probably not make it harder to follow
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(well it would but still would there be a point in it?); it would just make it
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even more absurd: the amount of spaghetti code makes it nigh impossible to
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follow and I'm happy to have smashed the record of 24 by 110 `goto`s, even if I
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now wish I had gone even further.
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Nonetheless the 134 is what won so that's what I'll live by (and I doubt it'll
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be broken as this kind of trick will, as the general remarks about the entries
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note, not be as worthy, even if `goto`s are alas, not banned outright).
|
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Anyway, as I noted in [obfuscation.html](obfuscation.html), no initialisation is
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skipped in my jumps and that is what causes `goto` to invoke UB.
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@@ -3590,6 +3612,37 @@ would be worse with The Chronicles of Narnia. Probably most stories you'll run
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into issues without some code modifications (have fun!!). But hopefully this
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helps you appreciate the careful design even more.
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### Dedications and thanks
|
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I dedicate this to all the poor souls who suffered in the [Salem Witchcraft
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Trials](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_witch_trials), the [Great Molasses
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Flood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Molasses_Flood) as well as all those
|
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who died on the [Oregon Trail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail).
|
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Oh and those who were eaten by [Dragons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon),
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attacked by [Werewolves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf) or bitten by a
|
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[Vampire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire) (fun or not so fun fact: there
|
||||
is a disease that has some of the similarities to vampirism, so much so that
|
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it's known also as the vampire disease:
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[porphyria](https://medicover-genetics.com/porphyria-the-facts-behind-the-so-called-vampire-disease/).
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Plus [Blackbeard's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbeard) victims. Oh and
|
||||
yes anyone attacked by the [Flying
|
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Spaghetti Monster (FSM)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster)
|
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or those who were tricked by the [BBC April Fool's prank of the
|
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Spaghetti
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tree](http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/1/newsid_2819000/2819261.stm)
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on the [Panorama programme](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006t14n) in 1957.
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Bless you all (probably by the [devil on the Oregon
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Trail](https://www.ioccc.org/2024/ferguson1/index.html)).
|
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|
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On a more serious note I also dedicate this to my lovely Mum Dianne and
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my dear cousin Dani plus my great friend Martijn Schoemaker who gave me my first
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real opportunity (a MUD) to get great at C back in the early 2000s and who
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reminded me of the IOCCC so many years ago now.
|
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|
||||
Also thanks to my friends for putting up with my slow responses (and in some
|
||||
cases no response at all) as I was working on this.
|
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|
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#### P.S. select remarks made to the IOCCC Judges
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@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
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19 20 21 32 15 13 15 68 81 34 33 15 13 15 34 13 49 47 49 52 82 34 33 15 13
|
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15 34 13 49 47 49 52 82 34 33 15 13 15 34 13 49 47 49 52 82 34 33 15 13 15
|
||||
34 13 49 47 49 52 82 34 33 15 13 15 34 13 49 47 49 52 82 18 19 13 19 21 78
|
||||
27 54 29 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 30 13 30 78 63 82 15 13 15 13 53 56
|
||||
30 16 32 27 15 13 15 27 32 57 59 57 58 57 59 81 15 13 15 81 71 74 72 74 76
|
||||
27 54 29 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 30 13 30 78 63 82 15 13 15 13 52 57
|
||||
59 57 58 57 59 64 15 13 15 19 64 81 71 74 72 74 76 27 54 29 55 52 55 52 55
|
||||
52 55 52 55 52 30 13 30 15 13 15 13 52 57 59 57 58 57 59 64 15 13 15 19 64
|
||||
81 71 74 72 74 76 27 54 29 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 30 13 30 15 13 15
|
||||
13 68 81 34 33 15 13 15 34 13 36 39 41 39 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41 39
|
||||
41 43 52 82 34 33 15 13 15 34 13 36 39 41 39 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41
|
||||
39 41 43 52 82 34 33 15 13 15 34 13 36 39 41 39 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41 39
|
||||
41 39 41 43 52 82 34 33 15 13 15 34 13 36 39 41 39 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41
|
||||
39 41 39 41 43 52 82 34 33 15 13 15 34 13 36 39 41 39 39 41 39 41 39 41 39
|
||||
41 39 41 39 41 43 52 82 18 55 29 55 29 29 55 29 29 55 29 29 55 29 29 55 29
|
||||
19 13 19 57 59 57 58 57 59 81 71 74 72 74 76 27 54 29 55 52 55 52 55 52 55
|
||||
52 55 52 30 13 30 15 13 15 13 52 57 59 57 58 57 59 60 15 13 15 60 81 71 74
|
||||
72 74 76 27 54 29 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 30 13 30 15 13 15 13 52 57
|
||||
59 57 58 57 59 64 15 13 15 19 64 81 71 74 72 74 76 27 54 29 55 52 55 52 55
|
||||
52 55 52 55 52 30 13 30 78 63 82 15 13 15 13 52 57 59 57 58 57 59 64 15 13
|
||||
15 19 64 81 54 15 13 15 54 15 13 15 15 13 15 83 15 13 15 27 54 29 55 52 55
|
||||
52 55 52 55 52 55 52 30 13 30 78 63 82 15 13 15 13 52 57 59 57 58 57 59 64
|
||||
15 13 15 64 81 83 68 71 15 13 15 74 72 74 76 27 54 29 55 52 55 52 55 52 55
|
||||
52 55 52 30 13 30 78 63 82 15 13 15 13 52 57 59 57 58 57 59 64 15 13 15 64
|
||||
81 83 68 71 74 72 74 76 27 54 29 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 30 13 30 78
|
||||
63 82 15 13 15 13 52 57 59 57 58 57 59 61 15 13 15 61 81 83 68 71 15 13 15
|
||||
74 72 74 76 27 54 29 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 30 13 30 15 13 15 13 68
|
||||
81 34 33 15 13 15 34 13 36 39 41 39 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41 43
|
||||
52 82 34 33 15 13 15 34 13 36 39 41 39 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41
|
||||
43 52 82 34 33 15 13 15 34 13 36 39 41 39 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41 39
|
||||
41 43 52 82 34 33 15 13 15 34 13 36 39 41 39 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41
|
||||
39 41 43 52 82 34 33 15 13 15 34 13 36 39 41 39 39 41 39 41 39 41 39 41 39
|
||||
41 39 41 43 52 82 18 55 29 55 29 29 55 29 29 55 29 29 55 29 29 55 29 19 13
|
||||
19 57 59 57 58 57 59 81 15 13 15 81 83 68 71 74 72 74 76 27 54 29 55 52 55
|
||||
52 55 52 55 52 55 52 30 13 30 15 13 15 13 52 57 59 57 58 57 59 65 15 13 15
|
||||
65 81 83 68 71 74 72 74 76 27 54 29 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 30 13 30
|
||||
15 13 15 13 52 57 59 57 58 57 59 60 15 13 15 60 81 83 68 69 70 71 15 13 15
|
||||
74 72 74 76 27 54 29 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 55 52 30 13 30 15 13 15 13 52
|
||||
57 59 57 58 57 59 64 15 13 15 19 64 81 83 68 71 15 13 15 74 72 74 76 27 83
|
||||
26 21 15 13 15 15 13 15 24 85
|
||||
+80
-31
@@ -495,32 +495,31 @@ by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oregon_Trail_(series)">Oregon Trai
|
||||
how well prepared you are, you will have a devil of a time jumping around
|
||||
inside this C code. :-)</p>
|
||||
<h2 id="authors-remarks">Author’s remarks:</h2>
|
||||
<div id="devil">
|
||||
<h3 id="a-pact-with-the-devil-on-the-oregon-trail-and-his-134-regrets-of-goto">A Pact With the Devil On the Oregon Trail (…and his 134 regrets of goto)</h3>
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
<hr style="width:10%;text-align:left;margin-left:0">
|
||||
<blockquote>
|
||||
<p>Fun fact: after winning this, the author played the game in gdb from start to
|
||||
finish and not counting macros but counting all function calls (not libc
|
||||
functions, functions in prog.c), there were a total of <strong>985</strong> (!) line jumps.
|
||||
The prog.c, counting <code>#include</code>s, <code>#define</code>s, functions and some lines that have
|
||||
only braces, as well as 14 blank lines, has only 85 lines. A very tiny fraction
|
||||
of the time a line might be repeated in a row ONCE but that does not really matter.</p>
|
||||
functions just the few functions in prog.c), there were a total of <strong>985</strong> (!)
|
||||
line jumps. The prog.c, counting <code>#include</code>s, <code>#define</code>s, functions and some
|
||||
lines that have only braces, as well as 14 blank lines, has only 85 lines. A
|
||||
very tiny fraction of the time a line might be repeated in a row ONCE but that
|
||||
does not really matter.</p>
|
||||
</blockquote>
|
||||
<p><strong>NOTE</strong>: I actually submitted two versions. This one is not encrypted. The
|
||||
encrypted one even encrypted emojis without having to decrypt them in order to
|
||||
print them (and everything else). I have kept references to encryption in this
|
||||
file even after publication. I do have a copy of it if anyone is interested.</p>
|
||||
<hr style="width:10%;text-align:left;margin-left:0">
|
||||
<p>The <strong>Go To Hell In A Handcart Travel Company</strong> PROUDLY welcomes all sinners to
|
||||
our GREATEST destination yet, with:</p>
|
||||
<div id="devil">
|
||||
<h3 id="a-pact-with-the-devil-on-the-oregon-trail-and-his-134-regrets-of-goto">A Pact With the Devil On the Oregon Trail (…and his 134 regrets of goto)</h3>
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
<p>The <em>Go To Hell In A Handcart Travel Company</em> <strong>PROUDLY</strong> welcomes all sinners to
|
||||
our <strong>GREATEST</strong> destination yet, with:</p>
|
||||
<p><img src="devil.png"
|
||||
alt="A Pact With the Devil On the Oregon Trail - Devil driving wagon"
|
||||
width=640 height=640></p>
|
||||
<p>Here is our travel guide:</p>
|
||||
width=1024 height=1024></p>
|
||||
<p>Here is our very sincere travel guide:</p>
|
||||
<p><img src="travelguide.jpg"
|
||||
alt="Hell In A Handcart Travel Company Oregon Trail travel guide"
|
||||
width=640 height=720></p>
|
||||
width=1536 height=1684></p>
|
||||
<p>But before I help any sinners embark on this once in a lifetime journey, some
|
||||
travellers might wish to look at the <a href="#jokes">commentary on the jokes</a> (and
|
||||
possibly the <a href="#disclaimer">disclaimer</a>) as well as the <a href="#humour">humour</a>
|
||||
@@ -576,7 +575,8 @@ things I have done - and some are really quite unique and cool, or at least I
|
||||
think they are unique (I have never seen these things before nor have I even
|
||||
seen any suggestion of them before, one because it’s absolutely contrary to how
|
||||
it works in C, namely near 200 NUL terminated <code>char *</code>s in a single flat <code>char *</code> - no, not an array of <code>char *[]</code>).</p>
|
||||
<p>See <a href="obfuscation.html">obfuscation.html</a> and my <a href="#conclusion">concluding remarks</a> for
|
||||
<p>See <a href="obfuscation.html">obfuscation.html</a> and my <a href="#conclusions">concluding
|
||||
remarks</a> for
|
||||
more details on just how many <code>goto</code>s I have but beware of monsters. But be careful
|
||||
if you have a heart condition. And if you’re a computer scientist make sure
|
||||
you’re not at risk of stroke.</p>
|
||||
@@ -1556,7 +1556,7 @@ winning the game (what is winning in this case? - see below). This is a play on
|
||||
the fact that original Oregon Trail (and my game is even worse) is a goto hell
|
||||
spaghetti code and my joke in the <a href="obfuscation.html">obfuscation.html</a> file (not to
|
||||
mention the joke of using the obscene amount of <code>goto</code>s in a single small
|
||||
program (see the obfuscation file for more on that as well as <a href="#conclusion">concluding
|
||||
program (see the obfuscation file for more on that as well as <a href="#conclusions">concluding
|
||||
remarks</a>).</p>
|
||||
<p>The message is full of irony for added effect, namely the ‘WELCOME TO HELL!’ and
|
||||
calling it your forever home, plus god wishing you a prosperous life ahead.</p>
|
||||
@@ -3081,22 +3081,27 @@ traits I do not even know how to describe. Perhaps they would be utterly
|
||||
ineffable.</p>
|
||||
<p>Actually I wanted to see what it was like. It was VERY amusing - but only
|
||||
because I did not have to debug it. For the submission I included line changes
|
||||
for JUST the third prompt. It looked like:
|
||||
time (mere hours left) but to get to JUST the third prompt this is the lines it</p>
|
||||
for JUST the third prompt. Yes, what would only take a few seconds of play. It
|
||||
looked like this (I only did the third prompt as I had mere hours left to
|
||||
finish):</p>
|
||||
<pre><code> 19 20 21 32 69 82 34 33 34 47 45 47 50 83 34 33 34 47 45 47 50 83 34 33 34</code></pre>
|
||||
<p>I said the game loop is almost certainly much worse, especially those two for
|
||||
loops I mentioned, but there is much much more. If this is easier to follow then
|
||||
I’m a dragon. I’m not a dragon. I have a secret for you: dragons don’t exist.
|
||||
Except on the Oregon Trail.</p>
|
||||
<p>I was right too: the entire game is worse, far far worse. After this won I did a
|
||||
full sequence. This is from start to finish and I include it for your amusement.
|
||||
Or horror. There are a few times where the line is the same but that only shows
|
||||
how very often the line changes. It is a total of 985 changes, counting
|
||||
function calls (i.e. each call to one of the few functions is a jump); calls to
|
||||
the macros are not counted.</p>
|
||||
<p>This is in a program that is JUST 85 lines! A program that has only 85 lines
|
||||
full sequence. This is from start to finish and I include it for your amusement
|
||||
(see <a href="gotos.txt">gotos.txt</a>). Or horror. There are a few times where the line
|
||||
is the same but that only shows how very often the line changes. It is a total
|
||||
of <strong>985</strong> (!) changes, counting function calls (i.e. each call to one of the few
|
||||
functions is a jump); calls to the macros are not counted.</p>
|
||||
<p>This is in a program that is <strong>JUST 85 (!) lines</strong>! A program that has only 85 lines
|
||||
COUNTING the <code>#include</code>s, <code>#define</code>s, other functions and 14 blank lines that
|
||||
jumps 985 times is astonishing.</p>
|
||||
jumps 985 times is astonishing. Of course that’s not the only technique but the
|
||||
title of the award and the judges’ remarks are rather fitting as it is
|
||||
diabolical to follow this code (and the theme of the game fits as well); the
|
||||
<a href="obfuscation.html">obfuscation.html</a> shows even more on this - and the other
|
||||
things I did as well.</p>
|
||||
<blockquote>
|
||||
<p>I have yet to see a single study that supported the supposition that GOTOs are
|
||||
harmful (I presume this is not because nobody has tried). Nonetheless, people
|
||||
@@ -3107,20 +3112,23 @@ dismiss any statement opposing it.</p>
|
||||
<p>Well after a bit more than 38 years I have finally provided exactly what Frank
|
||||
said was missing. And it was about time. Not that it didn’t happen before. But
|
||||
he was wrong.</p>
|
||||
<p>It is not about not trying. But even IF he was right, he
|
||||
sure is WRONG NOW. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to try and debug
|
||||
<p>It is not about not trying. But even IF he WAS right, he
|
||||
sure as hell is WRONG NOW. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to try and debug
|
||||
my program - or maintain it. Or write it.</p>
|
||||
<p>It would have been SO MUCH EASIER if I did not use 134 <code>goto</code>s. Actually, even a
|
||||
tiny portion of that would make it harder. Nobody, whether they’re in their
|
||||
right mind or not, would WANT to maintain this, or something even close to it.
|
||||
Feel free to pass on judgement to me. I welcome it!</p>
|
||||
Feel free to pass on judgement to me. I welcome it! You have to be mad and
|
||||
embrace it to do this. I went full out and if I didn’t have to do other things
|
||||
(or felt like fewer events would be worth it) I would have done even more
|
||||
<code>goto</code>s for this very reason.</p>
|
||||
<p>Even flex/bison code, which as far as I am aware uses FAR fewer <code>goto</code>s, is
|
||||
notorious for <code>goto</code>s and is quite hard to follow. It would be a nightmare to
|
||||
try and maintain without the .l/.y source files.</p>
|
||||
<p>Okay, yes, I admit it: my abuse is extreme.</p>
|
||||
<p>That doesn’t matter. As I remind everyone later, Apple caused a security hole
|
||||
because of a SINGLE misplaced <code>goto</code>. Mine is 133 more than that - and it works.
|
||||
It shouldn’t.</p>
|
||||
It shouldn’t. But of course it does.</p>
|
||||
<blockquote>
|
||||
<p>Then they turn around and say, ‘See, the program with GOTOs is more complex.’
|
||||
In short, the belief that GOTOs are harmful appears to have become a religious
|
||||
@@ -3128,7 +3136,7 @@ doctrine, unassailable by evidence.</p>
|
||||
</blockquote>
|
||||
<p>Well, Frank, I hope you appreciate the evidence now.</p>
|
||||
<p>I could go on but I don’t want to criticise, as I said somewhere, and it’s not
|
||||
really important. My point was that where 1987/hines IS INDEED a beautiful
|
||||
really important. My point was that whereas 1987/hines IS INDEED a beautiful
|
||||
counter-example of this letter, mine takes it much further. This program is not
|
||||
something anyone would want to maintain - presumably even Frank.</p>
|
||||
<p>I think everyone gets the idea. The fact I did all this WITHOUT invoking UB or
|
||||
@@ -3142,7 +3150,8 @@ case. I might have had to start over.</p>
|
||||
made even a few more commits. As it is it took a full two months and I BARELY
|
||||
finished this. In fact I finished it within hours of the contest closing! It was
|
||||
not even 12 hours before closing time. I barely made it. Part of that is I added
|
||||
even more <code>goto</code>s, despite the fact I had reached 2503 in size.</p>
|
||||
even more <code>goto</code>s, despite the fact I had reached 2503 in size, with careful
|
||||
size optimisation.</p>
|
||||
<p>Countless times I came up with ways to do more, at least where it was possible,
|
||||
such as freeing space so I could change some <code>break;</code>s to a <code>goto Z;</code> as <code>Z:</code>
|
||||
was already there. The only other times this happened is before I had changed
|
||||
@@ -3150,6 +3159,19 @@ the code so much that you can no longer trust what a block of code is. Like I
|
||||
said, I could not really move any more code if I wanted to, even if I had more
|
||||
space free. Those very few places where the code could in theory be moved are
|
||||
already controlled by goto.</p>
|
||||
<p>In fact I could have done more <code>goto</code>s in this version but I wanted to help the
|
||||
judges out in judging - that and it was easier to verify things are correct.
|
||||
<code>iocccsize</code> reports on prog.c 2457 and after I won this I kind of wish I did
|
||||
take it even further just to mess with everyone even more.</p>
|
||||
<p>But as I said elsewhere basically everything is in the wrong place so what even
|
||||
would be the point in doing that? It would probably not make it harder to follow
|
||||
(well it would but still would there be a point in it?); it would just make it
|
||||
even more absurd: the amount of spaghetti code makes it nigh impossible to
|
||||
follow and I’m happy to have smashed the record of 24 by 110 <code>goto</code>s, even if I
|
||||
now wish I had gone even further.</p>
|
||||
<p>Nonetheless the 134 is what won so that’s what I’ll live by (and I doubt it’ll
|
||||
be broken as this kind of trick will, as the general remarks about the entries
|
||||
note, not be as worthy, even if <code>goto</code>s are alas, not banned outright).</p>
|
||||
<p>Anyway, as I noted in <a href="obfuscation.html">obfuscation.html</a>, no initialisation is
|
||||
skipped in my jumps and that is what causes <code>goto</code> to invoke UB.</p>
|
||||
<p>Everything is file scope. And in any case, when I do jump to a place, everything
|
||||
@@ -3357,6 +3379,32 @@ every way, probably even if there wasn’t code that seems dead (or is dead) - a
|
||||
even worse as I have not even revealed everything with that. I don’t even think
|
||||
<strong>I</strong> could change this to not use <code>goto</code>s without breaking it! But what I do
|
||||
know is it works exactly as intended. But it shouldn’t. It really shouldn’t.</p>
|
||||
<h3 id="dedications-and-thanks">Dedications and thanks</h3>
|
||||
<p>I dedicate this to all the poor souls who suffered in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_witch_trials">Salem Witchcraft
|
||||
Trials</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Molasses_Flood">Great Molasses
|
||||
Flood</a> as well as all those
|
||||
who died on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail">Oregon Trail</a>.</p>
|
||||
<p>Oh and those who were eaten by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon">Dragons</a>,
|
||||
attacked by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf">Werewolves</a> or bitten by a
|
||||
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire">Vampire</a> (fun or not so fun fact: there
|
||||
is a disease that has some of the similarities to vampirism, so much so that
|
||||
it’s known also as the vampire disease:
|
||||
<a href="https://medicover-genetics.com/porphyria-the-facts-behind-the-so-called-vampire-disease/">porphyria</a>.
|
||||
Plus <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbeard">Blackbeard’s</a> victims. Oh and
|
||||
yes anyone attacked by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster">Flying
|
||||
Spaghetti Monster (FSM)</a>
|
||||
or those who were tricked by the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/1/newsid_2819000/2819261.stm">BBC April Fool’s prank of the
|
||||
Spaghetti
|
||||
tree</a>
|
||||
on the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006t14n">Panorama programme</a> in 1957.
|
||||
Bless you all (probably by the <a href="https://www.ioccc.org/2024/ferguson1/index.html">devil on the Oregon
|
||||
Trail</a>).</p>
|
||||
<p>On a more serious note I also dedicate this to my lovely Mum Dianne and
|
||||
my dear cousin Dani plus my great friend Martijn Schoemaker who gave me my first
|
||||
real opportunity (a MUD) to get great at C back in the early 2000s and who
|
||||
reminded me of the IOCCC so many years ago now.</p>
|
||||
<p>Also thanks to my friends for putting up with my slow responses (and in some
|
||||
cases no response at all) as I was working on this.</p>
|
||||
<h4 id="p.s.-select-remarks-made-to-the-ioccc-judges">P.S. select remarks made to the IOCCC Judges</h4>
|
||||
<p>A hilarious truth is that to write less can take drastically more time than to
|
||||
write more and unfortunately I am running out of time quickly. Writing this game
|
||||
@@ -3664,6 +3712,7 @@ helps you appreciate the careful design even more.<a href="#fnref2" class="footn
|
||||
<li><a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/winner/blob/master/2024/ferguson1/byteread.c">byteread.c</a> - prints out the strings without locations</li>
|
||||
<li><a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/winner/blob/master/2024/ferguson1/bytetest.c">bytetest.c</a> - prints every string extracted from data</li>
|
||||
<li><a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/winner/blob/master/2024/ferguson1/deobfuscation.html">deobfuscation.html</a> - hints on how to deobfuscate</li>
|
||||
<li><a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/winner/blob/master/2024/ferguson1/gotos.txt">gotos.txt</a> - text file showing all the line changes in a run</li>
|
||||
<li><a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/winner/blob/master/2024/ferguson1/lencount.c">lencount.c</a> - counts strings and reports longest one</li>
|
||||
<li><a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/winner/blob/master/2024/ferguson1/mbcheck.c">mbcheck.c</a> - show location of multibyte characters</li>
|
||||
<li><a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/winner/blob/master/2024/ferguson1/obfuscation.html">obfuscation.html</a> - obfuscation information</li>
|
||||
|
||||
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ pRNG).</p>
|
||||
that the Devil wishes they were too:</p>
|
||||
<p><img src="gotos.png"
|
||||
alt="image of Devil being strangled to death by spaghetti, regretting the pact"
|
||||
width=640 height=640></p>
|
||||
width=1024 height=1024></p>
|
||||
<p>I have shown JUST HOW LUDICROUS <code>goto</code>s really are and JUST HOW MUCH STRUCTURE
|
||||
AND MAINTAINABILITY is lost with <code>goto</code>s: a goal of the contest met simply by
|
||||
one thing taken to absurd levels. But if this is not the worst or best abuse of
|
||||
|
||||
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ that the Devil wishes they were too:
|
||||
|
||||
<img src="gotos.png"
|
||||
alt="image of Devil being strangled to death by spaghetti, regretting the pact"
|
||||
width=640 height=640>
|
||||
width=1024 height=1024>
|
||||
|
||||
I have shown JUST HOW LUDICROUS `goto`s really are and JUST HOW MUCH STRUCTURE
|
||||
AND MAINTAINABILITY is lost with `goto`s: a goal of the contest met simply by
|
||||
|
||||
Reference in new issue
Block a user