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Landon Curt Noll 0bc6c3e413 improve markdown references to FAQ entries
We quasi-canonicalized markdown links to FAQ entries.

**IMPORTANT NOTE**: This is a useful step in completing issue #2417.  This commit is consistent with the top level TODO comment requirements.  Nevertheless, this changes made by this commit needs to be examined and in some cases improved.

A link to an FAQ entry is of the form:

```
FAQ on "[the link text](....faq.html#string)"
    FAQ on "[the link text](....faq.html#string)"
```

The "FAQ" is at the start of the line, or in rare cases is preceded only by whitespace.

The reference to the FAQ starts outside of the markdown link with the string **FAQ ON "**.

After the markdown link is a **"** followed by either the end of line or a single punctuation character such as a period or comma.

We reduced the size of "the link text" that refer to an FAQ to at most 3 words.  In some cases the sentence and/or text surrounding the markdown link to a FAQ may need to be further adjusted to better accommodate this new style.

**IMPORTANT NOTE**: References to a FAQ entry are on a separate line.

p.s. When linking to the `faq.html` file itself, we use markdown of the form "`the [IOCCC FAQ](..../faq.html)`" and place the word "the" outside of the "IOCCC FAQ" link text.

Given the above system (and because references to an FAQ entry is on a separate line), the following command shows links to FAQ entries, sorted by FAQ entry "link #name" so that one may evaluate the way a given FAQ entry is referenced:

```sh
find * -name '*.md' -print0 | xargs0 grep -E '^[[:space:]]*FAQ on "' | sed -e 's/^\([^:]*\):\( *FAQ on "[^#]*\)#\([^)]*\)\()".*\)$/#\3\t\1\t\2#\3\4/' | sort
```

The above command shows the value of consistency when it comes to FAQ references.

**NOTE**: There are a few differences on how a given FAQ is references.  That is probably OK as there is NOT an "total mandate" that all references to a given FAQ must have the same "link text" for example.  On the other hand if references to a given FAQ can be identical, that might be helpful.  We are certain that in some contexts the "link text" might need to change.

Should we decide to change the way FAQ are referenced, we will be able to modify identify and modify them with greater ease.'

Examine the changes made by this commit and adjust and/or improve as needed.

Performed `make www` to accomplish the above and to test under macOS.
2024-07-17 03:11:19 -07:00

2.0 KiB

Fourth International Obfuscated C Code Contest

View the index.html web page for the given winning entry for information on how compile it and how to run the winning program. Look at the winning source and try to figure how it does what it does! You may then wish to look at the Author's remarks for even more details.

The rules for 1987 suggested even more categories than in 1986. Hints for what to do and not to do were also given in the rules. For example, a simple excessive abuse of /lib/cpp was discouraged unless the abuse was unusual. The mailboxes for the contest were moved from nsc to amdahl. The practice of posting a preliminary set of rules for the next year was started this year.

Rules and results were posted to comp.lang.c and comp.unix.wizards with an announcement in news.announce.important. Micro/Systems Journal published the 1987 winning entries. Mary Ann Horton included a version of the 1987 winning entries in an appendix of her C book Portable C Software International Edition (published under the name Mark R Horton). The first announcement of winning entries at the Summer 87 USENIX was helped by a small fly that danced all over the foils.

Final Comments

IMPORTANT NOTE: See contact.html for up to date contact details as well as details on how to provide fixes to any of the entries. See also the IOCCC FAQ for additional information on the IOCCC.