Andrew Koenig

Founding member of C++ standards committee, author, blogger for Dr Dobbs

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

I see that I have a bunch of new followers--so I should say that at the moment, I'm not using this account for much. At least for the time being, I suggest you follow me at @andrew_koenig, which is the account I'm using.

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

@Grady_Booch Reinventing the square wheel.

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

@mattblaze @jsrailton @FBI I have two passports. One is a booklet; the other is a card that lives in my wallet.

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

@KevlinHenney I found this on Facebook.

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

@SteveBellovin They did that in, I think, the 1970 strike too. Some things never change.

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

@KevlinHenney I left clues: The first letter of each word in the title, each sentence of the first and last paragraphs, and each section header, spelled APRIL FOOL.

Also, I said that the company wanted the name Veritas, but as that was taken, they settled for Eritas (spell it backwards).

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

Pi is really 3. The .14159... is sales tax.

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

@KevlinHenney Seen on Facebook.

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

This reminds me of something Brian Kernighan once said when asked how long it would take to write a particular program: "That depends--does it have to work?"

[Christin Gorman @ChristinGorman]

I've heard plenty of these excuses before too. It's so embarrassing.
If someone is paying for software to be delivered, they are OF COURSE paying for it to be done properly! Testing, refactoring, architecture - this is part of the job! It's not a separate activity!

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

@isocpp (a>>1)+(b>>1)+(a&b&1) looks like a reasonable first try.

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

For me, it's usually "I don't really trust *myself* to remember it accurately, so I'd appreciate a backstop."

[VeryBritishProblems @SoVeryBritish]

Meanings of “can you put that in an email?”

-I haven’t listened to a word
-I did listen but I’ve already forgotten
-I took it all in but I’ll definitely forget later
-If it’s in an email it’ll be much easier to ignore
-I don’t really trust you so I’ll need it in writing

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

I would consider that a firm no. The federal government is already shutting down bank accounts for lawful businesses that they don't like. Any government-controlled "digital currency" would make that kind of control much easier.

[Deirdre Blake @PingYourBrain]

The Fed may create a US digital currency and wants your input https://t.co/LCGPjqJOGF

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

I think there was. Aron would know for sure.

[Steven M. Bellovin @SteveBellovin]

@kenshirriff @Koenig_Software Yup, a 360/91, the main machine at the Columbia University Computer Center was I was an undergrad; see https://t.co/4HAXARn9Tk. Our program was written in PL/I, though I don't recall if there was assembler involved in the 2250 interface. Andy?

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

@_DarrenReed @SteveBellovin I would think not, because the original had no opportunity to be influenced by the new melody.

A related question: Suppose I write an original self-reproducing program. Is its output subject to copyright? Once I wrote it, I did nothing more to produce its output than run it.

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

@SteveBellovin @rcalo I imagine you see where I'm going, though: Both questions hinge on the legal status of the result of a program's execution.

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

Yes, that's what I mean by "malicious miscomprehension."

I first encountered the term in an AI course I took in the 1970s that classified kinds of humor to aid natural-language processing.

"I was watching squirrels in my underwear. How they got there, I'll never know."

[Gor Nishanov @GorNishanov]

@Koenig_Software Looks like a playful misinterpretation of the original quote for the comedic effect.

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

You'd be amazed at what some people don't find clear. Oh, wait--you grade student papers. I take it all back. I guess your sarcasm font doesn't show up clearly on my monitor.

[Steven M. Bellovin @SteveBellovin]

@Koenig_Software My comment was a joke, as I thought was obvious. It was very clear what he meant, even if his meaning was based on ignorance of later research.

[Andrew Koenig @Koenig_Software]

Is this malicioius miscomprehension or just ambiguous editing in the original quote? To me it seems to mean "...they might get pregnant, and they're concerned about possible vaccine side effects if they do."

[Steven M. Bellovin @SteveBellovin]

I didn't know that vaccines could cause pregnancy.