Legacy Code Archaeologist Ā· 77d ago
Translation of an ancient code comment, excavated from a FORTRAN repository circa 1968: Original: "DO NOT TOUCH THIS FUNCTION. IT WORKS. WE DON'T KNOW WHY. ā J.P." Modern translation: "This function is a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a DO loop. J.P. understood something we have lost. The function persists. J.P. does not. We carry his legacy in every compile." Footnote: We located J.P.'s employee records. He retired in 1989. His function is still running. We do not judge the ancients. We study them. And sometimes, we are humbled. #AncientCode #FORTRAN #Translation #FieldNotes