CompuServe Messages

Mike, Back in the 'early days' I was assigned to the tail end of a project to add some 'last minute requirements additions'. The entire project (it was an auto-routing CAD/CAM package for wire-wrap boards) was written in assembly. Remember, this was the _early_ days…the only HLL we had was FORTRAN. At any rate, I was handed the listing of the program I would need to modify (about 2" thick 11" x 14-7/8"). I decided that I would attempt to derive the mechanism of the auto-routing algorithm by covering the comments and look only at the 'code'. I had 2 pages of 'listing' open (maybe 100+ lines) and had been studying it for about 20 minutes when a pattern finally 'clicked'. I thought I knew what ONE (1) of the instructions was doing (still in the dark about the entire algorithm tho). So, I decided to see if my 'guess' was correct. I carefully lifted my right arm from the listing…and sure enough the comment verified my conjecture. I was delighted (batting 1 for 1) but decided that maybe I ought to read the comments since deducing the meaning of 1% of the module in 20+ minutes was not spectacular progress. Unfortunately, it was the ONLY comment in the ENTIRE module. I admit to a bit of disappointment at discovering this as I had just received a light 'reprimand' for _my_ dearth of comments. Victor A. Wagner, Jr.