The Daily WTF: Curious Perversions in Information Technology

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

This is obviously VB. With the VB VARIANT type, I would expect TRUE, FALSE and HALF-TRUE.

Anketam · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

It could fail if File Not Found or in this case Email List Not Found nods sagely

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

This is good, simple, robust coding. Enterprise-ready.

Lockwood · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Simple.

It may throw a YouCantHandleThisException

BTrey · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Likely a stub function that was intended to be expanded later and was never completed.

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

It was probably set up for the debugger and the function's true purpose--excuse the pun--was never implemented. Put a breakpoint on the return statement, run the code, and wait for the breakpoint to be hit. You then have the option to set "return false" as the next statement and see how the rest of your code handles it.

Granted, it should have been either removed from production or completed.

ochrist · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

The Truth Is Out There

(no, this is not spam)

frits · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Public Function AFewGoodMails() As Boolean
    Try
        Return True
    Catch ex As Exception
        'YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!
        Return False
    End Try
End Function

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

That is rather common on politics, where the True is ridiculed and the False reigns more often than not.

In programming, however, the real fail is on a different level - a placeholder template, in which probably not rarely only the first part is replaced by code that makes any sense. The result is what I call exception munching.

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

How can truth fail? Just ask a politician!

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

TRWTF is

Public Function EmailList() As Boolean

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Public Function WTF() As Boolean Try Return CBool("Frist") Catch ex As Exception Return CBool("File not Frist") End Try End Function

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Anketam:
It could fail if File Not Found or in this case Email List Not Found *nods sagely*

I'm guessing you're being sarcastic or something, but just in case you're not - how could it possibly fail? It's an empty function, it doesn't try to load a file or an email list.

Nagesh · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

This look like VB .NET which is not same as VB. Of course Java is moraly superior to all these .NET stuff langeuages.

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Steve:
Anketam:
It could fail if File Not Found or in this case Email List Not Found *nods sagely*

I'm guessing you're being sarcastic or something, but just in case you're not - how could it possibly fail? It's an empty function, it doesn't try to load a file or an email list.

http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/What_Is_Truth_0x3f_.aspx

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

There was probably some exception throwing code in there at one point. Now that the code is no longer needed, it was just replaced with "return true" rather than just not calling the method. Wouldn't want to breakup some horribly complex logic when you can just return true. Plus, there's no harm in a little extra defense in your coding, no? I mean, after all, it does work. I could see myself doing this....when I was in high school.

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Someone is going to say there probably was some code inside that was removed (probably when all of the email list's mail providers moved the company's domain to their antispam filter).

That someone is then going to say this is not a WTF, because whatever has an explanation cannot be a WTF, for some reason.

Melnorme · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Hopefully this is the remnant of formerly more complex code that was refactored.

Also, he forgot to add 'finally'.

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

cacarpenter:
Steve:
Anketam:
It could fail if File Not Found or in this case Email List Not Found *nods sagely*

I'm guessing you're being sarcastic or something, but just in case you're not - how could it possibly fail? It's an empty function, it doesn't try to load a file or an email list.

http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/What_Is_Truth_0x3f_.aspx

zomg - that was over 6 years ago :-O

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

frits:
End Try

You have no support on this site. You're alone. Stop trying.

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Hater:
frits:
End Try
You have no support on this site. You're alone. Stop trying.

I'll keep him company.

Don't you have a baby, frits? I've got $200 in my wallet right now, let's do this thing!

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

tim:
cacarpenter:
Steve:
Anketam:
It could fail if File Not Found or in this case Email List Not Found *nods sagely*

I'm guessing you're being sarcastic or something, but just in case you're not - how could it possibly fail? It's an empty function, it doesn't try to load a file or an email list.

http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/What_Is_Truth_0x3f_.aspx
zomg - that was over 6 years ago :-O

And also the "fish" option: http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Go-Fish.aspx

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Steve:
Anketam:
It could fail if File Not Found or in this case Email List Not Found *nods sagely*

I'm guessing you're being sarcastic or something, but just in case you're not - how could it possibly fail? It's an empty function, it doesn't try to load a file or an email list.

And I thought I didn't spend enough time here to know the memes :)

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Hater:
frits:
End Try

You have no support on this site. You're alone. Stop trying.

Who cares?

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

How could it possibly fail? Well, I don't know... but why would the programmer have written failure handling code if it couldn't possibly fail? Answer that, Mr. Smarty Pants!

RichP · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Lockwood:
Simple.
It may throw a YouCantHandleThisException

You win the Internets today!

C-Octothorpe · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

frits:

Public Function AFewGoodMails() As Boolean
    Try
        var iWantTheTruth = True
        Return iWantTheTruth
    Catch ex As YouCantHandleTheTruthException
        Return False
    End Try
End Function

FTFM

boog · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

boog (surrogate):
Hater:
frits:
End Try

You have no support on this site. You're alone. Stop trying.
Who cares?

Thank you sir.

frits · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Hater:
You have no support on this site. You're alone.

So? You come off like a butthurt bitch. What's your problem?

C-Octothorpe · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

boog:
boog (surrogate):
Hater:
frits:
End Try

You have no support on this site. You're alone. Stop trying.
Who cares?
Thank you sir.

So you've finally adopted him/it?

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

C-Octothorpe:

frits:

Public Function AFewGoodMales() As String
    Try
        var bBackdoor = "OOOOOOOOHhhhhhhhh, Yeah!"
        Return bBackdoor
    Catch ex As OutOfLubeException
        Return "Ouch" 'The Good Kind
    End Try
End Function

FTFM

FTF

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

look no further than the next election...

boog · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Hater:
frits:
End Try
You have no support on this site. You're alone. Stop trying.

Whatever you're trying to do isn't working. Not even kind-of.

But you hopelessly persevere. It's so inspiring...

C-Octothorpe · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

frits:
Hater:
You have no support on this site. You're alone.
So? You come off like a butthurt bitch. What's your problem?

I dunno, kinda sounds like he's projecting...

boog · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

C-Octothorpe:
boog:
boog (surrogate):
Who cares?
Thank you sir.
So you've finally adopted him/it?

No, but he does get it right once in a while, and in such cases I must commend him. Positive reinforcement, and all.

C-Octothorpe · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Stop! ...Zunner-Time!:

C-Octothorpe:

frits:

Public Function AFewGoodMales() As String
    Try
        var bBackdoor = "OOOOOOOOHhhhhhhhh, Yeah!"
        Return bBackdoor
    Catch ex As OutOfLubeException
        Return "Blood"
    End Try
End Function

FTFM

FTF

FTFY. Amature...

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Obviously C++:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <time.h>

#define Public int wtf() { srand ( (unsigned int)time(NULL) ); if( rand() % 2 == 0) throw 0; return 1; } int
#define Function
#define EmailList main
#define As
#define Boolean { try {
#define Try
#define Return return printf("%d",
#define True wtf());
#define Catch } catch(
#define ex int exc)
#define Exception {
#define False exc);
#define End }

Public Function EmailList() As Boolean
	Try
		Return True
	Catch ex As Exception
		Return False
	End Try
End Function

mgmuscari · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

This is clearly an attempt to address Russell's Paradox, albeit a poorly conceived one.

serguey123 · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Then you certainly can understand him ;)

ObiWayneKenobi · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

More than likely placeholder code that was never actually finished - I've seen it often.

What really, really, really, really bugs me though is having methods that have an int/bool return value to indicate success/failure when the method is filling an object or performing an action, such as loading something from the database or, in this case, sending emails. My work's code is littered with things like this:

public class Foo
{
    // Properties...

    public bool Load()
    {
        if (this.m_Id = 0)
            throw new Exception("FooID must be set before using this");
        // retrieve stuff from database

        bool bResult = false; 
        if (dr.HasRows)
            bResult = true;

        return bResult;
    }
}

// Usage
Foo oFoo = new Foo();
oFoo.FooID = 42;
if (oFoo.Load()) 
{
    // Do stuff...
}

Really bugs me, as it should be a static method (or, better yet, use a DAO/Gateway/Repository/etc) that returns the Foo object or throws an error (or, better use, uses the NULL OBJECT pattern).

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

serguey123:
Then you certainly can understand me ;-)

FTFY

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Try
[...]
End Try

The programmer who wrote this needs to listen to Yoda, and program in C instead. Do or do not. There is no "try".

trtrwtf · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

C-Octothorpe:
frits:
Hater:
You have no support on this site. You're alone.
So? You come off like a butthurt bitch. What's your problem?
I dunno, kinda sounds like he's projecting...

Whatever, I guess when the daily posting is another round of a dead function reduced to a return true and not fully excised from the code, there's not a lot to say that's very pointful. Off you go, Hater. Knock yourself out. Just remember to put on your real fake identity if you think of anything clever to say.

EDIT ('cause I'm legit now!): What would it mean to "have support on this site" anyway?

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

BTrey:
Likely a stub function that was intended to be expanded later and was never completed.

fo sho.

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

So, what happens if the answer is FILE_NOT_FOUND, and the "Return False" fails, too?

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

C-Octothorpe:

Stop! ...Zunner-Time!:

C-Octothorpe:

frits:

Public Function AFewGoodMales() As String
    Try
        var bBackdoor = "OOOOOOOOHhhhhhhhh, Yeah!"
        Return bBackdoor
    Catch ex As OutOfLubeException
        If pTarget.Name = "C-Octothrope" Then
            Return "More blood? We need to break you in, Twink!"
        Else If pTarget.Name = "Zunesis" Then
            Return "Hey! I thought I told you to stop shitting on me!"
        End If
    End Try
End Function

FTFM

ZTFY

FTFY. Amateur...

"Toot! Toot!"

No, you see now you've caused a semantic inconsistency, which is not in keeping with my joke. Doesn't work. Sorry.

And if you're still getting blood, ask yourself who the real amateur is. If you were more practiced (like me), you'd be a little tougher maybe.

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

BTrey:
Likely a stub function that was intended to be expanded later and was never completed.

Unlikely, as there was no

' TODO: everything

marker.

2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Ken B.:
Try
[...]
End Try
The programmer who wrote this needs to listen to Yoda, and program in C instead.

Yoda is programing in Forcetran only.

C-Octothorpe · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

Nagesh:
Ken B.:
Try
[...]
End Try
The programmer who wrote this needs to listen to Yoda, and program in C instead.
Yoda is programing in Forcetran only.

Oh come on... He's not *that* old!

boog · 2011-11-02 Reply Admin

I've just gotten so used to it that it doesn't faze me anymore.

Set your fazers to WTF!

But recently, when I was tracking down a bug, found this very special code.

I sure hope you did the right thing:

Public Function EmailList() As Boolean
    Try
        Return True
    Catch ex As Exception
        Log.print("Oh crap - we are not running in the correct Universe\n");
        Return False
    End Try
End Function

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