The Daily WTF: Curious Perversions in Information Technology

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Power Troll:
Does it matter? You got baited (hard) and typed up a post that you took really seriously while everyone else doesn't care.

Is it really baiting if the person trying to do the baiting is a moron? And if a flawless imitation of a moron is the height of someone's conversational skills, what sort of person are we talking about, exactly?

(and no, trolling is not like jazz. Have you noticed that the phrase "X is like jazz" usually makes more sense if you assume the silent "...in that I don't really understand what either of them are, but I hope the comparison makes me look a little clever"?)

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

wtf:
Why? Because he advocates using an over-popular, insecure, and all-around crappy OS? Or just because he has no taste in a more secure, stable, and "freely available" product?

FTFY

captcha refoveo: refoveo, refoveo, send wtf oveo.

boog · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

hoodaticus:
boog:
I love this stuff:
table17["T017_txt_addChangeDate"]
A major pet peeve of mine. I roll my eyes every time I have to set the border style on a Windows Forms control.

Form.FormBorderStyle=...

Consider if it used the style in Phillip B's codebase:

Form37.Form37_txt_BorderStyle=...

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

"Vorsteuerabzug" is a concept of deduction of already paid taxes (e.g. VAT) from your debt to the tax office.

If you buy something for 1000€+19%VAT (thus, 1190€), then sell it to someone else for 2000€+19%VAT you only have a tax debt of 190€ (although you charged your customer 2280€), because you already paid 190€ VAT in your purchase. This first 190€ is (as i grasp it) the "Vorsteuer" (trans: "pre-tax") already paid by you.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

trwtf:
Not just here. The term "troll" seems to be losing its (relatively recent) semantic content... (tl;dr)

Just say "troll"; it sums up your sentiments in one elegant word. :)

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

trwtf:
Power Troll:
Does it matter? You got baited (hard) and typed up a post that you took really seriously while everyone else doesn't care.

Is it really baiting if the person trying to do the baiting is a moron? And if a flawless imitation of a moron is the height of someone's conversational skills, what sort of person are we talking about, exactly?

(and no, trolling is not like jazz. Have you noticed that the phrase "X is like jazz" usually makes more sense if you assume the silent "...in that I don't really understand what either of them are, but I hope the comparison makes me look a little clever"?)

Nah, you got trolled. Most people saw that coming down 5th Avenue. Continued discussion will only encourage him.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

srand(rand());:
Nah, you got trolled. Most people saw that coming down 5th Avenue. Continued discussion will only encourage him.

Is it that time of year again? I thought that the troll parade didn't happen until the end of February.

captcha enim: when you go for an enima, but realize half-way through what an enima is, and leave.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

A german *gasp*:
If you buy something for 1000€+19%VAT (thus, 1190€)

VAT is TRWTF. I mean, only 19 percent? Amateurs! Here in the States we pay over 40% of our income back in tax. It is like working every Monday and Friday for free.

Look, let's just get taxes up to 100% and be done with it already. Then everything can be free and we can all get million dollar checks in the mail. Cancer will be cured, people can return to the moon to stay this time, and I'll finally get my flying car dammit!

luis.espinal · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

In reality, that CodeSOD is cyphertext churned out by an Enigma machine and piped to a Radix64 encoding process... with Hitler's tormented soul crawling in between the streamed characters.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

rnd * 1000:
Phi:
rnd * 1000:
JayC:
rnd * 1000:
Tim:
rnd * 1000:
The Article:
Databases? Naaah... just use a bunch of XML (or sometimes CSV) files.
Phillip needs to be drug out into the street and shot if he thinks there's a difference between XML and CSV. What does it matter what format it's saved in: it's read by Excel the same. And if that's how they want to manage their databases, what's wrong with that? It's a lot simpler and easier to understand than writing obtuse sequel statements on the command line. TRWTF is developers that think that everyone is as computer-savvy as they are.
as someone who has worked with XML and CSV I can assure you there are plenty of differences. XML is a documented standard and had tools available which adhere to that standard. just try processing a CSV file containing non-ascii characters, whitespace, quotes, leading spaces, line breaks etc etc and see what I mean
Try reading more dev magazines and less management books before you post here again, plz.

Oh wow Rnd. XML is far better format than CSV for many circumstances. Maybe it's not for importing to excel, but for many OTHER circumstances. If you're only importing data into excel, yeah, maybe it's a WTF. I've yet to successfully import data in from a XML file to Excel, but I've yet to care to figure it out, either, since I've got a lot better tools than Excel to do most of what I need done.
Well look who's jumped on the dummy bandwagon! Careful, or you push some of your cousins out!

First of all, you don't "import" into Excel. You can just open the file. It's a native format. As a native format, you have to jump through hoops just to try to open it in, say, notepad. (Hint: don't try it or you'll see a bunch of rectangles.) As far as "better tools" go, I've tried Open "Ripoff" Office and only have one thing to say: why use an imitation when you can only count on it to display the file correctly half the time? Sure it works with some of the simpler documents, but if you're using formulas or formatting you might as well be playing Russian Roulette. And Google docs? Well, that doesn't work when you're trying to protect your data and not just have it posted on the internet. That's why we don't just use gmail for company business.

See, I've been around the block a few times, and unlike you I actually know what I'm talking about: I'm not just speculating on something I read about in PC Magazine.

Yawn. Mr. Troll is starting to get repetitive. Why don't you mix it up and switch to another topic you know little about. Try Linux vs Windows, that's always an easy trolling.
This is what's great about thedailywtf.com. Anytime there is a conflict with someone, one of the parties involved is a "troll." What if everything was this way? "I loved Twilight:Eclipse!" Stop trolling! "I don't think Ben Roethlisburger is guilty." Stop trolling! "I don't think the moon landings were fake." Stop trolling! Well, let me tell you what: I believe that Americans have walked on the moon, and I also "excel" at Excel. Calling me a troll is not going to shock me into submission or make me start posting under a different username.

"excel" at Excel?

WhoTF would say such a thing?

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Ron:
Here in the States we pay over 40% of our income back in tax. It is like working every Monday and Friday for free.

I never did understand that new math; if 40% of our income equals working Monday through Friday for free, then a) I'd hate to have your work schedule (how many days are in a week again?), and 2) what would constitute 100%?

captcha refoveo: refoveo, refoveo... err, deja vu all over again!

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

I had a VorsteuerKorrekturErfolgt44 and I sold it for a Prius.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

das blinkenlights:
Ron:
Here in the States we pay over 40% of our income back in tax. It is like working every Monday and Friday for free.

I never did understand that new math; if 40% of our income equals working Monday through Friday for free, then a) I'd hate to have your work schedule (how many days are in a week again?), and 2) what would constitute 100%?

captcha refoveo: refoveo, refoveo... err, deja vu all over again!

I bet you saw that right about the time you hit "submit", right?

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Dev:
This comes from a big German company that makes crappy web based software..... this must be from SAP.

What I thought. It also fits the theme of the software.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

trwtf:
I bet you saw that right about the time you hit "submit", right?

Dude, come-on, I'm trollin' here; I ain't got time to be reading stuff...

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Anonymous:
boog:
rnd * 1000:
This is what's great about thedailywtf.com. Anytime there is a conflict with someone, one of the parties involved is a "troll." blah blah whiny-crap blah...
To be fair, just because one person who happens to disagree with you calls you a troll, that does not mean everyone who disagrees with you is calling you a troll.
But in all seriousness, it's perfectly obvious that this guy really is a troll. That whole "CSV in Notepad" thing was a step too far, nobody's that stupid.
So, in summary, stop feeding the troll!

Who hasn't modified a CSV file in notepad?

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

frits:
Anonymous:
boog:
rnd * 1000:
This is what's great about thedailywtf.com. Anytime there is a conflict with someone, one of the parties involved is a "troll." blah blah whiny-crap blah...
To be fair, just because one person who happens to disagree with you calls you a troll, that does not mean everyone who disagrees with you is calling you a troll.
But in all seriousness, it's perfectly obvious that this guy really is a troll. That whole "CSV in Notepad" thing was a step too far, nobody's that stupid.
So, in summary, stop feeding the troll!
Who hasn't modified a CSV file in notepad?

rnd * 1000, obviously.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Ron:
VAT is TRWTF. I mean, only 19 percent? Amateurs! Here in the States we pay over 40% of our income back in tax.

No, VAT isn't income tax. We get income tax as well (and other things called by other names to try to fool people that it's not just more income tax). Then, VAT is 20% tax on things you buy with the money you've got left after you've already paid your income tax (and friends)

Matt Westwood · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Senior Grita:
Se habla aleman?

Ale, man? Yes please, a pint of Old Peculier, if I may ...

Matt Westwood · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

I edited one in Notepad++ just today.

Matt Westwood · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

frits:
Severity One:
frits:
boog:
I'm pretty sure I would have strangled whoever wrote this.
What are you, a moron? Have you ever visited a German prison? Its not pretty, let me tell you.
Just out of curiosity, what were you doing in a German prison?

Never mind that. Exactly where can I find a pretty prison?

Sweden has some prisons that are extremely comfortable. When I'm tired of having to fend for myself I'm tempted to go to Sweden or order to jaywalk while drinking alcohol in public.

Captain Oblivious · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Conjunctive normal form, you pansies. If there's a WTF here, it's that the business logic is convoluted. The implementation is as clear as it can be.

A better choice of language would have made the syntax clearer, but they even used indentation to bring out the normal form (as opposed to hiding it, like so many C-style-language programmers do)

hoodaticus · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

boog:
hoodaticus:
boog:
I love this stuff:
table17["T017_txt_addChangeDate"]
A major pet peeve of mine. I roll my eyes every time I have to set the border style on a Windows Forms control.

Form.FormBorderStyle=...
Consider if it used the style in Phillip B's codebase:

Form37.Form37_txt_BorderStyle=...

>Vomits<

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

I don't see what all the fuss is about. The person who wrote it probably hated it also. The irony of 'business logic' is that it's anything but logical, and that is hardly ever the fault of the developer.

That said, what a maintenance nightmare.

brazzy · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

JB:
TRWTF is the German variable names. Everyone knows that English should be used.

Oh yes, because it makes SO much sense to have programmers translate technical terms from the German tax code which they don't understand and which have no established English tanslation anyway...

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

undecided:
rnd * 1000:
Phi:
rnd * 1000:
JayC:
rnd * 1000:
Tim:
rnd * 1000:
The Article:
Databases? Naaah... just use a bunch of XML (or sometimes CSV) files.
Phillip needs to be drug out into the street and shot if he thinks there's a difference between XML and CSV. What does it matter what format it's saved in: it's read by Excel the same. And if that's how they want to manage their databases, what's wrong with that? It's a lot simpler and easier to understand than writing obtuse sequel statements on the command line. TRWTF is developers that think that everyone is as computer-savvy as they are.
as someone who has worked with XML and CSV I can assure you there are plenty of differences. XML is a documented standard and had tools available which adhere to that standard. just try processing a CSV file containing non-ascii characters, whitespace, quotes, leading spaces, line breaks etc etc and see what I mean
Try reading more dev magazines and less management books before you post here again, plz.

Oh wow Rnd. XML is far better format than CSV for many circumstances. Maybe it's not for importing to excel, but for many OTHER circumstances. If you're only importing data into excel, yeah, maybe it's a WTF. I've yet to successfully import data in from a XML file to Excel, but I've yet to care to figure it out, either, since I've got a lot better tools than Excel to do most of what I need done.
Well look who's jumped on the dummy bandwagon! Careful, or you push some of your cousins out!

First of all, you don't "import" into Excel. You can just open the file. It's a native format. As a native format, you have to jump through hoops just to try to open it in, say, notepad. (Hint: don't try it or you'll see a bunch of rectangles.) As far as "better tools" go, I've tried Open "Ripoff" Office and only have one thing to say: why use an imitation when you can only count on it to display the file correctly half the time? Sure it works with some of the simpler documents, but if you're using formulas or formatting you might as well be playing Russian Roulette. And Google docs? Well, that doesn't work when you're trying to protect your data and not just have it posted on the internet. That's why we don't just use gmail for company business.

See, I've been around the block a few times, and unlike you I actually know what I'm talking about: I'm not just speculating on something I read about in PC Magazine.

Yawn. Mr. Troll is starting to get repetitive. Why don't you mix it up and switch to another topic you know little about. Try Linux vs Windows, that's always an easy trolling.
This is what's great about thedailywtf.com. Anytime there is a conflict with someone, one of the parties involved is a "troll." What if everything was this way? "I loved Twilight:Eclipse!" Stop trolling! "I don't think Ben Roethlisburger is guilty." Stop trolling! "I don't think the moon landings were fake." Stop trolling! Well, let me tell you what: I believe that Americans have walked on the moon, and I also "excel" at Excel. Calling me a troll is not going to shock me into submission or make me start posting under a different username.

"excel" at Excel?

WhoTF would say such a thing?

QUOTE PYRAMID!!!

hoodaticus · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

rnd * 1000:
Well look who's jumped on the dummy bandwagon! Careful, or you push some of your cousins out!
First of all, you don't "import" into Excel. You can just open the file. It's a native format. As a native format, you have to jump through hoops just to try to open it in, say, notepad. (Hint: don't try it or you'll see a bunch of rectangles.) As far as "better tools" go, I've tried Open "Ripoff" Office and only have one thing to say: why use an imitation when you can only count on it to display the file correctly half the time? Sure it works with some of the simpler documents, but if you're using formulas or formatting you might as well be playing Russian Roulette. And Google docs? Well, that doesn't work when you're trying to protect your data and not just have it posted on the internet. That's why we don't just use gmail for company business.

See, I've been around the block a few times, and unlike you I actually know what I'm talking about: I'm not just speculating on something I read about in PC Magazine.

Holy Shit! This comment deserves its own front page article!

So, dipshit, how do you think tabular Excel would import a deeply-nested XML node tree without jumping through hoops? Oh wait, you don't think, do you?

You are playing with the big boys here, and you are not up to the challenge. Go home and cry to your momma; she told me she'd be waiting for you after she gave me sweet nooner a few hours ago.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

TRWTF is all these people posting in daytime.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

hoodaticus:
rnd * 1000:
Well look who's jumped on the dummy bandwagon! Careful, or you push some of your cousins out!
First of all, you don't "import" into Excel. You can just open the file. It's a native format. As a native format, you have to jump through hoops just to try to open it in, say, notepad. (Hint: don't try it or you'll see a bunch of rectangles.) As far as "better tools" go, I've tried Open "Ripoff" Office and only have one thing to say: why use an imitation when you can only count on it to display the file correctly half the time? Sure it works with some of the simpler documents, but if you're using formulas or formatting you might as well be playing Russian Roulette. And Google docs? Well, that doesn't work when you're trying to protect your data and not just have it posted on the internet. That's why we don't just use gmail for company business.

See, I've been around the block a few times, and unlike you I actually know what I'm talking about: I'm not just speculating on something I read about in PC Magazine.
Holy Shit! This comment deserves its own front page article!

So, dipshit, how do you think tabular Excel would import a deeply-nested XML node tree without jumping through hoops? Oh wait, you don't think, do you?

You are playing with the big boys here, and you are not up to the challenge. Go home and cry to your momma; she told me she'd be waiting for you after she gave me sweet nooner a few hours ago.

If the file was saved from Excel, yes. I know this. Do not doubt me. I have used excel libraries in VC++ application to do this.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

boog:
hoodaticus:
boog:
I love this stuff:
table17["T017_txt_addChangeDate"]
A major pet peeve of mine. I roll my eyes every time I have to set the border style on a Windows Forms control.

Form.FormBorderStyle=...
Consider if it used the style in Phillip B's codebase:

Formular37.Formular37_Text_GrenzeStil=...

FTFY

(10 Points for anyone who can tell me what language that is.)

luis.espinal · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Pedro:
I don't see what all the fuss is about. The person who wrote it probably hated it also. The irony of 'business logic' is that it's anything but logical, and that is hardly ever the fault of the developer.
That said, what a maintenance nightmare.

You don't see what the fuss is all about (even though you actually realize it is a maintenance nightmare)?

The WTFery here has nothing to do with convoluted business rules, and everything to do with lack of the most basic of logical skills. This ain't rocket science, but simple software eng 101.

Look, the SOD sample below contains repetitive statements and computations (in color for ease of identification):

if ((    (DateTime.Parse(Convert.ToString(table17["T017_txt_addChangeDate"])) 
               < DateTime.Parse("01.01.2005"))
      && ((T012_lbl_AenderungVorsteuer100EUR >= 250) 
           || (T012_lbl_AenderungVorsteuer100EUR <= -250))
      && ((DateTime.Parse(Convert.ToString(table17["T017_txt_addChangeDate"])) 
               <= DateTime.Parse(T012_lbl_Berichtigungszeitraum_Ende.Text))
	   || (T012_lbl_Berichtigungszeitraum_Ende.Text == ""))
      && ((GetRoundedDate(DateTime.Parse(Convert.ToString(table17["T017_txt_addChangeDate"]))) 
               <= DateTime.Parse(T012_lbl_Berichtigungszeitraum_Ende.Text)) 
	   || T012_lbl_Berichtigungszeitraum_Ende.Text == "")
      && ((GetRoundedDate(DateTime.Parse(Convert.ToString(table17["T017_txt_addChangeDate"]))) 
               > DateTime.Parse(T012_lbl_Berichtigungszeitraum_Anfang.Text)) 
	   || (T012_lbl_Berichtigungszeitraum_Anfang.Text == ""))
    ) || (
         (DateTime.Parse(Convert.ToString(table17["T017_txt_addChangeDate"])) 
	       >= DateTime.Parse("01.01.2005"))

In particular, the following evaluation occurs multiple times in every clause separated by an OR operator:

(DateTime.Parse(Convert.ToString(table17["T017_txt_addChangeDate"])) 
	       >= DateTime.Parse("01.01.2005"))

Why would someone compute, re-compute, and uber-re-compute the exact same string date parsing operation and comparison (both of which are invariant)?

Ignoring the expense of such a ridiculous thing, why do it? Why not refactor it? Why not normalizing that damned gigantic OR clause?

Not only does this become a run-time expensive maintenance nightmare, it also fails at giving a reasonable (and maintainable) representation of business logic.

There is madness (some of) in business logic. It is a given. It is our job to represent that madness (which many times it isn't even there to complain to begin with) with reasonable software constructs.

Regardless of what many people would like to think, bad software (specially utterly hideous bad software) is ultimately our responsibility, our fault, not a fault generated by faults in underlying business logic.

Blaming almost everything in supposedly faulty business logic is a cliche long worn out.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Bob:
TRWTF is that Chrome decided to translate the page...
And unwrapped the code to a single line, without adding a scrollbar...

TRWTF is using Chrome...

CAPTCHA: genitus - someone who uses Chrome, opposite of genius.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Gunslinger:
Bob:
TRWTF is that Chrome decided to translate the page...
And unwrapped the code to a single line, without adding a scrollbar...

TRWTF is using Chrome...

CAPTCHA: genitus - someone who uses Chrome, opposite of genius.

Clearly you've never worked on a headless operating system.

For the uninformed, a "headless" operating system is one that operates without the convenience of fancy windows and multiple colors. That's right: a real man's OS. It's just you and the keyboard, and you can put that mouse behind the tyre of your neighbors minivan because you won't be using it. How are you going to browse the web, use wget to pull the file and then ftp it to your backup headed OS? No way! A real man doesn't have a headed OS. Us real men use Chrome and view our web pages IN TEXT. No, I'm not talking about reading HTML tags: I'm talking about viewing web content as God intended it: pure text. In fact: I'm filling out this form on Chrome on my headless operating system right now.

Now: sudo go get me a beer!

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Penguin Parade:
Gunslinger:
Bob:
TRWTF is that Chrome decided to translate the page...
And unwrapped the code to a single line, without adding a scrollbar...

TRWTF is using Chrome...

CAPTCHA: genitus - someone who uses Chrome, opposite of genius.
Clearly you've never worked on a headless operating system.

For the uninformed, a "headless" operating system is one that operates without the convenience of fancy windows and multiple colors. That's right: a real man's OS. It's just you and the keyboard, and you can put that mouse behind the tyre of your neighbors minivan because you won't be using it. How are you going to browse the web, use wget to pull the file and then ftp it to your backup headed OS? No way! A real man doesn't have a headed OS. Us real men use Chrome and view our web pages IN TEXT. No, I'm not talking about reading HTML tags: I'm talking about viewing web content as God intended it: pure text. In fact: I'm filling out this form on Chrome on my headless operating system right now.

Now: sudo go get me a beer!

No, I don't use a text-only OS because it's stupid to make your life more difficult. But for those rare cases when I have to telnet to one and have to browse the web from there, I use Lynx.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Nagesh Kukunoor:
hoodaticus:
rnd * 1000:
Well look who's jumped on the dummy bandwagon! Careful, or you push some of your cousins out!
First of all, you don't "import" into Excel. You can just open the file. It's a native format. As a native format, you have to jump through hoops just to try to open it in, say, notepad. (Hint: don't try it or you'll see a bunch of rectangles.) As far as "better tools" go, I've tried Open "Ripoff" Office and only have one thing to say: why use an imitation when you can only count on it to display the file correctly half the time? Sure it works with some of the simpler documents, but if you're using formulas or formatting you might as well be playing Russian Roulette. And Google docs? Well, that doesn't work when you're trying to protect your data and not just have it posted on the internet. That's why we don't just use gmail for company business.

See, I've been around the block a few times, and unlike you I actually know what I'm talking about: I'm not just speculating on something I read about in PC Magazine.
Holy Shit! This comment deserves its own front page article!

So, dipshit, how do you think tabular Excel would import a deeply-nested XML node tree without jumping through hoops? Oh wait, you don't think, do you?

You are playing with the big boys here, and you are not up to the challenge. Go home and cry to your momma; she told me she'd be waiting for you after she gave me sweet nooner a few hours ago.

If the file was saved from Excel, yes. I know this. Do not doubt me. I have used excel libraries in VC++ application to do this.

I have project similar like this. Could you pleez send me teh codez?

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

elbonian:
Nagesh Kukunoor:
hoodaticus:
rnd * 1000:
Well look who's jumped on the dummy bandwagon! Careful, or you push some of your cousins out!
First of all, you don't "import" into Excel. You can just open the file. It's a native format. As a native format, you have to jump through hoops just to try to open it in, say, notepad. (Hint: don't try it or you'll see a bunch of rectangles.) As far as "better tools" go, I've tried Open "Ripoff" Office and only have one thing to say: why use an imitation when you can only count on it to display the file correctly half the time? Sure it works with some of the simpler documents, but if you're using formulas or formatting you might as well be playing Russian Roulette. And Google docs? Well, that doesn't work when you're trying to protect your data and not just have it posted on the internet. That's why we don't just use gmail for company business.

See, I've been around the block a few times, and unlike you I actually know what I'm talking about: I'm not just speculating on something I read about in PC Magazine.
Holy Shit! This comment deserves its own front page article!

So, dipshit, how do you think tabular Excel would import a deeply-nested XML node tree without jumping through hoops? Oh wait, you don't think, do you?

You are playing with the big boys here, and you are not up to the challenge. Go home and cry to your momma; she told me she'd be waiting for you after she gave me sweet nooner a few hours ago.

If the file was saved from Excel, yes. I know this. Do not doubt me. I have used excel libraries in VC++ application to do this.

I have project similar like this. Could you pleez send me teh codez?

Stop trolling, jerk.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Â ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬:
undecided:
rnd * 1000:
Phi:
rnd * 1000:
JayC:
rnd * 1000:
Tim:
rnd * 1000:
The Article:
Databases? Naaah... just use a bunch of XML (or sometimes CSV) files.
Phillip needs to be drug out into the street and shot if he thinks there's a difference between XML and CSV. What does it matter what format it's saved in: it's read by Excel the same. And if that's how they want to manage their databases, what's wrong with that? It's a lot simpler and easier to understand than writing obtuse sequel statements on the command line. TRWTF is developers that think that everyone is as computer-savvy as they are.
as someone who has worked with XML and CSV I can assure you there are plenty of differences. XML is a documented standard and had tools available which adhere to that standard. just try processing a CSV file containing non-ascii characters, whitespace, quotes, leading spaces, line breaks etc etc and see what I mean
Try reading more dev magazines and less management books before you post here again, plz.

Oh wow Rnd. XML is far better format than CSV for many circumstances. Maybe it's not for importing to excel, but for many OTHER circumstances. If you're only importing data into excel, yeah, maybe it's a WTF. I've yet to successfully import data in from a XML file to Excel, but I've yet to care to figure it out, either, since I've got a lot better tools than Excel to do most of what I need done.
Well look who's jumped on the dummy bandwagon! Careful, or you push some of your cousins out!

First of all, you don't "import" into Excel. You can just open the file. It's a native format. As a native format, you have to jump through hoops just to try to open it in, say, notepad. (Hint: don't try it or you'll see a bunch of rectangles.) As far as "better tools" go, I've tried Open "Ripoff" Office and only have one thing to say: why use an imitation when you can only count on it to display the file correctly half the time? Sure it works with some of the simpler documents, but if you're using formulas or formatting you might as well be playing Russian Roulette. And Google docs? Well, that doesn't work when you're trying to protect your data and not just have it posted on the internet. That's why we don't just use gmail for company business.

See, I've been around the block a few times, and unlike you I actually know what I'm talking about: I'm not just speculating on something I read about in PC Magazine.

Yawn. Mr. Troll is starting to get repetitive. Why don't you mix it up and switch to another topic you know little about. Try Linux vs Windows, that's always an easy trolling.
This is what's great about thedailywtf.com. Anytime there is a conflict with someone, one of the parties involved is a "troll." What if everything was this way? "I loved Twilight:Eclipse!" Stop trolling! "I don't think Ben Roethlisburger is guilty." Stop trolling! "I don't think the moon landings were fake." Stop trolling! Well, let me tell you what: I believe that Americans have walked on the moon, and I also "excel" at Excel. Calling me a troll is not going to shock me into submission or make me start posting under a different username.

"excel" at Excel?

WhoTF would say such a thing?
QUOTE PYRAMID!!!

We call those "cascades". Meow.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

I was going to make a comment here, but then I realized that I'm not a troll.

frits · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Penguin Parade:
Gunslinger:
Bob:
TRWTF is that Chrome decided to translate the page...
And unwrapped the code to a single line, without adding a scrollbar...

TRWTF is using Chrome...

CAPTCHA: genitus - someone who uses Chrome, opposite of genius.
Clearly you've never worked on a headless operating system.

For the uninformed, a "headless" operating system is one that operates without the convenience of fancy windows and multiple colors. That's right: a real man's OS. It's just you and the keyboard, and you can put that mouse behind the tyre of your neighbors minivan because you won't be using it. How are you going to browse the web, use wget to pull the file and then ftp it to your backup headed OS? No way! A real man doesn't have a headed OS. Us real men use Chrome and view our web pages IN TEXT. No, I'm not talking about reading HTML tags: I'm talking about viewing web content as God intended it: pure text. In fact: I'm filling out this form on Chrome on my headless operating system right now.

Now: sudo go get me a beer!

Now wait just a minute. You, Sir, have insulted my manhood! removes glove SLAP! I demand satisfaction!

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

frits:
I demand satisfaction!

You sound exactly like your mom.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

I wrote that in 2003. I don't carry code with me.

Are you teasing me?

CAPTCHA: Nulla - means nothing in Hyderabad.

hoodaticus · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

If they came from Excel, then they wouldn't be deeply nested you dumb fuck.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

hoodaticus:
If they came from Excel, then they wouldn't be deeply nested you dumb ****.

Dear hoodaticus,

In case you can’t tell, this is a grown-up place. The fact that you insist on using your ridiculous curse words clearly shows that you’re too young and too stupid to be using thedailywtf.com.

Go away and grow up.

Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

hoodaticus · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Bert Glanstron:
hoodaticus:
If they came from Excel, then they wouldn't be deeply nested you dumb ****.
Dear hoodaticus,
In case you can’t tell, this is a grown-up place. The fact that you insist on using your ridiculous curse words clearly shows that you’re too young and too stupid to be using thedailywtf.com.

Go away and grow up.

Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

I'm not too young!

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

rnd * 1000:
JayC:
rnd * 1000:
Tim:
rnd * 1000:
The Article:
Databases? Naaah... just use a bunch of XML (or sometimes CSV) files.
Phillip needs to be drug out into the street and shot if he thinks there's a difference between XML and CSV. What does it matter what format it's saved in: it's read by Excel the same. And if that's how they want to manage their databases, what's wrong with that? It's a lot simpler and easier to understand than writing obtuse sequel statements on the command line. TRWTF is developers that think that everyone is as computer-savvy as they are.
as someone who has worked with XML and CSV I can assure you there are plenty of differences. XML is a documented standard and had tools available which adhere to that standard. just try processing a CSV file containing non-ascii characters, whitespace, quotes, leading spaces, line breaks etc etc and see what I mean
Try reading more dev magazines and less management books before you post here again, plz.

Oh wow Rnd. XML is far better format than CSV for many circumstances. Maybe it's not for importing to excel, but for many OTHER circumstances. If you're only importing data into excel, yeah, maybe it's a WTF. I've yet to successfully import data in from a XML file to Excel, but I've yet to care to figure it out, either, since I've got a lot better tools than Excel to do most of what I need done.
Well look who's jumped on the dummy bandwagon! Careful, or you push some of your cousins out!

First of all, you don't "import" into Excel. You can just open the file. It's a native format. As a native format, you have to jump through hoops just to try to open it in, say, notepad. (Hint: don't try it or you'll see a bunch of rectangles.) As far as "better tools" go, I've tried Open "Ripoff" Office and only have one thing to say: why use an imitation when you can only count on it to display the file correctly half the time? Sure it works with some of the simpler documents, but if you're using formulas or formatting you might as well be playing Russian Roulette. And Google docs? Well, that doesn't work when you're trying to protect your data and not just have it posted on the internet. That's why we don't just use gmail for company business.

See, I've been around the block a few times, and unlike you I actually know what I'm talking about: I'm not just speculating on something I read about in PC Magazine.

Though you all may be gurus on xls, csv and xml file formats, you fail misreably at spotting trolls.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Rhywden:
Then again, if the softwar's got anything to do with the German tax code, I can see why it's _that_ complicated.
Fun fact: The German tax code is as large as ALL other countries' tax codes lumped together.

as opposed to the hardwar?

boog · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

Nagesh Kukunoor:
I wrote that in 2003. I don't carry code with me.
Are you teasing me?

Only if you're a regular on this site.

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

I can explain everything with a few simple words! It's not business logic, it's German taxation law logic. That was easy.

Raugturi · 2011-01-26 Reply Admin

In an attempt to learn from other people's mistakes, I've taken a shot at fixing this mess. I have a question though. Would it be smart to assign begin/end to the same value as the addChangeDate when they are null, in order to simplify the if statement that uses them to a simple >= and <=, like this:

T012_lbl_VorsteuerKorrekturErfolgt44.Text.Text = "nein";
addChangeDate = DateTime.Parse(Convert.ToString(table17["T017_txt_addChangeDate"]
begin = T012_lbl_Berichtigungszeitraum_begin.Text ? DateTime.Parse(T012_lbl_Berichtigungszeitraum_begin.Text) : addChangeDate 
end = T012_lbl_Berichtigungszeitraum_end.Text ? DateTime.Parse(T012_lbl_Berichtigungszeitraum_end.Text) : addChangeDate
if (addChangeDate < DateTime.Parse("01.01.2005")) {
    limit = 250;
} else {
    limit = 1000;
}
if (addChangeDate >= begin && addChangeDate <= end) {
    if (max(abs(T012_lbl_AendrungVorsteuer100EUR),abs(T012_lbl_AendrungLaufJahrEUR),abs(T012_lbl_AendrungGanzesJahrEUR)) >= limit) {
        T012_lbl_VorsteuerKorrekturErfolgt44.Text.Text = "ja";
    }
}

Or does the comparison already handle null values in a way that totally eliminates the need to worry about it? Or is there a better way?

2011-01-26 Reply Admin

luis.espinal:
Look, the SOD sample below contains repetitive statements and computations (in color for ease of identification): ... Why would someone compute, re-compute, and uber-re-compute the exact same string date parsing operation and comparison (both of which are invariant)?

Maybe the joke is on you, and all those date parsing operations have been overloaded to have side-effects. Where's your fancy Software Engineering 101 now, huh?

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