• (nodebb)

    I think it's time that we get something like a drivers license for coding. You know, just to keep out the insane people. And when I say license, I'm not talking about the US paper without value, I'm talking some proper European style one.

  • Don't you reckognize me? (unregistered)

    Zeroth.

  • Old man yells at cloud (unregistered) in reply to MaxiTB

    I have been advocating for proper engineering licenses for software engineers for decades now. Like, literally since before the last century. And you know what's that gotten me? Null.

    Fact of the matter is that the industry relies on easy access to cheap labor qualifications be damned.

  • (nodebb) in reply to Old man yells at cloud

    Well yeah, makes sense if you think about it. People that have no skills hire obviously people with no skills :-)

  • (nodebb) in reply to MaxiTB

    We had this licensing debate here: https://thedailywtf.com/articles/comments/for-mere-mortals/1

    In short, it's a bad idea.

    Also, what's all this hatred for the US? Europe has no moral right to criticize US about most problems, given how bad of a shape Europe itself is in.

  • (nodebb)

    If the input is null or empty, we return it.

    No. Read the code more carefully.

    	Map retMap = new HashMap();

	if (input != null && !input.isEmpty()) {
...
	} else {
		return retMap;
	}

    It returns a new empty HashMap. (In particular, it silently swallows something that is, or at least should be, an error: passing in a null reference.)

    The first thing that leaps out is that this is a non-generic Map, which is always a code smell, but I suspect that's the least of our problems.

    It is, indeed, the least of our problems, because it's also clear that the only generic map it could be would be a map of String ==> Object(1), seeing as how the design doesn't constrain the contents of the map to be any uniform type. (At the very least, it can contain Maps and Booleans, and might contain something else.)

    And besides, simply using non-generic containers is only a code smell. Actually storing multiple types in them is the sort of code smell that kills strong men at a hundred paces.

    As always, an instanceof check is a nauseating code stench.

    It's also (as an explicit thing written in source code) a consequence of having a multi-type map. (Note: a non-generic Map only becomes a multi-type map if your design can/does store multiple types in it.)

    (1) This leads me to point out that it's possible to justify saying that non-generic collections are more generic than generic collections.

  • (nodebb) in reply to Mr. TA

    Also, what's all this hatred for the US.

    The US drivers license is a joke compared to most other countries in the world and if you compare it to European standards, it doesn't even come close. That's not "hate" it's just an objective fact, look it up if you don't believe me or go ahead and try any of the European trail driver tests online. It's not really a well hidden secret. Oh, and if you are up for fun, just watch some youtube videos of US drivers stumbling around outside of the US. Those are pretty hilarious to watch :-)

  • (nodebb) in reply to MaxiTB

    I don't know Europe and all states, but Florida definitely has some of the worst drivers, that i can agree with 🤣 a few weeks ago this idiot was driving 35mph on a 65mph highway in the middle lane!! 🤦‍♂️

  • (nodebb) in reply to Mr. TA

    few weeks ago this idiot was driving 35mph on a 65mph highway in the middle lane!!

    And presumably didn't have his hazards(0) on. (When I learned to drive in New York (state) in the 1980s, the rule was that if, for reasons other than just heavy traffic, you were driving slower than 45 mph on a 55 mph highway(1), you had to turn on your hazards.)

    (0) Approximate translation for folks who don't know American dialect: short for "hazard warning lights" == the four orange blinkies in the corners of your car all blinking together.

    (1) This was before the wide availability of highways with speed limits that are only as slow as 65mph.

  • (nodebb)

    Treating null and an empty map as equivalent is also a code smell.

  • Álvaro González (github)

    As European, I can confirm I own an official document that certifies my full understanding of traffic rules 25 years ago.

    Addendum 2025-11-25 09:01: Also, you can get that certificate today and don't even know how to use a roundabout.

  • (nodebb)

    @Steve The Cynic ref:

    (When I learned to drive in New York (state) in the 1980s, the rule was that if, for reasons other than just heavy traffic, you were driving slower than 45 mph on a 55 mph highway(1), you had to turn on your hazards.)

    Hmm. In most states it's a violation to use your hazard flashers unless parked. They're meant as a signal that you have left a stationary vehicle in a place where stationary vehicles are unexpected and might pose a hazard to moving vehicles. It's definitely illegal here in FL to drive with hazards on.

  • (nodebb)

    Same rule applies in Massachusetts, you have to turn on hazards if driving slow on a highway. Not sure about Florida WRT this rule specifically.

    That guy going 35mph - he didn't have hazards on, but turned them on (whether that was legal or not) after an 18-wheeler passed him in the left lane with a long and loud horn. I passed him also so not sure what happened later, did he move over to the right lane, did he get pulled over, etc. - no idea. But unfortunately, I see these very slow drivers all the time, like they cannot drive at all and got behind the wheel.

  • (nodebb)

    I found this article about using hazard lights while moving in different states. https://www.kennedyjohnson.com/blog/is-it-illegal-to-drive-with-your-hazard-lights-on.

    A few things to note about this:

    I didn't try to fact-check

    The article doesn't list all states

    Of the states they list, almost an even split between states where it's allowed and states where it could be a violation, with a smaller list of states where it apparently depends on whether there are laws posted to the contrary

    The article agrees with previous commenters about Florida, but the two states where people have mentioned being SUPPOSED to use hazards when driving well under the speed limit on a highway are split between the "it's fine unless" (NY) and "you could get in trouble" (Massachusetts).

    The state where I remember learning that you're not supposed to do that - and where I have definitely seen folks on multiple occasions either using their hazards while driving on a donut (spare tire) below the posted speed limit, and whole rafts of people (over multiple lanes) driving with their flashers in a visibility-inhibiting downpour, which was really nerve-racking since it made it hard to tell if they were planning to try to change lanes - is in the "it depends" group, and now I think I'd better brush up on that detail again.

    I remember also having been under the impression that in the states where driving with flashers on IS allowed, you were always supposed to stick to the far right lane as much as possible, for multiple reasons which included the complication of indicating lane changes. However, I can imagine the driving mindset that would cause one to think it was more important to stay in one lane than which lane that was. Not saying I agree with it, but I can imagine it.

  • (nodebb)

    From the Illinois statutes (625 ILCS 5/11-804): "However, such signal devices [i.e. turn signals] may be flashed simultaneously on both sides of a motor vehicle to indicate the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking and passing."

    Which really doesn't answer the question either, but hey, it's the law.

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