Well, since it is almost Christmas, and the mailman has not bought many articles YET this month, I thought that seeing as how I am taking at great personal expense a computer science course, I could pass on some of the more important features of programming like the pros do. So hoping the prof doesnt get aholt of this here goes.
SO far there are many important steps you must do BEFORE programming. Steps such as learning the language, figuring out how to turn on the computer, or even finding your way around the keyboard, you have to decide on the TITLE. MY biggest problem started a little earlier, finding a place to park, then trying to find the building, and finally the classroom. These modern buildings don’t have normal walls and corridors, no, this is a real puzzle palace, a maze.
A session or two of thinking of names, combinations of letters and numbers, or math symbols is good. Write down 15 or so of the best, and cut them up on small strips of paper, or throw up or down a stairwell. Some favor the top step method, or the bottom step method, I prefer the top down method, using bubble gum on the bottom of sneakers to pick out the best, I get a running start and leap the stairs, and what sticks has gotta be good. Select your Title in this sure fire method, and you are on your way to the “Programming Hall of Fame”. To protect yourself from using the same name of other software titles, a search is important.
To conduct a proper title search one must have a copy of’ BYTE’ and ‘Computer Shopper’. One copy must be at least one year old, the other the latest issue, and it doesn’t matter which is which. Thumb thru each issue until you get to a page on which the type is so small you can hardly read it, check for your title. If you can not find the EXACT same name, you gotta winner! By golly. If you are discouraged because of finding someone always picks the good ones, well think of a vegatable or a fruit or even a flower, add a couple three numbers, and viola! a sure fire best selling program name!
Ok, the hard part is almost over, now you gotta figure out the copy protect scheme. Is it gona be a disc device, a code, a lazer imbedded musical note or a good law firm? By lining up the copy protection scheme ahead of time, you have a better idea of the final cost, and how much you gona make. Well quit day dreaming fer a minute about all that loot, and consider going with a disc protection association approved law firm, and survallance team. For just a couple hunnert per copy, each buyer will be followed for up to five years, or until he sells his PC. The minute the buyer swaps, trades, gives, loans or sells a copy of your program, bang!, a law suit that will triple the lotto in your home state on its best day!
Now, you got the TITLE and the copy protection all done, now for the ah, …I got it written down here somewhere. Oh yeah, the coding, well I musta mist that one, but here it says be sure and indent. so there it is folks this months, paul’s page on pascal. Next month we’ll discuss the comma, and if enough time the null.
On a serious note folks, several people have indicated an interest in learning Pascal. It is supposed to be a GREAT teaching language, but learning?? It does stress doing your work in english and on paper, and testing it before hand, and documenting like crazy, but I guess it teaches you how to learn a language, sorta like Latin was supposed to be good for you. As a practical language, ‘C’ is held by many to be the BEST, but it will a long time before I can make that judgement. I started this page in the first coupla weeks of class, when all was EASY- now I am lucky to see the kids on Sunday when the computer lab shuts down early, it is one douzy of a course. So far about 45% have dropped out, and most aint kids!