More lightbulbs...

The Loony Bin ( loonies@bloodaxe.demon.co.uk )
Fri, 23 Aug 1996 00:48:08 +0100


Hiya All...

Languages and lightbulbs...another variation...

Wishes & Dreams...

- ANDREA
        xx

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  ------- Forwarded foolishness follows -------

How many programmers does it take to change a light bulb?

In C it would take three programmers, and the bulb would have to be removed
and reinserted several times before they got it to work. Moreover, nobody
would ever be able to change the light bulb after that.

In ADA [the US government official language], it would only take one
programmer, but before s/he could begin, 87 bureaucrats would have to write
proposals justifying the expense of changing the bulb.

LISP would actually require no programmers, for once the programmer wrote
the basic code, the bulb would change itself.

In FORTH, the bulb would change the programmer.

In PASCAL, we'd just buy a new lamp, as it would be too much trouble to
change the bulb.

In COBOL, it does not matter how many, it would still take them months.

In ASSEMBLER, it would only take one programmer, provided s/he doesn't mind
constructing the bulb from a kit first.

Likewise it would only take one BASIC programmer, but after switching on,
there would be a five minute delay before light was emitted.

The OCCAM programmer would be able to replace N light bulbs in parallel,
where N is less than or equal to the number of light bulb changing appendages
available.

IBM does not change light bulbs. It adds value to PEUs (photon emitter units).

And finally, the correct answer: NONE, it's a hardware problem.