Comments More Important Than Code?

As a firm believer in comments, this post caught my attention. Check it out.

From slashdot.org
Developers: Comments are More Important than Code
Posted by timothy on Tuesday April 26, @10:11PM
from the if-you-disagree-provide-comments dept.
CowboyRobot writes "I was going through some code from 2002, frustrated at the lack of comments, cursing the moron who put this spaghetti together, only to realize later that I was the moron who had written it. An essay titled Comments Are More Important Than Code goes through the arguments that seem obvious only in hindsight - that 'self-documenting' code is good but not enough, that we should be able to write code based on good documentation, not the other way around, and that the thing that separates human-written code from computer-generated code is that our stuff is readable to future programmers. But I go through this argument with my colleagues, who say that using short, descriptive variable names 'should' be enough as long as the code is well-organized. Who's right?"

Pay for Spam

How often have browsed the web looking for spyware or adware to install? Chances are, not often and not intentionally. Most people, myself included, actually get quite upset to find out that a desirable looking shareware or freeware application comes fully loaded with enough advertising to cripple the application's usefulness. Or you discover that the email address given during website registration was sold to spammers who are more than ready to flood your inbox. I quickly unistall the application and never look back as well as discontinuing my account with any such website.

Now imagine paying these companies to send you spam. Imagine paying for the software that's full of advertising. Well imagine no more. Microsoft Money and H&R Block Taxcut are two software packages that you can spend your hard earned money on and they will do the honor of nagging you with advertising and plugs for there own and other companies.

It started out as small easy to ignore advertising, now it's matured into all out harassment. This years tax software from H&R Block was chocked full. Advertising from ING Direct, Earthlink, and credit report companies filled the box and applications.

Companies better take note. There's enough alternative software available that users don't have to pay for your spam. If I want harassed by advertising, there's plenty of opportunity available elsewhere. I won't tolerate paying to be hassled by advertising.