What was the worst piece of code you fixed that you are proud of? [closed]
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16-10-2019 - |
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I have had a few that I am proud of and some of them were written by myself few years ago. It doesn't have to be necessarily buggy, just bad code.
Solution
I don't know about being proud of the fix because it was so obvious, but the most horrible code I remember fixing was this.
if (userName=="John O'Reily") { userName= "John O''Reily";}
if (userName=="Stacy O'Neil") { userName= "Stacy O''Neil";}
if (userName=="Finnegan O'Connor") { userName= "Finnegan O''Connor";}
...
someSQL = "SELECT * from Users where UserName='" + userName + "'";
Apparently the previous developer just kept adding new lines every time a new (usually Irish) user started getting errors in the application.
I'll leave it as an exercise for the class as to how it was fixed.
OTHER TIPS
I shouldn't really be proud of this, but for some reason, it was satisfying.
Other than having COBOL in school, I had no experience, but I was low man on the totem pole, and we needed to provide compiling source code to an outsourcer for Y2K checking. We had a single COBOL file with multiple routines that called each other in the file, spaghetti-like, and it was too large to load in our current IDE for compiling. It needed to be pulled apart into at least two physical files, and those files of course, needed to have everything they needed in their own file. (Or perhaps, there was a way to link them together, but I didn't really know COBOL.)
Anyway, I took this about 100,000 line file, and gently pulled apart the dozens and dozens of routines to find two sets of routines that were independant of each other, and could therefore exist in two separate files, each about 50,000 or so lines. (I think the max the compiler could handle was about 80,000 lines, so it did need to be fairly evenly matched.)
I was reading an ancient language that I didn't know, and was still successful in the task.
I took a cursor out of a trigger and reduced the time to insert 40,000 new records from an hour to less than a minute. Eventually this resulted in me being able to insert 21 million records in something less than glacial time but we never tried the 20 million record import til after the fix, so I don't have stats on how much time we saved.
There was a base class for creating confirmation dialogs for different operations on tree nodes. You would need only to provide a message to be displayed in the dialog and the action to run if it was confirmed. Nice system but it allowed no special handling in case there was no tree node selected. As a result, the text in one of the dialogs said: "Please select no". If you selected yes, it threw an exception. Very nice user experience, indeed.
I fixed this by disabling the invalid operations.
The worst I've seen was some Java code to extract key sentences from a text corpus.
- The code had few comments (besides disabled code comments) and had poor names.
- The algorithm state was stored in public static vectors.
- Instead of storing values in the vectors, he stored their string representations.
- The vectors were poor man's classes (they were parallel, each index being an 'instance')
- The algorithm was sub-optimal (n^2 instead of an easier to understand n log n version)
To be fair, this is nothing compared to some of the stuff our there, but there is still a massive difference in quality before and after. Consider the following actual before and after code of one function:
Before (try to figure out what it does before looking at After!):
public static void getCluster() {
count = new Vector();
for (int i = 0; i < begin.size(); i ++)
count.add("1");
if (begin.size() > 1) {
for (int i = 0; i < begin.size() - 1; i ++) {
for (int j = i + 1; j < begin.size(); j ++) {
int b1 = Integer.parseInt(begin.get(i).toString());
int e1 = Integer.parseInt(end.get(i).toString());
double w1 = Double.parseDouble(wght.get(i).toString());
int c1 = Integer.parseInt(count.get(i).toString());
int b2 = Integer.parseInt(begin.get(j).toString());
int e2 = Integer.parseInt(end.get(j).toString());
double w2 = Double.parseDouble(wght.get(j).toString());
int c2 = Integer.parseInt(count.get(j).toString());
int max = Math.max(e1, e2);
boolean toRemove = true;
if (b1 == b2) end.set(i, Integer.toString(max));
if (b1 < b2) {
if (b2 < e1) end.set(i, Integer.toString(max));
else {
if ((b2 - e1) <= 3) end.set(i, Integer.toString(e2));
else toRemove = false;
}
}
if (b1 > b2) {
if (e2 >= b1) {
begin.set(i, Integer.toString(b2));
end.set(i, Integer.toString(max));
} else {
if ((b1 - e2) <= 3) {
begin.set(i, Integer.toString(b2));
end.set(i, Integer.toString(e1));
} else toRemove = false;
}
}
//System.out.println(b1 + ", " + e1 + ", " + b2 + ", " + e2 + " ---> " + begin.get(i).toString() + ", " + end.get(i).toString());
if (toRemove) {
wght.set(i, Double.toString(w1 + w2));
count.set(i, Integer.toString(c1 + c2));
begin.removeElementAt(j);
end.removeElementAt(j);
wght.removeElementAt(j);
count.removeElementAt(j);
j --;
} //end of if
} //end of for j
} //end of for i
} //end of if
//System.out.println(begin);
//System.out.println(end);
//System.out.println(wght);
//System.out.println(count);
}
After:
/** Returns the result of merging all overlapping-with-leeway clusters into single combined clusters.
* @param leeway The minimum number of word-spaces which must separate two clusters in order for them to not be overlapping.
* @requires clusters != null
* @requires leeway >= 0
* @ensures result != null */
private static List<TermCluster> combineOverlappingClusters(Iterable<TermCluster> clusters, int leeway) {
if (clusters == null) throw new NullPointerException("clusters");
if (leeway < 0) throw new IllegalArgumentException("leeway < 0");
//Sort to allow linear folding
List<TermCluster> sortedClusters = Iter.sort(clusters, new Comparator<TermCluster>() {
@Override public int compare(TermCluster o1, TermCluster o2) {
return new Integer(o1.begin).compareTo(o2.begin);
}
});
if (sortedClusters.size() == 0)
return sortedClusters;
//Combine left-to-right
List<TermCluster> result = new ArrayList<TermCluster>();
TermCluster acc = sortedClusters.get(0);
for (TermCluster cluster : sortedClusters.subList(1, sortedClusters.size())) {
if (acc.isOverlappingWithLeeway(cluster, leeway)) {
//combine
acc = acc.combineWith(cluster);
} else {
//next
result.add(acc);
acc = cluster;
}
}
result.add(acc); //leftovers
return result;
}
My first programming job was writing installers in InstallShield. I inherited a script that was thousands lines with no functions, only gotos. It was mind boggling. I rewrote it, made it all pretty and modular and data driven, so that I could be given binaries/art/etc. and turn out a new installer in under an hour, rather than the week+ it took the previous guy. I was very proud of myself.
I think nothing even comes close to this:
function pmn_Sort(strBy)
local tblA = {};
local tblB = {};
local tblC = {};
local tblD = {};
local tblE = {};
local tblF = {};
local tblG = {};
local tblH = {};
local tblI = {};
local tblJ = {};
local tblK = {};
local tblL = {};
local tblM = {};
local tblN = {};
local tblO = {};
local tblP = {};
local tblQ = {};
local tblR = {};
local tblS = {};
local tblT = {};
local tblU = {};
local tblV = {};
local tblW = {};
local tblX = {};
local tblY = {};
local tblZ = {};
local tblOT = {};
local iA = 0;
local iB = 0;
local iC = 0;
local iD = 0;
local iE = 0;
local iF = 0;
local iG = 0;
local iH = 0;
local iI = 0;
local iJ = 0;
local iK = 0;
local iL = 0;
local iM = 0;
local iN = 0;
local iO = 0;
local iP = 0;
local iQ = 0;
local iR = 0;
local iS = 0;
local iT = 0;
local iU = 0;
local iV = 0;
local iW = 0;
local iX = 0;
local iY = 0;
local iZ = 0;
local iOT = 0;
if strBy == "Name" then
strSort = "Name";
numPlcount = ListBox.GetCount("Playlist");
numPLitem = 1;
numPLadd = 0;
while numPLitem <= numPlcount do
strPLtxt = ListBox.GetItemText("Playlist", numPLitem);
strPLdata = ListBox.GetItemData("Playlist", numPLitem);
strPLleft = String.Left(strPLtxt, 1);
if strPLleft == "a" or strPLleft == "A" then
iA = iA + 1;
tblA[iA] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "b" or strPLleft == "B" then
iB = iB + 1;
tblB[iB] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "c" or strPLleft == "C" then
iC = iC + 1;
tblC[iC] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "d" or strPLleft == "D" then
iD = iD + 1;
tblD[iD] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "e" or strPLleft == "E" then
iE = iE + 1;
tblE[iE] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "f" or strPLleft == "F" then
iF = iF + 1;
tblF[iF] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "g" or strPLleft == "G" then
iG = iG + 1;
tblG[iG] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "h" or strPLleft == "H" then
iH = iH + 1;
tblH[iH] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "i" or strPLleft == "I" then
iI = iI + 1;
tblI[iI] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "j" or strPLleft == "J" then
iJ = iJ + 1;
tblJ[iJ] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "k" or strPLleft == "K" then
iK = iK + 1;
tblK[iK] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "l" or strPLleft == "L" then
iL = iL + 1;
tblL[iL] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "m" or strPLleft == "M" then
iM = iM + 1;
tblM[iM] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "n" or strPLleft == "N" then
iN = iN + 1;
tblN[iN] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "o" or strPLleft == "O" then
iO = iO + 1;
tblO[iO] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "p" or strPLleft == "P" then
iP = iP + 1;
tblP[iP] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "q" or strPLleft == "Q" then
iQ = iQ + 1;
tblQ[iQ] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "r" or strPLleft == "R" then
iR = iR + 1;
tblR[iR] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "s" or strPLleft == "S" then
iS = iS + 1;
tblS[iS] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "t" or strPLleft == "T" then
iT = iT + 1;
tblT[iT] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "u" or strPLleft == "U" then
iU = iU + 1;
tblU[iU] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "v" or strPLleft == "V" then
iV = iV + 1;
tblV[iV] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "w" or strPLleft == "W" then
iW = iW + 1;
tblW[iW] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "x" or strPLleft == "X" then
iX = iX + 1;
tblX[iX] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "y" or strPLleft == "Y" then
iY = iY + 1;
tblY[iY] = strPLdata;
elseif strPLleft == "z" or strPLleft == "Z" then
iZ = iZ + 1;
tblZ[iZ] = strPLdata;
else
iOT = iOT + 1;
tblOT[iOT] = strPLdata;
end
numPLitem = numPLitem + 1;
end
ListBox.DeleteItem("Playlist", LB_ALLITEMS);
for ii, id in tblA do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblB do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblC do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblD do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblE do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblF do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblG do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblH do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblI do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblJ do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblK do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblL do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblM do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblN do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblO do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblP do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblQ do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblR do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblS do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblT do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblU do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblV do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblW do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblX do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblY do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblZ do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
for ii, id in tblOT do
if id ~= "" then
numPLadd = numPLadd + 1;
strPLtxt = String.SplitPath(id).Filename..String.SplitPath(id).Extension
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", strPLtxt, id);
end
end
elseif strBy == "Type" then
strSort = "Type";
if File.DoesExist(_ProgramFilesFolder.."\\MediaX\\playlist.mx") == true then
play_file2 = TextFile.ReadToTable(_ProgramFilesFolder.."\\MediaX\\playlist.mx");
if play_file2 then
ListBox.DeleteItem("Playlist", -1);
for rl,rPath in play_file2 do
r2Path = String.TrimLeft(rPath, nil);
ListBox.AddItem("Playlist", String.SplitPath(r2Path).Filename..String.SplitPath(r2Path).Extension, r2Path);
end
end
end
end
end
The fix? Eh, that shouldn't require much explanation.
