On: Computer programming is somewhat like getting an imbecile to play bridge

[groby_b]

Seriously? An ancient programming joke, with a gratuitous off-by-one error?

[chimeracoder → groby_b]

It's not gratuitous. One jug + one dozen = 13 jugs.

[mbatanian → chimeracoder]

jugs = 1; if (have eggs) { jugs = 12; }

Get a dozen, not a dozen more.

[T-hawk → mbatanian]

  cart.addJugs(1);
  if (haveEggs)
    cart.addJugs(12);

Now the cart has 13 jugs.

[wlesieutre → T-hawk]

I'd say that "get a dozen" implies "jugs = 12" and not "jugs += 12". If you wanted to get a dozen more, you'd say "get a dozen more"

[pash → wlesieutre]

This is why we don't program in English.

[fnordfnordfnord → pash]

And why it is so hard to write a good specification.

[AndrewDucker → wlesieutre]

"get a dozen" implies "jugs += 12"