I'm the helpline operator and I'll spare you the time

[venta]

Note to self:

3 + 8 << 2

is not the same as

3 + (8 << 2)

That's an hour you just spent tracking down a bug based on a mistake you've made several times before.

Yes, I know, brackets. Normally I'm assiduous about brackets. But for short lines like, say,

3 + 8*2

I actually think they detract from readability.

I'm sure there are sound reasons why shift has precedence over addition in C, but I find it counter-intuitive in the extreme.

Maybe a nice dose of online mockery will help me remember in the future :(

Note to non-geeks:
Don't worry, not much to see here. I made a school-boy error.

Comments

[venta.livejournal.com]

I wanted to suggest that the operation had to be as efficient as possible

Interesting. I'd never really thought about the choice of syntax indicating subtle meaning to future readers. So much more sophisticated than comments ;)