CodeSOD: Stop Being So ####

Many a network admin has turned to the siren song of Perl to help them automate managing their networks. Frank‘s predecessor is no exception.

They also got a bit combative about people critiquing their Perl code:

# COMPLEX SUBNET MATH
# Looking up a value in an array was faster than any mathematical solution. Yes, it's hard coded, but these values won't ever change anyway. Stop being so #### about it.
$Subnets = @("0.0.0.0","128.0.0.0","192.0.0.0","224.0.0.0","240.0.0.0","248.0.0.0","252.0.0.0","254.0.0.0","255.0.0.0","255.128.0.0","255.192.0.0","255.224.0.0","255.240.0.0","255.248.0.0","255.252.0.0","255.254.0.0","255.255.0.0","255.255.128.0","255.255.192.0","255.255.224.0","255.255.240.0","255.255.248.0","255.255.252.0","255.255.254.0","255.255.255.0","255.255.255.128","255.255.255.192","255.255.255.224","255.255.255.240","255.255.255.248","255.255.255.252","255.255.255.254","255.255.255.255")

I believe them when they say that the lookup array is faster, but it leaves me wondering: what are they doing where performance matters that much?

I don’t actually think this ascends to the level of a WTF, but I do think the defensive comment is funny. Clearly, the original developer was having a time with people complaining about it.

Frank notes that while Perl has a reputation as a “write only language,” this particular set of scripts was actually quite easy to read and maintain. So yes, I guess we should stop being so #### about it.

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