Posted by Tim Streater on 01/09/07 12:12

In article <4587dc54$0$18460$e4fe514c@dreader31.news.xs4all.nl>,
Kleine Aap <een-niet-bestaande-kleineaap@xs4all.nl> wrote:

> Asper Faner wrote:
>
> > I seem to always have hard time understaing how this regular expression
> > works, especially how on earth do people bring it up as part of
> > computer programming language. Natural language processing seems not
> > enough to explain by the way. Why no eliminate it ?
>
> I.M.H.O. anyone that is not capable to grasp the concept of regular
> expressions should not attempt to write computer programs at all! My
> suggestion to you would be to find a job that involves working with your
> hands...

This is complete rubbish. Regular expressions may be very clever but
lead to unreadable code. They no doubt can be useful but the fact that a
never-ending stream of people seek help with them in this and other
groups indicates how bad they are. As does the fact that many people
also ask about programs to generate them.

I grasp the *concept* with no trouble at all. I have no intention of
ever using them, however, as I like to be able to maintain the code I
write.

-- tim

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