(not-so- Objfuscated ) explanaton ?

[screamingeagle]

Hi,
I was thinking that everyone who posts an entry in the obfuscated code section ought to include a small explanation of how they did it. This would certainly be very helpful to the vast population of programmers who are in the not-beginner-but-nowhere-near-being-saint level (and for those "intellectually-challenged" people (like me, for example) who'd like to understand just how that great obfu code works. I know some might say that this might defeat the purpose of posting obfuscated code :-), but i'm sure that whosoever thinks that way has already attained so much knowledge in Perl that they would not need to read the explanation) . This feature would certainly increase my knowledge of Perl, and hopefully others too.

[tilly]

Sometimes easier said than done. For instance look at I refuse to explain this. The reason for said refusal is that Dominus literally did not know how to explain it.

Incidentally "saint level" refers to participation on the site, and not Perl knowledge. For instance TheDamian may not be a saint (OK, so he seems to work for the Other Side, details), but certainly knows more Perl than the vast majority of the people in Saints in Our Book.

[crazyinsomniac]

So you want to make it a requirement?
(i'm sorry, but I don't fully understand, what is your proposal?)

Having the author post the obfu with an explanation would serisously hinder the ability of some xp whores to earn a livin' :)

 


______crazyinsomniac_____________________________ Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most. perl -e "$q=$_;map({chr unpack qq;H*;,$_}split(q;;,q*H*));print;$q/$q;"

[vladb]

Althought sounds like a great idea, I don't think I'd like to see it done that way. For one, I savor the chance of deciphering obfuscated code and would hate it if the answer was already there prepared for me. I think posting a clearer version of obfuscated code would only spoil the fun of trying to get it.

On the other hand, as I think of it, the author might include a link to a page where his/her obfu code is explained in detail. This will let monks decide whether to first try to solve the obfu code on your own and than verify with the author's explanation, or simply cheat and look up the simpliefied version of the obfu code instead. I'd prefer the first option.

;)



"There is no system but GNU, and Linux is one of its kernels." -- Confession of Faith