Seeking Your Suggested Matrix Test Program for the HP-15C

[rprosperi]

Hi Valentin!

(08-05-2023 11:55 PM)Valentin Albillo Wrote:  .
Hi, Bob,

rprosperi Wrote:I was simply pointing out what I thought would be a good candidate in case Namir had not seen that, [...]

And I thank you for doing it, much appreciated.

Quote:After you've published your (other) new program, could you add a comment (here or there, most interested readers will be following both threads) explaining why the program above is better suited for Namir's needs, [...]

Glad to obligue. If you have a look at the thread I created today and the promised programs and documentation I posted to it, you'll quickly see that using them for Namir's stated purpose would be like "matar moscas a cañonazos" ("to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut"), as it requires a certain way to set up the matrix data that is geared to processing large matrices, 9x9 and beyond, and this would be overkill for Namir's needs; the short 20-line procedure I posted above is much more convenient and easier to use or modify.

Indeed this example, though of great interest in its own right for the stated purpose and an impressive work of VA art, it truly would have been unwieldy and awkward if not impossible to use for Namir's performance testing. Glad you killed that idea quickly and then generously went on to submit an appropriate tool for that job. Many thanks!

(08-05-2023 11:55 PM)Valentin Albillo Wrote:  

rprosperi Wrote:Thanks for generating and publishing this alternate test code and documentation (btw, very helpful for folks just learning the 15C), and sorry for distracting you from the main thrust you were working on.

You're welcome and don't worry, I managed to finish before my self-imposed deadline expired. And BTW, I also concur that commented code is the best way to learn a new language/device and to understand how a program works. I'd change an ungainly bunch of lengthy, unfathomable docs and cryptic syntax references for some actually working, well-commented code and detailed worked examples any day.

Best regards.
V.

I agree and think this can't be overstated. This is one of the reasons many/most of the early HP manuals were so useful, they provided well-explained example programs, even though the problems themselves were often tongue-in-cheek and even borderline comical. Surley as time went on the quality of both the programs and the associated explanations went downhill slowly and then rather quickly after the 48SX. But they established a quality expectation most of us revere to this day and your work is true homage to that inspiration.

Your new [VA] SRC #015 is my new Gold Standard for program documentation which I will point to when new members ask about proper format for submissions - not as a requirement to meet, etc. but rather as inspiration for how good it can get and how useful it is when proper time and attention to detail is used to create docs.

Thank you for the huge time you invest in these postings, they are truly appreciated!