• Home
• Contact

Novice

• puts #include "stdio.h" in his code, but is not sure why
• has heard of pointers, but has never seen one

User

• uses the following macros:

    #define BEGIN {
    #define END ;}

• has had a bad experience with pointers
• knows the difference between ’ and "

Knowledgeable User

• uses:

    if(a==b)
        c = 1;
    else
        c = 0;

• uses pointers, but only in place of arrays
• loves writing code on VMS

Expert

• uses:

    c = (a==b) ? 1 : 0;

• uses pointers comfortably
• are jazzed when they find a compiler bug because they found it
• has figured out what && and || are for
• refuses to write C code on VMS

Hacker

• uses:

    c = a==b;

• writes code which use pointers to functions
• writes macros instead of simple functions
• uses bitwise operators because they are like assembler
• writes simple code with cat > and compiles it with !cc.
• uses argv and argc

Guru

• avoids bitwise operators due to portability
• are annoyed with compiler bugs
• writes code portable enough to port from VMS but doesn’t relish the thought
• writes libraries that his fellow workmates use
• can answer most C questions after a little thought

Wizard

• writes compilers with cat > (and they work!)
• reads device driver source with breakfast
• can tell what question you are about to ask, and answer it
• is on a first-name basis with Dennis, Bill, and Ken