diff --git a/posts/best-bug.md b/posts/best-bug.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..17f519f --- /dev/null +++ b/posts/best-bug.md @@ -0,0 +1,62 @@ +--- +title: Best Bug +published: 2019-05-21 +--- + +my pal and i accidentally introduced a bug in our code that sorta took up a personality of its own, heres the story. + +# the setting + +at university comp sci, me and my buddy entered a programming contest that was run by a health company. it was free, and we thought we might be able to get some of the prizes. + +the goal was to create an engine to play last card, and all the entries would be run against each other and ranked. + +this was in about two hours in one of the uni labs. + +> pretty boring stuff + +it had that yellow glow of the lights as well, because it was getting dark outside. + +# the fun + +we started implementing a pretty basic card counting thing, and to pass the time a bit were talking about our 'ai' + +> its super good at card games, even the basic ones + +> its like outta yugioh, its kaiba or something + +> yeah jojos poses every turn, better than the rest + +*etc etc* + +so we finished up after... + +***having to deal with whatever maven is*** + +i still dont understand the hundred different package management things, why do they have to keep changing? `/rant over` + +# uh oh + +we ended up placing second, losing to the guy that already worked for the company running the event. + +we lost points because we didnt understand the state format correctly, but i believe we understand it right. + +what theyd done is ~~super gross~~ ~~logically wrong~~ had any collection of cards as the java version of `Maybe Cards` such that rather than an empty list being `[]`, the whole thing was a `Nothing`. + +a collection of cards that has zero cards in it is still a set, and therefore should be represented by `[]` or equivilent. `/rant over` + +the affect of this on ol` kaiba boi (aka kAIba which added to the charm) was that if it was the first player of a game, it would crash, timeout and the game manager would default to a pass. + +# neato bug + +this cemented the persona of this bug to be a kaiba-esque dramatic dickhead, threatening to fall off buildings if he loses, but saying: + +> huh! first player advantage? thats for **noobs**, you take it + +and yeeting the other player first turn. + +# fin + +memorable bugs are the best kind of bugs, and have a life all of their own. part of the magic of programmation is finding these so you gotta pay attention. + +`:wq`