[TUHS] The 'usage: ...' message. (Was: On Bloat...)

[Stuff Received]

On 2024-05-19 20:58, Rob Pike wrote:
> The Cornell PL/I compiler, PL/C, ran on the IBM 360 so of course used 
> batch input. It tried automatically to keep things running after a 
> parsing error by inserting some token - semicolon, parenthesis, whatever 
> seemed best - and continuing to parse, in order to maximize the amount 
> of input that could be parsed before giving up. At least, that's what I 
> took the motivation to be. It rarely succeeded in fixing the actual 
> problem, despite PL/I being plastered with semicolons, but it did tend 
> to ferret out more errors per run. I found the tactic helpful.
> 
> -rob
> 

Possibly way off topic but Toronto allowed anyone to run PL/C decks for 
free, which I often did.  One day, they decided to allow all of the card 
to be read as text and my card numbers generated all sorts of errors. 
(At least easily fixed by a visit the card punch.)

S.