Assembly code compiler horror story

[enigma]

So, I'm writing assembly language code to drive a fan by varying the pulsewidth.

Halfway through (6 hours or so ago) I try to compile it.

The compiler software is a piece of crap (code uses a structured assembly language, so it doesn't recognise anything), and I need to bring everything into one directory (in a different spot where I originally had it), and run a separate file to compile it.

No problems.

Keep coding.

and coding.

and coding.

Finally finish, and compile. Upload it to my microcontroller. Flip the switch. Fan no go, and I have a typo in the LCD display.

Look at the code, find the problems. Transposed the ASCII character, and sent power to the wrong bit, so it wasn't powering the fan.

Fix it, recompile, resend, run. Hrmm... still using the old code (the typo isn't fixed)

Go back into the first compiler (I was going to remove the structured assembly parts), run compile, go to the first problem, fix it.

Save as...



The mvdrfvkn workspace still had the old file as the active one.

So, I basically just wiped out 6 hours worth of work.



*sigh* Back to work.

 

[enigma]

Sob.

I need a hug.

 

[hypnagogue]

I feel your pain, enigma.

*solemn bowing of head, moment of silence*

Doubly so since you're coding in assembly... ugh.

I think every programmer has at least one of these episodes. It's a mandatory part of the overall torture package.

I at least find that it's easier to rewrite everything the second time over, since you've already worked through it all once before... Look on the bright side-- you've reset your karmic counter of programming disasters, so you should be relatively impervious to devestating losses of data in the near future.

In the meantime, take a break, catch your breath and think happy thoughts.

 

[enigma]

Well, I'm up to 30 hours with no sleep, but I got it re-coded, debugged, and in an hour before the deadline.

Yay me.

Now, someone help me get these pink elephants out of the lab...

 

[Artman]

Whenever I screw up with a computer my wife has a term for the words that she hears coming from the room: "computer language."

I'm sure I would have plenty of cause to use computer language if I had to program in assembly language.

Good work tracking down your bug.