[moe]

That's indeed an interesting example because, by any standard, this is terrible code.

Yet for a sysadmin position it still provides valuable insight into your a) pain threshold, b) familiarity with the tools, c) willingness and ability to bend reality for the boss.

I'd just add a big disclaimer that this kind of code only happens in emergencies.

(disclaimer: I'm guilty of these gnuplot hacks myself and they always stick around way longer than they should...)

[cydonian_monk]

> They always stick around way longer than they should...

But isn't that true for all 'terrible' code? Most of the elegant and well-formed code I write ends up getting butchered for the sake of 'features,' while the quick hacks that 'just work' stick around forever.

[martincmartin]

That's indeed an interesting example because, by any standard, this is terrible code.

It's not nice to criticize without being constructive. Care to explain why the code is bad, and offer better suggestions?