Real computer scientists don't comment their code. The identifiers are so long they can't afford the disk space.

In a recent development that is making waves in the world of software engineering, a group of leading real computer scientists have come up with an innovative approach to writing and maintaining computer programs. These experts have been known for their unwavering commitment to excellence and efficiency in programming, and this new trend is gaining traction among professionals as well as budding developers.

The old adage "less is more" appears to apply to software development, where the elimination of superfluous elements can lead to more efficient and effective code. In this vein, many modern programmers have taken a step back from traditional commenting practices in their code. This move has led some critics to question the rationale behind such a radical shift.

Traditional commenting in programming involves adding lines of descriptive text to explain the purpose and functionality of each section of code. While this practice might be useful for novice programmers who are still learning the ropes, experts argue that it is unnecessary for those who have years of experience under their belt. They contend that experienced developers should intuitively understand the workings of their own code, rendering any explanatory comments redundant and, in some cases, even detrimental to the readability of a program.

One of the key reasons why real computer scientists have shunned commenting is due to the fact that identifiers — which are the unique names given to variables, functions, classes, or other elements within a program — can sometimes become excessively long. These lengthy labels can consume valuable disk space and hinder performance, particularly in languages like C or C++ where variable names often reflect their data types.

As a result, many developers have begun embracing shorter and more concise identifiers, relying on context to ascertain the intended purpose of each section of code. This shift away from extensive commenting is seen as a natural evolution in software development, reflective of the increasing importance of optimization in an era where efficiency and speed are paramount.

Moreover, this trend is not isolated to real computer scientists, as it is also catching on among the general programming community. This has led to lively debates online, with some developers arguing that long identifiers can hinder readability and comprehension, while others assert that such concerns are overblown. Regardless of personal opinions, it is evident that this new approach to coding is gaining traction, and real computer scientists remain at the forefront of this movement.