When 0 is used in programing, it is used as an INDEX. item[0] is NOT the zero'th item. Anyone that ever, ever, uses the word 'zeroth' is an idiot.
item[0] is the first item. The 0 indicates that no items precede it in the list. It makes pointer arithmetic and other programing tasks much simpler to use this number as an index instead of as a counter.
Also, if you note, nowhere in RMS article did he say it was the 'zeroth' freedom, nor is it claimed anywhere else for that matter. It's the FIRST freedom. Preceding something with a (0) does not make it the zeroth.
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Holy crap
Posted by: Jeremy Akers on July 18, 2006 03:58 AMWhen 0 is used in programing, it is used as an INDEX. item[0] is NOT the zero'th item. Anyone that ever, ever, uses the word 'zeroth' is an idiot.
item[0] is the first item. The 0 indicates that no items precede it in the list. It makes pointer arithmetic and other programing tasks much simpler to use this number as an index instead of as a counter.
Also, if you note, nowhere in RMS article did he say it was the 'zeroth' freedom, nor is it claimed anywhere else for that matter. It's the FIRST freedom. Preceding something with a (0) does not make it the zeroth.
-Jeremy
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