When do you use "if ( a = b )"?

[Mark William Hopkins]

In article <1991Apr2.122448.5798 at cc.helsinki.fi> wirzenius at cc.helsinki.fi (Lars Wirzenius) writes:
>In article <10654 at uwm.edu>, markh at csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Mark William Hopkins) writes:
>> [about converting syntax-changing macros into cleartext]
>> I use my own scanner-based program to alter variable names and macros in other
>> peoples' source all the time.  It's nothing.
>
>It's unnecessary, nonproductive extra work. That's the whole point. 

Not when that and other processes of change leave a permanent imprint of the
entire source on you, thus causing you to unwittingly memorize the whole thing
and know every little nook and cranny of its structure and functioning.

Unproductive indeed...