Editing 292: goto

{{w|goto}} is a construct found in many computer languages that causes control flow to go from one place in program to another, without returning. Once common in computer programming, its popularity diminished in the 1960s and 1970s as focus on {{w|structured programming}} became the norm. {{w|Edsger W. Dijkstra}}'s article [http://www.u.arizona.edu/~rubinson/copyright_violations/Go_To_Considered_Harmful.html Go To Statement Considered Harmful] in particular contributed to the decline of ''goto''.

Often people learning programming are told ''goto'' is bad and should be avoided, but frequently are not given a reason. In this case, [[Cueball]] can see no harm in using ''goto'' to avoid rewriting much of his program. As a result, he is attacked by a {{w|velociraptor}}. Velociraptor attacks are a running joke (and fear) often expressed in [[xkcd]]. The humor derives from the fact that a velociraptor attack is [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong an unexpected and severe consequence] of using a ''goto'' statement.

The title text refers to {{w|Neal Stephenson}}, an author of cyberpunk novels. A label is used in many programming languages to refer to a point in a program that a goto instruction can jump to. The joke is that one of Stephenson's characters in ''{{w|Cryptonomicon}}'' is named 'Goto Dengo'.

:[Cueball sits at computer, thinking.]

:Cueball: I could restructure the program's flow - or use one little 'GOTO' instead.

:[Cueball looks at the computer.]

:[A raptor jumps into the panel and attacks Cueball.]