ee163cz (03/12/83)
The expression "i=++i", if written without spaces, doesn't necessarily parse as "i= ++i". The Old Compiler and many of its less legitimate descendants will try to parse it as "i=+ + i", giving an error, and possibly (just guessing now) produce "i=+i", or "i=2*i". The old =+, =- syntax is STILL around, and occasionally catches me trying to say something like "i= -1" without the space. Correction: the compiler doesn't catch me; the program misbehaves in mysterious ways. -- Eric J. Wilner (sometimes F. J. Gumby)