I came across this in some open source code I was perusing

Very stupid code but (probably) not because of unnecessary processor load as in my original example.

Code like this is non-maintainable (to make it so would have require about 10 lines of comment, which, I'm sure, was not there).

Sometimes I think code like this is written for boasting "this will show them how great I am", smetimes I think it is for the purpose of job security "If they fire me, this will never get to work" and sometimes I think it is written to be 'correct' "if it is readable it is not C". I have heard all the above and, I'm sure there are other 'reasons' to write such code.

Erik

yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have heard someone state seriously "if it is readable it is not C". He even proved it when he showed me his code.