Homework by Challenge

Developers love challenges, whether they be programming puzzles, word puzzles, or any other conundrum that flexes their minds and proves how smart they are — whether to others or simply to themselves. The quickest way to con a developer into writing some code for you is to preface your request with, “This probably can’t be done, but . . . .”

Seven years ago, I wrote a book with Bobby Harris on SWT and JFace, and the source code from that book has been posted to various web sites through the years. Consequently, I get occasional emails about the book, the code, or about other SWT problems. Bobby doesn’t get them because his email address from that book has perished, or so he tells me. I always respond helpfully, even though I rarely work with SWT anymore and have to crack open the book for refreshers.

Three weeks ago, I received an email that said:

Hi ,

i am using SWT for drawing some charts,

In my scenario i need to draw a circle ,
and divide it in ‘n'(may be 5 or 9 ) parts and mark the points on the circumference of the circle ,

can i get help to do this?

This request has “homework” written all over it. I can imagine a real application with a clock face that has the numbers marked on the circumference of the circle, but that would be 12 points, and I can imagine someone needing a pie chart, but this doesn’t sound like a pie chart. This sounds like someone’s school assignment. I waffled a bit, but then threw together an SWT application to do just this and emailed it back. The code looks like this:

The person who had emailed me thanked me, and I assumed we were done.

Bad assumption.

Today, I got another email that says:

Hi Rob Warner,

How are you doing , hope doing all good,
Sorry if am bothering you again ,am in a new team where i need to do development activities as am a testing guy no coding experience.

I am need to draw a chart for an apriori algorithm ( i.e Visualizing Association Rules)
am attaching the the tables output what i get as input ,
and also am attaching a sample chart for your idea, so that the chart may look like that.

Please help me with the code to create charts of that type

really it will be a great help .

Thanks

The email contained these images:

Looks like the homework projects are getting bigger. My response:

Wow–looks like you have a lot of work to do. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to help, unless you want to set up a consulting agreement with me. My rates are very expensive, though. Best of luck.

I wonder if I’ll hear back. Just in case I do . . . I’ll bet you don’t know how to draw that chart.