889

Don't grow older than 255 or else it will overflow (lemmy.nz)

submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by bricked@feddit.org to c/programmer_humor@programming.dev

78 comments fedilink hide all child comments

A photo of a cake with 8 candles in a row. The first and fifth candle from the right are lit. The caption reads "Happy 17th Birthday"

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] oce@jlai.lu 7 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Octal 31 = 3 x 8^1^ + 1 x 8^0^ = 24 + 1 = Decimal 25

The Yuki language in California has an octal system because the speakers count using the spaces between their fingers rather than the fingers themselves.[2]

The Pamean languages in Mexico also have an octal system, because some of their speakers "count the knuckles of the closed fist for each hand (excluding the thumb), so that two hands equals eight."[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octal

[-] vrek@programming.dev 2 points 6 months ago

Just curious since you seem knowledgeable, is there a connection between those societies? Or is it just chance they both choose 8?

[-] oce@jlai.lu 1 points 6 months ago

I am not knowledgeable about this, I just checked the Wikipedia page to confirm my understanding of the joke and found these very interesting historical uses.

this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2026

889 points (98.9% liked)

Programmer Humor

33253 readers

1919 users here now

Welcome to Programmer Humor!

This is a place where you can post jokes, memes, humor, etc. related to programming!

For sharing awful code theres also Programming Horror.

Rules

Keep content in english
No advertisements
Posts must be related to programming or programmer topics
- If the mod doesn't find it funny, you're banned. Ha-ha!... For real: do not use the community for "statements". There are other places for such content. Keep it chill and funny.

founded 3 years ago

MODERATORS

Feyter@programming.dev

anzo@programming.dev

BurningTurtle@programming.dev

pylapp@programming.dev