vmsplice(): the making of a local root exploit

cd /to/linux/kernel
# find . -name "*.c" | xargs grep ">>" | awk -F ">>" '{ for(n=2;n<=NF;n++) { $c=$n; sub(/^=/,"",$c); sub(/ /,"",$c); gsub(/\(/,"",$c); gsub(/\)/,"",$c); $c=substr($c,1,1); if ($c>='0' && $c<='9') print "number"; else print "text"; } }' > a
# cat a| grep text | wc -l
# cat a| grep number | wc -l

number=19877
text=4936

so it would seem the linux kernel believes numbers are usually clearer for others to read and understand.

if you believe otherwise submit a patch to the kernel removing all occurrences and replacing them with meaningful #defines.

#define 'ing all numbers is stupid, using identifiers that describe what they are should allow anybody to understand their context, if you use lots of operators and numbers in a single expression split them up to use multiple variables with appropriate names, if they are in conditions use multiple conditions with comments if necessary. The compiler will optimize all these away and make your code more readable without have 15 editors open or using code navigators to work out that the actual value of CLUSTERS_DIVIDE_BY_BYTES_IN_SECTORS_MULTIPLIED_BY_PI(x) is 2.

PS. the script is an approximation.