I would (coming from a C background) guess that `allocPrint()` owes its name from the C standard library function(s) `as(n)printf()`[1]. At least that would make sense, the naming is modernized by being made longer, to gain clarity.
This was just someone showing you what the "Amazon programmer" was doing, and hence a deep cut reference to the likelihood of it being poor quality code :)
But, again, he was in the UK buying US stamps, so that the FSF could mail their answer back to him from the US. I don't think UK post offices supply all the world's stamps, buying that online from individuals who have them for sale makes some kind of sense, doesn't it?
I guess the a more "digital native" way would have been to first check if the USPS supports some kind of downloadable/printable stamping method, like QR codes or pre-bought labels (which, according to come early comment, they do).
We also have "the moped ring" [1], an 800-gram gold+silver necklace from 500 AD that some kid clipped a piece off to fix their moped. :)
This is on display at the Historical Museum in Stockholm, which has a fancy vault-like "Gold room" [2] showing off lots of found treasures. Recommended.
reply