The Case for Zero-Based Indexing: A Deep Dive into Dijkstra's Argument and its Modern Relevance
Technical Overview The question of whether array indices should begin at 0 or 1 has been a long-standing debate in computer science. While seemingly minor, the choice significantly impacts code readability, mathematical elegance, and overall software design. This post examines Edsger Dijkstra’s arguments in favor of zero-based indexing, placing them within the context of modern programming practices and exploring the ongoing relevance of his perspective. The core challenge lies in balancing intuitive human understanding with the underlying mathematical and computational efficiency of different indexing schemes....