Horror Code #1: The Fibonacci Fiasco

 

Horror Code #1: The Fibonacci Fiasco

Welcome to Horror Code, a blog series where we showcase Python’s worst atrocities—code so bad it should come with a warning label. We’re talking about syntax crimes, logic abominations, and performance nightmares that would make even the most seasoned developers clutch their keyboards in fear.

Today’s monstrosity: The Fibonacci Fiasco.

The Crime Scene: A Fibonacci Function Gone Horribly Wrong

Behold, a Python script so broken, it defies all reason. If logic had a blacklist, this would be at the top.

Python

# A disaster in the making

def bad_fibonacci(n):
    seq = [0, 1]
    for i in range(n):
        seq.append(seq[i] + seq[i+1])  # IndexError waiting to happen
    return seq(n)  # TypeError: list is not callable

print("Fibonacci sequence is: " + bad_fibonacci("ten"))  # TypeError: passing a string instead of an int

💀 What’s Wrong With This Code?

• IndexError Incoming – seq[i+1] will eventually go out of range and cause Python to break down in tears.
• Calling a List Like a Function – return seq(n) treats seq like a callable. It is not. Python will riot.
• String Instead of Integer – "ten" is not a number. Python refuses to play along.
• Horrific Concatenation – "Fibonacci sequence is: " + bad_fibonacci("ten") tries to concatenate a string and a function result that doesn’t even exist yet.

If there were coding police, this function would be arrested on sight.

The Redemption Arc: Fixing the Nightmare

Time to exorcise the demons from this Python horror show. Here’s the fixed, optimized Fibonacci function:

Python

# A functioning Fibonacci sequence generator

def fibonacci(n):
    if not isinstance(n, int) or n < 1:
        raise ValueError("n must be a positive integer.")  # Input validation
    
    seq = [0, 1]
    for i in range(n - 1):  # Fix: Prevent IndexError by using correct range
        seq.append(seq[i] + seq[i + 1])  
    return seq  # Fix: Remove incorrect function call syntax

n = 10  # Fix: Provide a valid integer input
print("Fibonacci sequence is:", fibonacci(n))  # Fix: Proper function call and print formatting

✅ Fixed the IndexError by adjusting the loop range.

✅ Removed the list-call mistake (return seq(n) → return seq).

✅ Added input validation to prevent garbage input.

✅ Handled the print statement properly (no illegal concatenation).

And just like that, the Fibonacci Fiasco is no more. Python is at peace… for now.

Final Thoughts: What We Learned on the Way to the Computer Science Lab

The moral of this horrific coding tale? Bad code isn’t just ugly—it’s dangerous. It causes crashes, destroys performance, and makes debugging a living hell. But fear not, brave developers! Horror Code will be here to shine a light on the darkest corners of Python programming.

🔪 Stay tuned for the next coding crime scene—and if you’ve got a disaster of your own, send it in for a chance to be featured in a future post!

👀 Until next time… beware the bad code lurking in your IDE.

💀 Need help with your code? Don't worry, we won't judge... much. 😈🔥

Image: Gemini