
  So where do most programmers/scripters put a comment: before or after its code?


In many years of programming using a variety of languages, I don't recall seeing any code in any language where a comment is placed on a new line after the code to which it refers. In the US, at least, the de facto standard is commenting either before the code or on the same line following the code. Writing your comments after the related code invites a drug test, a psychiatric evalutation, and/or a date with a pair of pliers and a blow torch.

The only exception I can think of is a comment marking the end of a previously commented section, like this:

// BEGIN CRITICAL SECTION
lock(&amp;myMutex);

doSomeThreadUnsafeStuff();

unlock(&amp;myMutex);
// END CRITICAL SECTION


Jef Raskin wrote a well-considered essay on comments that's worth a read. He doesn't say whether he puts his comments before or after the code, but he does say that he never puts them inline, and I'd bet a lot of money that he doesn't put them after either.

Comment before or after the relevant code
When you add an image to a post via the helper bar, you get this:

![enter image description here][1]

[1]: http://i.stack.imgur.com/ve8n0.png

What purpose does the enter image description here text serve? I've not noticed anyway of seeing this text, except if I view the page source for the post.
