Re: [OT] Gibson's vision of computer languajes

[David Starner <dvdeug@x8b4e53cd.dhcp.okstate.edu>]

On Tue, 05 Mar 2002 12:43:53 -0500, Dave Poirier <instinc@users.sf.net> wrote:
> But if you are simply a computer passionate who create on
> his free time, then assembly can certainly be used for any sized
> project.

But that's true for any programming language and project. I'm sure most
of us have heard about the Fortran compiler written in Teco? 
 
> In my opinion, Assembly is the best suited language for any project, but
> our society is unfortunately based on money, and to be commercially
> viable assembly must of then be traded for less human-time consuming
> alternatives.

I don't think we could have our networked society if everyone used
assembly. There's just not enough programmers who are good enough to
write the programs people need in the two decades since the PC
revolution.

"Best suited language" implies that running speed is the goal. It's
frequently not, and sometimes where it is, assembly just isn't going to
make enough difference. I have a couple programs that need to be sped
up. 3 orders of magnitude should get them fast enough that I can
actually get results sometime. I may be able to make one faster - but
only if I can reason about it easily, which assembly doesn't help. The
primary goal for a lot of scientists is getting a correct answer in a
reasonable amount of time, with minimal programming knowledge.
Assembly's not the tool for that job, either.

-- 
David Starner - starner@okstate.edu
"It's not a habit; it's cool; I feel alive. 
If you don't have it you're on the other side." 
- K's Choice (probably refering to the Internet)