Why is Ada considered "too specialized" for scientific use
in [ADA]
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From: robin on 23 Apr 2010 03:29 "Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz" <spamtrap(a)library.lspace.org.invalid> wrote in message news:4bc6e42f$2$fuzhry+tra$mr2ice(a)news.patriot.net... | In <4bc5a413$0$78577$c30e37c6(a)exi-reader.telstra.net>, on 04/14/2010 | at 07:27 PM, "robin" <robin51(a)dodo.com.au> said: | | >That's irrelevant. | | The dispute is about the development of algorithms, No it isn't. But if you want original development, try 1. Compilers, typically first written in 1950s in machine code. 2. Nuclear codes. 3. Computer-generated music 4. Random number generation. | not about their | transcription. The question of whether Ada actually developed the | Fibonacci algorithm is highly relevant to that question. That's complerely irrelevant.
From: J. Clarke on 23 Apr 2010 12:14 On 4/23/2010 3:29 AM, robin wrote: > "Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz"<spamtrap(a)library.lspace.org.invalid> wrote in message > news:4bc6e42f$2$fuzhry+tra$mr2ice(a)news.patriot.net... > | In<4bc5a413$0$78577$c30e37c6(a)exi-reader.telstra.net>, on 04/14/2010 > | at 07:27 PM, "robin"<robin51(a)dodo.com.au> said: > | > |>That's irrelevant. > | > | The dispute is about the development of algorithms, > > No it isn't. > But if you want original development, try > 1. Compilers, typically first written in 1950s in machine code. I think that's a very solid case--there was no need for such a thing before there was machine code so there was no incentive for anybody to even look for the necessary algorithms, although some of the pieces may have had prior development, and you can't use a high level language until you have a working compiler for it (although I understand that in some cases the "compiler" was a grad student). > 2. Nuclear codes. Were the algorithms they used developed to be used on computers or were they computer implementations of the hand and card-machine algorithms that were used during the development of the bomb? Los Alamos didn't have a mechanical computer you know--"computer" at Los Alamos was a job title--but they did have a room full of punch-card machines and a group of teenagers doing amazing things with them. > 3. Computer-generated music Don't know anything about that. > 4. Random number generation. How were random numbers generated before computers? Did they not have viable algorithms for the purpose? > > | not about their > | transcription. The question of whether Ada actually developed the > | Fibonacci algorithm is highly relevant to that question. > > That's complerely irrelevant. > >
From: Gary L. Scott on 22 Apr 2010 08:49 On 4/22/2010 4:59 AM, Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz wrote: > In<4bcfaa84$0$895$c30e37c6(a)exi-reader.telstra.net>, on 04/22/2010 > at 11:39 AM, "robin"<robin51(a)dodo.com.au> said: > >> You're wrong on both counts. > > 1. You have not addressed the question of whether Algol was used > to develop algorithms. Even had you *shown* that other languages > had been used earlier or more often, that would have not addrssed > the issue in dispute. > > 2. You cited a book describing multiple algorithms; you refused to > identify specific algorithms about which you were making claims. > > 3. You profused to show that the unspecified algorithms about which > you made claims had not already been in use. > Children, children!
From: Peter Flass on 23 Apr 2010 17:51 J. Clarke wrote: > >> 4. Random number generation. > > How were random numbers generated before computers? Did they not have > viable algorithms for the purpose? >> I think the "Chem Rubber Bible" has a table of random numbers you can use; just pick a spot to start. OTOH, that begs the question of how they were generated in the first place. I have visions of a roomful of people flipping coins.
From: Sjouke Burry on 23 Apr 2010 19:25
Peter Flass wrote: > J. Clarke wrote: >>> 4. Random number generation. >> How were random numbers generated before computers? Did they not have >> viable algorithms for the purpose? > > I think the "Chem Rubber Bible" has a table of random numbers you can > use; just pick a spot to start. OTOH, that begs the question of how > they were generated in the first place. I have visions of a roomful of > people flipping coins. Just take any bad quality resistor, zenerdiode, or a number of other electronic components, amplify the noise, and use it with a bit of hardware to produce an endless stream of random numbers. No computers needed. |