> >> >> You mean you teach them Intel assembler?
> >> >Yes
> >> >Not because it's "good", but because it's needed. (I teach at a community
> >> >college, where we are teaching "useful" skills, not the abstractions of
> >> >the university.)
> >> I didn't know Intel was needed. If that is the case, it must be the fault
> >> of community colleges (whatever that is).
> >You are familiar with how many computers there are with Intel 80x86 family
> >processors, and you are familiar with the software that is being run.
> >Are you saying that there ISN'T a need to imporove the quality of that
> >software?
>
On 23 Aug 2001, Iggy Drougge wrote:
> I've been both told and taught that assembly is not used anymore on the Intel
> platform, at least not Intel-based computers, and that modern compilers do
> the job much better anyway.
Sure.
And the same people say that classic computers are useless.
You listen to them? I won't risk moderation by commenting about those
people.
No, modern compilers do NOT "do the job much better anyway". It could be
argued that you can now GET AWAY with the quality of the output of modern
compilers by throwing RAM and CPU at it, but that is NOT the same as doing
the job better.
> >If you can get a quorum for a class at this school in some other processor
> >family and meet the state legal requirements, then I will personally break
> >enough administrator arms to get you hired to teach it.
> Quid pro quorum?
It is difficult to locate and recruit good teachers, particularly since
teaching does not pay as well as what we can make in industry.
And students vote with their feet. If we offer courses that they want,
then they sign up. If we offer stuff that they don't want, then they
don't. If I can get students who want to learn assembly language, I'll
gladly teach it, even if what they want to learn is Intel. (I can get
away with encouraging them to consider alternatives. Particularly when I
show them what things like SHR AX, 33 do.)
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin_at_xenosoft.com
Received on Thu Aug 23 2001 - 12:41:56 BST