Hardware/doc preservatoion, was Re: rarest computers.

From: Paul Koning <pkoning_at_equallogic.com>
Date: Mon Aug 9 09:51:24 2004

>>>>> "Steven" == Steven N Hirsch <shirsch_at_adelphia.net> writes:

 Steven> On Thu, 5 Aug 2004, Paul Koning wrote:
>> >>>>> "Steven" == Steven N Hirsch <shirsch_at_adelphia.net> writes:
>>
 Steven> On Wed, 4 Aug 2004, ben franchuk wrote:
>> >> PS. Years ago in BYTE ( early 1990's? ) they had spoke up of a
>> CPU >> designed for reliable operation for real time control of
>> things >> like power plants or subways or aircraft. They claimed
>> it was so >> simple that programs could be proven to be bug
>> free. I was >> wondering if they manufactured or sold any the
>> devices.
>>
 Steven> That would be the British "Viper" CPU. Computational theory
 Steven> suggests (proves, perhaps? - it's been a few years) that use
 Steven> of hardware or software stacks renders behavior
 Steven> indeterminate.
>> Baloney. Anyone who has paid any attention to Dijkstra knows
>> that such a statement would have to be complete and utter
>> nonsense.

 Steven> <shrug> I'm only going by what I recall from the Byte
 Steven> article. Let's not start a religous war, please?

I wouldn't think of this as a religious war. You started by quoting
an assertion that could be proven if it were true, and I pointed out
that it cannot possible be true. It may be a mathematical war, but
not a religious one.

If Byte was accurate quoting an assertion from the company, it sounds
like they have a nice crew of snake oil marketeers.

    paul
Received on Mon Aug 09 2004 - 09:51:24 BST