Re: [BLACKBOX] Seasoned Linux.

From: [at]} <Rex>
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2011 16:26:28 -0600

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At 05:54 PM 1/4/2011, Douglas G. Danforth wrote:
>Many issues here.
>Does one have access to all the source code (including libraries)?
>Is a datum used in multiple ways, i.e. sometimes as char, sometimes as bits, etc
>(like the common blocks in Fortran)?
>Does one really know the intended type of a construct?

1. Yes, surely. The Linux community is pretty adament about open source.
2, 3. I don't know much C, but I assume you're referring to typecasting? -- which is available in CP. And I assume they use header files, so the types are defined? In any case, part of the objective would be to unsafe practices by imposing Oberon rules.


Wojtek Skulski wrote:
>Be realistic. In a real world software which crashes is better than the one which runs reliably. Software engineers need to justify their salaries.

        It's always good to hear the cynical point of view. That has occurred to me. In the case of Linux it may be slightly less applicable, since a lot of programs (I think) are written by people who don't get paid, or get paid little.


Wojtek Skulski wrote:
>Trying to sell type safety to these folks is like trying to sell the idea of safe guns to NRA.

        Yes, I've noticed, although some cracks are appearing, especially at higher levels.


Aubrey McIntosh wrote:
>The resulting source could have higher level structures edited into
the source as insight becomes available, and with Oberon's speed and
strong typing, it would be fairly simple to produce correct,
equivalently safe, readable code after a couple of compile, edit
cycles.

>I had great enthusiasm for just this project 10 years ago.

        I like it.

Rex Couture

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Received on Wed Jan 05 2011 - 23:26:28 UTC