LLL

[Dr. J. Van Sckalkwyk (external)]

rideau@clipper.ens.fr                    Francois-Rene Rideau

Dear Fare

I'm just doing an informal little survey to glean a few
facts from everyone. Care to contribute your feelings?





       LOW LEVEL DESIGN QUESTIONNAIRE (BRIEF)!
       =======================================

           This is not a call for vote!

IMAO (in my arrogant opinion), there seems to
be a potential design problem. Mike seems happy
to use C for the initial coding for the
"common language" that will run on all machines
where we implement "Joy". I am _not_ happy
about this decision mainly because:
    (1) I am not sure that C is up to it!;
    (2) I believe that this will bias our
    design and lead us to ignore viable options;
    (3) I think it violates KISS.

The justification for a "common language" is
outlined in the postscript to THIS message.

I may be completely wrong. I would like to
gauge the general feeling (I don't want to
waste bandwidth if everyone is clearly for /
against one option, or indeed, totally NAAFI).

                   Instructions:
     Please put an X in the appropriate box(es)
              ie  []    ====>   [X]
     and mail to me (schalkw@odie.ee.wits.ac.za)
     I will post outcome in 8 days (promise)!


                             START
                               |
                               |
1.                   Do you think the problem
                     exists and is relevant?
                    /                 \
                   /                   \
                 YES []               NO []
                  |                    |
                  |                    |
                  |                   Thanks for your time---> EXIT
                  |
2.             Let us call our common "symbolic assembly
               language" SYMBAL, as J seems to be out of
               bounds. What should be used to create the
               core code for our system on each machine,
                          SYMBAL or C?
                        Choose only one:
                              |
 ********************************************************
 Strongly  Favour SYMBAL   ? / Needs  Favour C   Strongly
 support          |            more       |       support
  SYMBAL          |        discussion     |          C
    |             |          |            |          |
    []            []         []           []         []
    |             |          |            |          |
    **************************************************
                              |
                              |
                              |
3. Do you have reasonable practical experience in programming
   any of the following at assembly level?
        Processor       Check if "YES"
        ---------       -------------
        80x86                 []
        P5                    []
        68000 series          []

        Other: (please state) []
        1.
        2.
        3. 
        4.
        *******************************************
                        |
                        |
                Did you answer [X] (yes) to any of the above?
               /                 \
              /                   \
           NO []               YES []
           |                      |
           |                      |
           |                      |
           |       would you be interested in co-operating on
           |       developing a common "symbolic assembly language"
           |       for several processors, specifically tailored
           |       so that we can use it to develop higher extensions
           |                  (eg. Mike's cells)?
           |                  /               \
           |                 /                 \
           |              Yes []                No []
           |                   |                    |
           ******************************************
                               |
                               |
                               |
4. Are you proficient at C programming?
                     /               \
                    /                 \
                Yes []                No []
                  |                    |
                  |                    |
                  |                   Thanks for your time---> EXIT
                  |
5. If C is chosen for core coding
   would you be interested in
   participating in this?
        /               \
       /                 \
    Yes []                No []
    **************************
               |
               |
             Thanks (the end)!



JVS <

P.S. Below is an excerpt from a previous post of mine,
justifying a common language.


>START SNIP<

If cell A migrates from machine X to 
dissimilar machine Y, it presents similar external 
characteristics in terms of its interaction with other
cells [..]

Assumption: Our goal is achievable. Otherwise, we're wasting
our time.

Assume: goal has been achieved. ie we have:

LOWEST (HARDWARE) LEVEL -------|----------> HIGHEST (CELLULAR) LEVEL
||||||                         |            ||||||
DISSIMILAR MACHINES -----------|----------> SIMILAR CELLS
                               |
                               transition point.

Below the transition point, function will be dissimilar.
Above, similar.

Now, I see our problem as "trying to define the 
common language immediately above the transition point".

>END SNIP<

JVS<