TeX - Knuth - Software quality - Re: Bug-Free Software, was: Re: on FPGA simulation

In article <4EC708D5.7000306 at telegraphics.com.au>, Toby Thain <toby at telegraphics.com.au> writes: Also, TeX is pretty feature complete being as it is an implementation of a domain specific programming language for typesetting. All the bugs and new features these days are implemented as macro packages layered on top of TeX. If TeX were being constantly changed to add features, then it would have more bugs. Its well accepted that changing code is the way that bugs get introduced, whether that change is due to "finishing" the implementation, adding new features to the implementation or even fixing existing bugs. Also, I would say that the implementation of TeX is pretty inscrutable to anyone except Donald Knuth and a handfull of other people who have bothered to spend enough time deciphering its implementation. Its implementation is purely procedural; no modules, no abstractions, no objects and no attempt to create interfaces that hide details. TeX's implementation is *all* details all the time. Knuth's attempt at "literate programming", to write a book that documents the implementation and shows you the implementation at the same time by interleaving prose and source code is IMO a complete and utter failure. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 version available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>