9 Aug
2004
9 Aug
'04
2:51 a.m.
>>>> "Steven" == Steven N Hirsch
<shirsch(a)adelphia.net> writes:
Steven> On Thu, 5 Aug 2004, Paul Koning wrote:
>> >>>>
"Steven" == Steven N Hirsch <shirsch(a)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