1 Nov
2006
1 Nov
'06
8:31 a.m.
On Tue, 2006-10-31 at 19:54 -0700, Richard wrote:
Does anyone have enough tape drives that they can
do the
multi-drive merge/sort tape algorithms described in Knuth's
Art of Computer Programming?
That would be six, I believe. But, why? Just to say one did it?
In today's world, the way to implement the same algorithm would be to
use disk files; MUCH faster. With a TERABYTE of screaming fast disk
storage available for a desktop machine for about 500 pounds (around
$750 US) the REASON for a multi-tape sort has gone away. (Unless, of
course, one finds spinning tape reels exciting in themselves...)
Peace,
Warren E. Wolfe
wizard at voyager.net