IBM Patents Optimization

jamie(really) writes "IBM appears to want to patent optimizing programs by trial and error, which in the history of programming has, of course, never been done. Certainly, all my optimizations have been the result of good planning. Well done IBM for coming up with this clever idea. What is claimed is: 'A method for developing a computer program product, the method comprising: evaluating one or more refactoring actions to determine a performance attribute; associating the performance attribute with a refactoring action used in computer code; and undoing the refactoring action of the computer code based on the performance attribute. The method of claim 1 wherein the undoing refactoring is performed when the performance attribute indicates a negative performance effect of the computer code.'"

Comments

If Only There Was a Way to Integrate This

[eldavojohn]

IBM is on to something big here, folks. Now just try to wrap your mind around this idea: we somehow enable this optimization on ... multiple levels! Stay with me, stay with me, I know this seems like a crazy idea right now. But I imagine a future where just adding something as simple as -02 or -03 to your compile commands will increase the level of optimization at an expense of compilation time!

Did you get all that? Because I think I just made history.

*grabs his head* Oh Jesus, oh sweet Jesus, another one's coming to me. It's gonna be big! What if ... what if you didn't have to type out each of your compile statements when you're compiling hundreds of files? What if, and this is totally futuristic possibility here, we introduce a build tool of some sort to the whole process? Let's call it Mack ... no, wait, Make!

Elvis MF Christ I am going to be a rich man.

Thank goodness

[Pharmboy]

Thank goodness we allow software and concept patents in the US, else this new advancement in computer optimization might never have been developed. As a bonus, once the patent expires, the method will be in the public domain, so everyone will be free to optimize their code using trial and error.

It makes me wonder...

[Anonymous Coward]

Can I patent "Hip Thrusting for Procreation or Fun" and just bill the planet?...c'mon only $2/person ($1 in the developing world cause I'm generous like that).

Re:lolwut?

[badran]

I think the next software patent would be on the lines of:

A method for developing a computer program product, the method comprising: Inputing characters and symbols with the help of an input device after processing the semantics and possible meaning mentally beforehand.

Re:Oy Carumba!

[Ltap]

Yes, this method of optimization is surprisingly... non-optimized.