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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.'"
Typical response from a child. When told you should educate yourself about what you're trying to attack - something you really will need to do if you want your attacks on a patent to mean anything, so one would think a suggestion in your best interest - you respond by trying to ridicule the person giving the advice.
Anyway, interesting as your interpretation is, it's still wrong.
It's not "undoing things you 'try'". That would imply that after it's done, you lose the costs and benefits of your refactoring; you don't. The refactoring is not considered an error and is not discarded from the human-readable code base.
What's going on is, this optimizer is presenting the compiler with a view of your code as though you hadn't performed the refactoring action, so that you don't pay the performance cost even though you get to keep your "cleaner" code.
So I'll say again - if you wish to compose a sound argument why that shouldn't be possible, I really don't care; I have no opinion on the validity (or lack thereof) of this patent. But you're going to have to lose the whiny bitch attitude before you'll have any chance of doing so.