User: 10am-bedtime

emulation bakeoff: programming contest

On: REBOL the "Messaging Language"

ok you hacks, now that there's so much sand in the box, build your castle and let it be judged.

slashdot moderators should hold a contest w/ the following rules:

• submissions by end of 1-Aug-1999.
• contestant must post a URL to a BLAH.tar.gz file
• this file implements a REBOL interpreter/translator/compiler (your choice) in your favorite other language
• in the interim, REBOL programmers (any that exist) can post programs to add to the Judgement Suite
• judging is as follows:
  • the submitted entry must run all of the programs in the Judgement Suite
  • one point awarded for each program in the Suite that behaves "reasonably close" to that of the REBOL reference program
  • core dumps disqualify the contestant immediately
  • fewer lines of 80-column-max code is better
  • faster execution is better
  • (many) bonus points for synthesis of native language and REBOL (a la kawa)
• prize is three-months bragging rights on slashdot but STFU afterwards, please (until the next programming contest)
• REBOL employees are disqualified
• submitted entry must have open-source license

my guess is that there will be people interested in this sort of friendly competition.

Re:restlessness?

On: The Dark Side of IT

when you reach the top of the stairs, look for the next set of stairs.

you are not happy because you do not see the next set of stairs.

Re:The ACT of KNOWING

On: The Emerging-Behavior Debate

too bad rudolf used hard newlines.

you want an example of useful AI? slashdot should come up w/ an appropriately witty remark that we lazy posters can simply choose. this remark should be based on our posting behaviors. all this typing sucks.

(i'd rather have indulgent behavior than emergent... :-)

Re:Liebowitz's study

On: MS breakup will cost $30 billion?

an additional flaw in the methodology seems to be that the goal for the required changes is to remain compatible. although this is true for many, it's definitely arguable that many ISVs will take the opportunity to lessen their own costs by moving towards APIs that are open. there will also be those who look at what's happening in the open source community and based on that make a completely clean break.

it should also be noted that in the next 3-5 years, users will no longer even look at a desktop (or want to). a large portion of the resistive comfort-me mindset will be transferred from visual appeal to other areas of comfort (like, can i get this done w/o rebooting and not have to work this weekend). the age of cynical users is upon us. why pay part of that USD 30e9 when they can invest in their own entertainment?

thanks for using "pre" tags

On: The Internet Operating System Counter for 4/99

that survey is nice to read. although ASCII is a bit outdated, character-cell displays will always be around.