..is a way to translate the old COBOL programs into a language-neutral specification that captures all of the business logic and edge cases that the old code handled
Then, a way to translate that specification into an appropriate modern language
Sounds like an interesting and lucrative research proposal
Drive across town, pay to park, drive around looking for a spot, walk to the theater, wait in line, try to find a good seat, wait until the movie starts while being forced to watch commercials
Once it starts, it can't be stopped, paused or rewound
Worst of all..no subtitles. I'm old with bad ears (too many years in the rock band). Without subtitles it's almost impossible to make out what the actors are saying, especially when the music and FX are mixed loud
At home, I can have a beer and a reasonable priced snack, while being in control
Over the years, I have accumulated many tools..software development, circuit design, woodworking, metalworking, many construction skills, artistic skills and many more
I'm still getting paid very well to write software and design circuits
Young people ask.."how do you keep up on new languages?"
I answer, I program in C and C++, it's the best choice for embedded systems. Wanna talk about learning?
My latest project was on a new processor (~1900 page datasheet), a new OS, and 10-20 new components, communicating through nontrivial hardware adapters
I'm still getting paid well to write code today. I realize that this may sound egoistical and boastful, but I have only met one guy in all those years who was as good as me..and on a good day, I could probably beat him
I encourage young people to learn programming. I hope we develop more powerful tools that allow us to more easily manage the complexity of software. I'm not happy that software talent is very, very rare
In order to move beyond the crappy, bug ridden state of the art, we need bold, creative new ideas (and no, I don't have them). What we don't need is another layer on the shit cake of one shitty framework on top of another
It's just a fact that I don't understand. Most people suck at writing software
Programmed in Algol, on punch cards, for a Burroughs B6700 mainframe. Learned circuit theory, logic design and assembly programming as well
Then, in minicomputer lab, learned how enter the bootstrap program, in binary, with toggle switches
After college, took a break from computers to run a manufacturing business
I returned to computers with an Imsai 8080, taught myself how to program it in assembly, and used it to build a control system for an aerospace test rig
Later, I built an 8086 PC clone from a bare circuit board (yes, back then bare circuit boards were available). Taught myself how to program it in assembly
Then, I taught myself the C language, and got a job writing wafer inspection software..image processing on a 4Mhz 8086 requires some serious assembly skills
After that, I learned the 68000, and used it as the controller for a machine used in eye surgery
Next, I used a variety of commercial computers and custom designed microcontrollers for controlling a bunch of stuff in the theme park business
Various hardware designs and control designs followed, including a telepresence robot, stored-value payment system with SQL database, lane tracking system for semi-autonomous vehicle, computer-assisted landing system for military helicopters, control and monitoring system for charging large industrial batteries, and the control system for high power microwave amplifiers used in satellite communication
TL/DR..Learned the basics in college, the rest was self-taught
USB-to-serial adapters work, but have a maddening array of annoying quirks. It seems like every time you plug one in, it gets a different COM port ID
Parallel ports are also used in a lot of specialized stuff (like low-budget CNC). NOT for printing, but for providing a somewhat high-speed, 5V logic level digital interface
USB-to-parallel adapters fail miserably in this case. They are programmed to provide a printer port, but some software uses the hardware I/O addresses, NOT the printer driver
Slashdot Mirror
But, the edge cases will become increasingly troublesome as they move from prototype into widespread use
Road signs are commonly missing, rotated, shot, stolen or defaced
I love the idea of autonomous vehicles. I wrote autonomous vehicle software for a major auto manufacturer. This shit is hard
Never
Free speech is good
Evil speech can be harmful
Political speech against the party in power can be troublesome in some countries
The first search should be uncensored. The following ones should include opposing views. Yeah, I know this is hard to do
..is a way to translate the old COBOL programs into a language-neutral specification that captures all of the business logic and edge cases that the old code handled
Then, a way to translate that specification into an appropriate modern language
Sounds like an interesting and lucrative research proposal
Theaters suck, I will never go to a theater again
Drive across town, pay to park, drive around looking for a spot, walk to the theater, wait in line, try to find a good seat, wait until the movie starts while being forced to watch commercials
Once it starts, it can't be stopped, paused or rewound
Worst of all..no subtitles. I'm old with bad ears (too many years in the rock band). Without subtitles it's almost impossible to make out what the actors are saying, especially when the music and FX are mixed loud
At home, I can have a beer and a reasonable priced snack, while being in control
..In new construction or total replacement of old roads
Most existing areas, especially rural, still can't get good internet
My main talent is using tools to solve problems
Over the years, I have accumulated many tools..software development, circuit design, woodworking, metalworking, many construction skills, artistic skills and many more
I'm still getting paid very well to write software and design circuits
Young people ask.."how do you keep up on new languages?"
I answer, I program in C and C++, it's the best choice for embedded systems. Wanna talk about learning?
My latest project was on a new processor (~1900 page datasheet), a new OS, and 10-20 new components, communicating through nontrivial hardware adapters
Yeah, I can keep up with the young guys
It seems odd that they don't realize this
I have been using the VisualGDB product for linux development. If this works as good or better, I'm happy
I have spent lots of time trying to find a decent IDE for linux, but none of the available options comes even close to Visual Studio
Yeah, if I have no options, I can get work done on any system, but a good IDE makes everything easier
..on your phone or portable computer, don't take it anywhere where it could be lost, stolen or intercepted by police
Buy another one for travel that has zero sensitive stuff on it
Sony was the world tech leader until they decided to get into the movie/record biz
Then, they were crippled by powerful people who valued fashion and power over tech
Source.. I worked for one of Sony's awful companies..we built the Metreon
If a robot could be designed that recognized and pulled weeds, herbicide would become unnecessary, along with herbicide-resistant GMOs
Yes, I agree that hardware improves over time, but some specialized applications depend on the old hardware
Lots of old stuff depends on a hardware parallel port..NOT an emulated USB to parallel printer adapter
Even more stuff, mostly industrial, requires a serial port, and sometimes the USB to serial adapters don't quite work
The mass consumer market is not the entire computing market
..that new tech threatens it
It's easy to see the old school fighting back
I love new tech! but I recognize that it's an imperfect work in progress that I strongly believe will improve
Even really smart people fail
This is a project where it's impossible to test your creation until it's used
Simulations are getting better, but without testing, all designs are a gamble
Computer hardware can, and will, fail..often at the worst possible time
Anybody who cares about their data should have backup. Multiple layers of backup, some offsite (I know I do)
Then, ransomware attack = hardware failure..annoying, but recoverable
They should also let users easily remove all of the Microsoft crapware
The complexity is the hard part. Especially when dealing with asynchronous, realtime events
I'm still getting paid well to write code today. I realize that this may sound egoistical and boastful, but I have only met one guy in all those years who was as good as me..and on a good day, I could probably beat him
I encourage young people to learn programming. I hope we develop more powerful tools that allow us to more easily manage the complexity of software. I'm not happy that software talent is very, very rare
In order to move beyond the crappy, bug ridden state of the art, we need bold, creative new ideas (and no, I don't have them). What we don't need is another layer on the shit cake of one shitty framework on top of another
It's just a fact that I don't understand. Most people suck at writing software
Programmed in Algol, on punch cards, for a Burroughs B6700 mainframe. Learned circuit theory, logic design and assembly programming as well
Then, in minicomputer lab, learned how enter the bootstrap program, in binary, with toggle switches
After college, took a break from computers to run a manufacturing business
I returned to computers with an Imsai 8080, taught myself how to program it in assembly, and used it to build a control system for an aerospace test rig
Later, I built an 8086 PC clone from a bare circuit board (yes, back then bare circuit boards were available). Taught myself how to program it in assembly
Then, I taught myself the C language, and got a job writing wafer inspection software..image processing on a 4Mhz 8086 requires some serious assembly skills
After that, I learned the 68000, and used it as the controller for a machine used in eye surgery
Next, I used a variety of commercial computers and custom designed microcontrollers for controlling a bunch of stuff in the theme park business
Various hardware designs and control designs followed, including a telepresence robot, stored-value payment system with SQL database, lane tracking system for semi-autonomous vehicle, computer-assisted landing system for military helicopters, control and monitoring system for charging large industrial batteries, and the control system for high power microwave amplifiers used in satellite communication
TL/DR..Learned the basics in college, the rest was self-taught
It works fine for almost everything I do
Definitely turn off all of the "Metro" crap, and uninstall as much of it as possible
Turn off cortana and as much tracking as possible. Usability telemetry is fine with me, as long as it doesn't lead to crappy spam ads
I only had one problem..Solidworks 2013 doesn't run reliably. So, I have a win 8.1 bootable drive for it, (with grc "never10")..bit of a pain
This discussion will eventually become moot, as MS more and more aggressively forces win 10
Serial ports are still used in a LOT of equipment
USB-to-serial adapters work, but have a maddening array of annoying quirks. It seems like every time you plug one in, it gets a different COM port ID
Parallel ports are also used in a lot of specialized stuff (like low-budget CNC). NOT for printing, but for providing a somewhat high-speed, 5V logic level digital interface
USB-to-parallel adapters fail miserably in this case. They are programmed to provide a printer port, but some software uses the hardware I/O addresses, NOT the printer driver
Absolutely beautiful! I love living here!
We are 90 miles from Sacramento, and have a great community!
Our local ISP is in the final stages of approval for a gigabit fiber network. Once we have internet, we will have it all
Yes, new tech business are welcomed here. Our economic development council is active in encouraging tech businesses to come here
We have a strong tech history. The Grass Valley Group has been producing top of the line video equipment for decades
I just hope that we don't get overwhelmed. Part of the magic of this place is its smallness and lack of density
It's a difficult balance..more businesses will provide jobs and help the area.. or OH SHIT!, here comes the avalanche
So yeah, I strongly encourage a VERY FEW tech companies to locate here
Originally people welded. Then robots came along and were better
Even factories that make extensive use of robot welders have human welders on staff for the tricky stuff
There ALWAYS needs to be a manual override in case something goes wrong
I would NEVER buy an autonomous car without an emergency manual mode
The pundits and futurists who write about autonomous cars need to spend some time talking to people who actually manage highly automated facilities
Something ALWAYS goes wrong
..to those who understand technology companies
This might be a surprise to members of the general public who assume everybody in a tech company is an engineer