I remember trying to implement Quicksort in assembly before I really understood what the algorithm was doing. When I finished, I knew less about how it worked than when I started. What a waste of time.
Different algorithms map better to different tools. Some things match well with high level languages. Some things match well with assembly. Some things match well with DNA computing. And I'm sure sume algoritms will seem trivial when implemented using quantum computing.
I do agree with the original poster's point that starting out by learing assembly, and using it to implement appropriate algorithms seems like a good educational approach. Once a student understands the building blocks, they can start studing more abstract tools for solving more complex problems.
The powers that be learned their lesson from the fall of the Soviet union.
Free access to communications technologies for the common man will lead to the downfall of the corrupt system.
In the USSR, it was mimeograph machines and cassette tape recorders. In the United Corps of America, it's Napster.
1. "Mecha will never exist" - it's a law of nature that some geek fanboy engineer will build the first one. Soon they'll have their own show on TV where they battle it out for street cred.
2. "Offworld colonies" - President Regan, I presume? Your argument starts falling apart somewhere around "nanotech makes it easy"[*]. Too bad that's as much a pipe dream as "fairey dust makes it easy". Nanotech presumes the existance of powerful AI. And we all know the enourmous advances in AI over the last fifty years! Hell, I was just discussing this with my robot butler the other day while he fixed my dinner.
[*]"Nanotech makes it easy" sounds so much like marketroid speak that I have a good mind to have tee shirts made up. I bet I could sell them to thinkgeek.
If you take a picture, be sure to turn off the flash on your camera. Aliens could consider it an act of aggression for you to try to burn up the Buckytube based superconductors that make up the trandimensional warp coil.
The it's a sad fact of bueracracy, that once an organization is created, it constantly grows, it never shrinks. And that means it has to be fed. The EFF is not exempt from these time-proven tenents of Discordian philosophy.
Now they're to the point that they need to keep the masses aroused just to keep the contributions coming in. They now longer serve the purpose of their founding, their sole purpose now is their continued existance.
It's sad, looking at the events these days, how little regard there is for the individual human being. Even by the organizations originally founded with a mandate to look out for the little guy. Benjamin Disraeli may have been a little too cynical when he observed that "the history of the world is the history of conflict between secret societies". But it sure appears that, today, we're impotent bystanders to the spectacle of soulless ameoboid horrors battling for world supremacy.
If this drops "launch" costs from $10,000 to $100, I think people can then afford to put maunevering thrusters on their damn satellites!
Actually, if launch costs did drop that much, this would turn the economics of satellites on its head. Right now, we put a lot of work into satellites to make the most of the mass we put into orbit. That translates into an enourmous $/lb ratio, that is, satellites are expensive. What happens when we don't need to maximize that? (Hmmm, I seem to recall that was a strong factor in the development of transitors and ICs. I guees this could actually be a negative change in some ways.)
You know, taco's pyrric war against the trolls is a fine example of the tragedy of the commons.
If he made you sleezy weasels pay for the privelege of posting to/. , you'd appreciate it more and tread this place with the respect it deserves!
I'm already a floating head in a tank.
As long as somebody scrapes the algae off the sides and tops off the water, I'll be trolling slashdot well into 2525!
Bodies are for 5ux0rs!
[*]Joebob spent a good five minutes explaining how, a devout man like Charleton Heston argued with the script writers to leave the line intact. Chuck's rational was that Taylor was truly asking God to take the men responsible for destroying the Earth and condemn them to Hell.
Immediatly after Joebob explained this bit of movie history, TBS, in their infinite corporate wisdom, bleeped the line.
Actually, the FCC has already auctioned off the rights starting in 2006. The good news is that they sold them all to failed dotcoms for exhorbitant amounts -- but since many of these companies failed, they don't need to actually have to cough up the licenses. The bad news is that the money was a big chunk of the projected budget surplus. Whoops!
Slashdot Mirror
I remember trying to implement Quicksort in assembly before I really understood what the algorithm was doing. When I finished, I knew less about how it worked than when I started. What a waste of time.
Different algorithms map better to different tools. Some things match well with high level languages. Some things match well with assembly. Some things match well with DNA computing. And I'm sure sume algoritms will seem trivial when implemented using quantum computing.
I do agree with the original poster's point that starting out by learing assembly, and using it to implement appropriate algorithms seems like a good educational approach. Once a student understands the building blocks, they can start studing more abstract tools for solving more complex problems.
"Question authority"
And the authorities will question you!
Or, to beat another messageboard joke to death:
"In Soviet Russia..." the authorities question you!
Same process. The shit always ends up landing on you!
I have no problem admitting that Canadians are best at evading contact with the enemy!
But don't you dare slight our fine American snipers!
The powers that be learned their lesson from the fall of the Soviet union.
Free access to communications technologies for the common man will lead to the downfall of the corrupt system.
In the USSR, it was mimeograph machines and cassette tape recorders. In the United Corps of America, it's Napster.
I'm only half kidding.
1. "Mecha will never exist" - it's a law of nature that some geek fanboy engineer will build the first one. Soon they'll have their own show on TV where they battle it out for street cred.
2. "Offworld colonies" - President Regan, I presume? Your argument starts falling apart somewhere around "nanotech makes it easy"[*]. Too bad that's as much a pipe dream as "fairey dust makes it easy". Nanotech presumes the existance of powerful AI. And we all know the enourmous advances in AI over the last fifty years! Hell, I was just discussing this with my robot butler the other day while he fixed my dinner.
[*]"Nanotech makes it easy" sounds so much like marketroid speak that I have a good mind to have tee shirts made up. I bet I could sell them to thinkgeek.
Larry: "What do you think of slashcode"?
"funny how other's morals override the letter of the law, huh?"
John? John Ashcroft? Is that you?!!
If you take a picture, be sure to turn off the flash on your camera. Aliens could consider it an act of aggression for you to try to burn up the Buckytube based superconductors that make up the trandimensional warp coil.
And don't link to them! Aliens HATE that.
The it's a sad fact of bueracracy, that once an organization is created, it constantly grows, it never shrinks. And that means it has to be fed. The EFF is not exempt from these time-proven tenents of Discordian philosophy.
Now they're to the point that they need to keep the masses aroused just to keep the contributions coming in. They now longer serve the purpose of their founding, their sole purpose now is their continued existance.
It's sad, looking at the events these days, how little regard there is for the individual human being. Even by the organizations originally founded with a mandate to look out for the little guy. Benjamin Disraeli may have been a little too cynical when he observed that "the history of the world is the history of conflict between secret societies". But it sure appears that, today, we're impotent bystanders to the spectacle of soulless ameoboid horrors battling for world supremacy.
The fewer damn purple gorilla pests, the better!
"Why would any sane person want that?!!!"
I don't think geocities really exists! I've never been able to see a site hosted there.
I think Avery Brooks should kick Tom Selleck's ass!
If this drops "launch" costs from $10,000 to $100, I think people can then afford to put maunevering thrusters on their damn satellites!
Actually, if launch costs did drop that much, this would turn the economics of satellites on its head. Right now, we put a lot of work into satellites to make the most of the mass we put into orbit. That translates into an enourmous $/lb ratio, that is, satellites are expensive. What happens when we don't need to maximize that? (Hmmm, I seem to recall that was a strong factor in the development of transitors and ICs. I guees this could actually be a negative change in some ways.)
Yeah, but that was NASA. There was no way a gubbemint bueracracy was going to fulfill a goal like that.
In the whole of recorded history, there is not a single instance of a bueracracy shrinking or becoming more efficient.
Now if Lockheed had been in charge, there was at least the possibility of that happening.
You know, taco's pyrric war against the trolls is a fine example of the tragedy of the commons. /. , you'd appreciate it more and tread this place with the respect it deserves!
If he made you sleezy weasels pay for the privelege of posting to
[*}
Goddamnit! Will somebody tell that kid to stop tapping on the glass!! It's driving me nuts!
You just have to suck all the magic out of the world, don't you?!!
That damn meme has more truth in it that reality does!
Why muck about with all that inconvienent dying and freezing when you can just schedule a pickup?!!
Silly shortsighted geeks!
I assure you, I am anything but benevelont!
Being a floating head in a tank tends to make on quite pissy!
I'm already a floating head in a tank.
As long as somebody scrapes the algae off the sides and tops off the water, I'll be trolling slashdot well into 2525!
Bodies are for 5ux0rs!
Jesus H Christ, if the the moron said that, he's unqualified for the job!
(of course, the way things are going, I think the same applies for all the gov't.)
[*]Joebob spent a good five minutes explaining how, a devout man like Charleton Heston argued with the script writers to leave the line intact. Chuck's rational was that Taylor was truly asking God to take the men responsible for destroying the Earth and condemn them to Hell.
Immediatly after Joebob explained this bit of movie history, TBS, in their infinite corporate wisdom, bleeped the line.
Actually, the FCC has already auctioned off the rights starting in 2006. The good news is that they sold them all to failed dotcoms for exhorbitant amounts -- but since many of these companies failed, they don't need to actually have to cough up the licenses. The bad news is that the money was a big chunk of the projected budget surplus. Whoops!
$26,000,000 / $0 = infinity !
Stupid "It doesn't cost anything, so it must be worthless" MBAs.